Factorial Partners LLC Trims Stock Position in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Factorial Partners LLC decreased its position in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 26,600 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 1,800 shares during the quarter. Discover Financial Services makes up about 2.1% of Factorial Partners LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 16th largest position. Factorial Partners LLC’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $3,732,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. National Pension Service grew its stake in Discover Financial Services by 14.8% during the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 439,756 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $61,693,000 after buying an additional 56,814 shares during the last quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Discover Financial Services by 135.1% during the first quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,793 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,022,000 after acquiring an additional 4,478 shares during the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC acquired a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 1st quarter valued at $983,000. William B. Walkup & Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the 2nd quarter valued at $4,835,000. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new stake in Discover Financial Services during the 3rd quarter worth $2,415,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

Discover Financial Services Stock Down 0.4 %

Discover Financial Services stock opened at $172.54 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.08. Discover Financial Services has a one year low of $85.19 and a one year high of $188.26. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $149.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $136.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.41.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.28 by $0.41. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 21.38% and a net margin of 13.78%. The business had revenue of $5.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.36 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.59 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Discover Financial Services will post 13.23 earnings per share for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 21st will be given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.62%. Discover Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.60%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DFS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of Discover Financial Services from $156.00 to $163.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Discover Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $148.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Discover Financial Services from $152.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $138.81.

Discover Financial Services Profile

Discover Financial Services, through its subsidiaries, provides digital banking products and services, and payment services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Digital Banking and Payment Services. The Digital Banking segment offers Discover-branded credit cards to individuals; personal loans, home loans, and other consumer lending; and direct-to-consumer deposit products comprising savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, IRA certificates of deposit, IRA savings accounts and checking accounts, and sweep accounts.