Net income, excluding derivative market value adjustments[1], was $69.9 million, or $1.94 per share, for the first quarter of 2026, compared with $87.4 million, or $2.39 per share, for the same period in 2025.
"We're off to a strong start in 2026, with every business segment performing at a high level," said Jeff Noordhoek, chief executive officer of Nelnet. "We completed our Canadian acquisition in February, and integration is proceeding well, expanding our loan servicing reach and supporting our long-term diversification strategy focused on core strengths. This year, our focus is simple: Go. Technology is accelerating, innovation cycles are compressing, and the pace of change continues to increase. Our job is to move with speed—to be decisive and to keep pushing forward for our customers."
Nelnet operates through three divisions: Nelnet Financial Services (NFS), Loan Servicing and Systems [referred to as Nelnet Diversified Services (NDS)], and Education Technology Services and Payments [referred to as Nelnet Business Services (NBS)]. NFS includes the company's Asset Generation and Management (AGM) and Nelnet Bank reportable operating segments, which earn interest income on loans and investments. NDS and NBS generate primarily fee-based revenue through loan servicing, education technology, and payment services. Business activities not included in these divisions are combined and reported within Corporate Activities.
Nelnet Financial Services
AGM
The AGM operating segment reported loan and investment net interest income of $67.5 million during the first quarter of 2026, compared with $52.9 million for the same period a year ago. The increase in 2026 was due to an increase in loan spread[2] and growth in the company's consumer financing receivables. In the third quarter of 2025, the company began to purchase Pay Later receivables. As of March 31, 2026, the balance of Pay Later receivables was $766.2 million. The increase in net interest income was partially offset by the anticipated runoff of the legacy Federal Family Education Loan Program (the "FFEL Program" or FFELP) loan portfolio. The average balance of FFELP loans outstanding decreased from $8.6 billion for the first quarter of 2025 to $7.2 billion for the same period in 2026.
AGM recorded a provision for loan losses of $48.5 million ($36.9 million after tax) in the first quarter of 2026, compared with $13.0 million ($9.9 million after tax) for the same period in 2025. The increase was primarily driven by the establishment of an initial allowance for loans acquired during the quarter. During the first quarter of 2026, AGM acquired $3.34 billion of loans, of which $2.85 billion were Pay Later receivables. The higher provision reflects portfolio growth rather than changes in underlying credit performance. Credit quality metrics, including delinquency rates and charge-offs, remained generally consistent with management's expectations.
AGM holds interests in certain joint ventures engaged in the acquisition and management of loan portfolios. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, AGM recognized $15.4 million ($11.7 million after tax) of income from these joint ventures.
AGM recognized net income after tax of $23.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared with $22.7 million for the same period in 2025.
_________________________________________
1
Net income, excluding derivative market value adjustments, is a non-GAAP measure. See "Non-GAAP Performance Measures" at the end of this press release and the "Non-GAAP Disclosures" section below for explanatory information and reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial information.
2
Loan spread represents the spread between the yield earned on loan assets and the costs of the liabilities used to fund the assets.
Nelnet Bank
As of March 31, 2026, Nelnet Bank had a $1.26 billion and $1.18 billion loan and investment portfolio, respectively, and total deposits, including intercompany deposits, of $1.96 billion. Nelnet Bank reported loan and investment net interest income of $17.8 million during the first quarter of 2026, compared with $12.4 million for the same period a year ago. The increase in 2026 was due to an increase in the loan and investment portfolio, partially offset by a decrease in net interest margin.
Nelnet Bank recognized net income after tax for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 of $7.1 million, compared with $1.5 million for the same period in 2025.
Loan Servicing and Systems
Revenue from the Loan Servicing and Systems segment was $127.8 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared with $120.7 million for the same period in 2025. The increase was primarily due to the company's acquisition of NDS Canada during the first quarter of 2026. As of March 31, 2026, the company was servicing $525.7 billion in Department of Education, Canada Student Loan Program, FFELP, private education, and consumer loans for 15.5 million borrowers.
