Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) has received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-two analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $69.30.

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on SYF. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $62.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Synchrony Financial from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $40.00 to $82.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Synchrony Financial from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $59.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Monday, December 9th.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total transaction of $2,220,253.37. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 127,587 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,291,879.13. This represents a 21.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Synchrony Financial

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of SYF. Beacon Harbor Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial during the fourth quarter worth $5,786,000. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 114,794 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $7,462,000 after buying an additional 1,598 shares during the last quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 37,859 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,461,000 after buying an additional 1,966 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter valued at about $10,530,000. Finally, Atria Investments Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 15.0% during the 4th quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 7,655 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $498,000 after acquiring an additional 996 shares during the period. 96.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Synchrony Financial Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:SYF opened at $68.15 on Friday. Synchrony Financial has a 1-year low of $38.03 and a 1-year high of $70.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market cap of $26.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.98, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.63. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $67.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $57.81.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.02. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 18.30%. Sell-side analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 7.08 EPS for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 3rd will be issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 3rd. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.47%. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 11.71%.

Synchrony Financial Company Profile

Synchrony Financial, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a consumer financial services company in the United States. It provides credit products, such as credit cards, commercial credit products, and consumer installment loans. The company also offers private label credit cards, dual co-brand and general purpose credit cards, short- and long-term installment loans, and consumer banking products; and deposit products, including certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, money market accounts, and savings accounts, and sweep and affinity deposits, as well as accepts deposits through third-party securities brokerage firms.