MetaCap

Credit Acceptance (CACC) vs SLM (SLM)

Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.

Summary

Credit Acceptance (CACC) has outperformed SLM (SLM) over the past year, gaining 8.0% versus a loss of 16.4%. Over five years, SLM leads with a +29.7% price change compared with -13.4% for CACC. Credit Acceptance is the larger company by market cap ($5.53 billion vs $4.25 billion), about 1.3 times the size, while SLM is growing revenue faster (+7.3% vs +7.2%).

On valuation, SLM trades at a lower forward P/E (6.7x vs 9.7x for Credit Acceptance). SLM pays a dividend yielding 2.30%, while Credit Acceptance does not currently pay one. SLM converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 37.5% versus 18.3%.

Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology

Relative performance

CACC+8.03%SLM-16.42%
+37%+1%-34%
Oct 7, 20251 yearOct 7, 2026
CACC-13.41%SLM+28.92%
+100%+29%-42%
Oct 4, 20215 yearsOct 5, 2026

Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.

Head-to-head

CACC versus SLM key metrics
MetricCACCSLM
Share price$532.55$22.60
Market cap$5.53B$4.25B
1-day change-0.75%+0.09%
YTD return+20.09%-16.48%
1-year return+8.03%-16.42%
5-year return-13.38%+29.74%
P/E ratio (TTM)11.826.28
Forward P/E9.656.71
EPS (TTM)$45.05$3.60
Dividend yield0.00%2.30%
Annual dividend$0.00$0.52
Revenue (latest FY)$2.32B$1.98B
Revenue growth (YoY)+7.16%+7.32%
Net income (latest FY)$423.90M$744.85M
Net margin18.29%37.54%
52-week high$668.86$31.06
52-week low$401.90$17.77
Distance from 52-week high-20.38%-27.24%
Analyst consensusholdbuy
Avg. price target upside+18.92%+26.33%
Average volume124.08K2.34M
Shares outstanding10.38M188.00M
Employees2,3141,788
SectorFinancial ServicesFinance
IndustryCredit ServicesFinance: Consumer Services

Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.

Key differences

  • CACC has outperformed SLM by 24.4 percentage points over the past year.
  • Credit Acceptance trades at a higher earnings multiple (11.8x vs 6.3x trailing P/E).
  • SLM offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.30% vs 0.00%).
  • SLM is more profitable, keeping 37.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 18.3 cents for Credit Acceptance.
  • The two companies sit in different sectors: Credit Acceptance in Financial Services and SLM in Finance.

About Credit Acceptance

CACC stock →

Credit Acceptance Corporation engages in the provision of financing programs, and related products and services in the United States. It advances money to automobile dealers in exchange for the right to service the underlying consumer loans; and buys the consumer loans from the dealers and keeps the amount collected from the consumers.

Financial Services · Credit Services · 2,314 employees

About SLM

SLM stock →

SLM Corporation, through its subsidiaries, originates and services private education loans to students and their families to finance the cost of their education in the United States. It provides retail deposit accounts, including high-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit; and interest-bearing omnibus accounts.

Finance · Finance: Consumer Services · 1,788 employees

CACC vs SLM FAQ

Which is bigger, Credit Acceptance or SLM?

Credit Acceptance (CACC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.53B compared with $4.25B for SLM (SLM).

Which stock has performed better over the past year, CACC or SLM?

CACC returned +8.03% over the past 12 months, compared with -16.42% for SLM (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.

Which has the lower P/E ratio, CACC or SLM?

SLM has the lower trailing P/E at 6.3, versus 11.8 for CACC. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.

Which pays a higher dividend, Credit Acceptance or SLM?

SLM pays a dividend yielding 2.30%, while Credit Acceptance does not currently pay a regular dividend.

Are Credit Acceptance and SLM in the same industry?

No. Credit Acceptance is in the Financial Services sector, while SLM is in Finance.

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