As previously disclosed, on February 2, 2026, the company acquired a Canadian student loan servicing business ("NDS Canada") that delivers technology-enabled student loan servicing for governments and financial institutions, managing 2.7 million borrowers on proprietary platforms. Beginning on the acquisition date, the operating results of NDS Canada are included in the Loan Servicing and Systems operating segment.
The Loan Servicing and Systems segment reported net income after tax of $15.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared with $14.1 million for the same period in 2025.
Education Technology Services and Payments
For the first quarter of 2026, revenue from the Education Technology Services and Payments operating segment was $154.4 million, an increase from $147.3 million for the same period in 2025. Revenue less direct costs to provide services for the first quarter of 2026 was $104.5 million, compared with $99.3 million for the same period in 2025.
Net income after tax for the Education Technology Services and Payments segment was $36.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared with $36.1 million for the same period in 2025.
This segment is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Based on the timing of when revenue is recognized and when expenses are incurred, revenue and operating margin are higher in the first quarter compared with the remainder of the year.
Corporate and Other Activities
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the company recognized $10.8 million ($8.2 million after tax or $0.23 per share) of losses related to marketable equity securities with readily determinable fair values. These losses resulted from changes in market values during the period.
Included in Corporate Activities are the company's equity interests held in partnerships that invest in solar tax equity projects. The company recognized $22.5 million ($6.9 million after tax and noncontrolling interests or $0.19 per share) of losses related to its solar tax equity partnerships during the three months ended March 31, 2026. Despite short-term losses, our tax equity investments are structured to deliver long-term value and cash flow.
Board of Directors Declares Second Quarter Dividend
The Nelnet Board of Directors declared a second-quarter cash dividend on the company's outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock of $0.33 per share. The dividend will be paid on June 15, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 1, 2026.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The words "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "ensure," "estimate," "expect," "focus," "forecast," "future," "intend," "may," "objective," "plan," "potential," "predict," "pursue," "scheduled," "should," "strategy," "will," "would," and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations as of the date of this release and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks related to the ability to successfully maintain and increase allocated volumes of student loans serviced by the company under existing and future servicing contracts with the Department of Education, risks related to unfavorable contract modifications or interpretations, risks related to consistently meeting service requirements to avoid the assessment of performance penalties, and risks related to the company's ability to comply with agreements with third-party customers for the servicing of Federal Direct Loan Program, Canada Student Loan Program, FFEL Program, private education, and consumer loans; loan portfolio risks such as credit risk, prepayment risk, interest rate basis and repricing risk, risks related to the use of derivatives to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations, uncertainties regarding the expected benefits from purchased securitized and unsecuritized FFELP, private education, consumer, and other loans, or residual interests therein, and initiatives to purchase additional FFELP, private education, consumer, and other loans; financing and liquidity risks, including risks of changes in the interest rate environment; risks from changes in the terms of education loans and in the educational credit and services markets resulting from changes in applicable laws, regulations, and government programs and budgets; risks related to a breach of or failure in the company's operational or information systems or infrastructure, or those of third-party vendors, including disclosure of confidential or personal information and/or damage to reputation resulting from cyber breaches; risks related to use of artificial intelligence; uncertainties inherent in forecasting future cash flows from student loan assets, including residual interests therein, and related asset-backed securitizations; risks related to the ability of Nelnet Bank to achieve its business objectives and effectively deploy loan and deposit strategies and achieve expected market penetration; risks related to the company's solar tax equity partnerships, including risks of not being able to realize tax credits which remain subject to recapture by taxing authorities and risks from the impact of the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill that accelerates the expiration and phase out of solar energy credits; risks and uncertainties related to other initiatives (and anticipated income therefrom) including venture capital, real estate, reinsurance, acquisitions, and other activities, including activities that are intended to diversify the company both within and outside of its historical core education-related businesses; risks and uncertainties associated with climate change; risks from changes in economic conditions and consumer behavior; risks related to the company's ability to adapt to technological change; risks related to the exclusive forum provisions in the company's articles of incorporation; risks related to the company's executive chairman's ability to control matters related to the company through voting rights; risks related to related party transactions; risks related to natural disasters, terrorist activities, or international hostilities; and risks and uncertainties associated with litigation matters, maintaining compliance with the extensive regulatory requirements applicable ...
