Health score, competitive moat, risk signals, and key metrics at a glance.
Nelnet, Inc. engages in loan servicing, education technology services, and payment businesses worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Loan Servicing and Systems, Education Technology Services and Payments, Asset Generation and Management, and Nelnet Bank. The Loan Servicing and Systems segment provides loan conversion, application processing, borrower updates, customer, payment processing, due diligence procedures, funds management reconciliation, and claim processing services. This segment also offers student loan servicing software; and business process outsourcing services primarily in contact center management, such as inbound calls, outreach campaigns and sales, and interacting with customers through multi-channels, and processing and administrative services. The Education Technology Services and Payments segment provides financial management services; school information system software; a donation platform; education technology solutions; and customized professional development and coaching, and advanced learning and educational instruction services. This segment also offers tuition payment plans, and service and technology for student billings, payments, and refunds; solutions for in-person, online, and mobile payment experiences on campus; payment processing services, such as credit card and electronic transfer; learning management system; an integrated commerce payment platform; and a school management platform that provides administrative, information and financial management, and communication functions for K-12 schools. The Asset Generation and Management segment invest, allocates an manages loan assts. The Nelnet Bank segment operates as an internet industrial bank. It also offers investment advisory, investment, and reinsurance services, as well as engages in the real estate investment; and solar engineering, procurement, and construction businesses. The company was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Competitive analysis based on 60 quarters of fundamental data
Operating margins are under pressure, averaging -317.3%. The business may lack pricing power or face rising costs.'
ROE is positive at ~8.1% on average, adequate but below the threshold typically associated with wide moats.
Data-driven red flags and warnings across 60 quarters
The company posted negative operating margins in recent quarters — core operations are unprofitable.
FCF covers net income by 8.4x on average — earnings are well-supported by cash generation.
D/E ratio of 2.1 is elevated. Monitor for further debt accumulation.
Revenue is stable or growing over recent quarters — demand appears durable.
Free cash flow is consistently positive — the business self-funds without external capital reliance.
Share count is stable — no significant dilution or buyback activity.
as of March 2026
Revenue, EBITDA, operating income, net income, EPS, and shares
Gross, EBITDA, operating, and net margin trends
P/E, P/S, P/B, EV/EBITDA, FCF yield, and earnings yield
Total assets, cash, debt, book value, and leverage
Operating cash flow, free cash flow, FCF margin, and earnings quality
8 of the last 8 quarters generated positive FCF. The company generally funds itself but has occasional cash consumption quarters.
Revenue has grown modestly overall (~258.0%) but trajectory is uneven, suggesting a competitive or cyclical business.
