Yousif Capital Management LLC Grows Stake in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Yousif Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 7.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 71,460 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,687 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $4,645,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in SYF. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its position in Synchrony Financial by 92.7% during the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 607 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 151.4% during the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 807 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 486 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP increased its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 301.3% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 899 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 675 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Finally, Independence Bank of Kentucky boosted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 1,304.1% in the 4th quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky now owns 1,376 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $89,000 after purchasing an additional 1,278 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Synchrony Financial

In related news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total value of $2,220,253.37. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 127,587 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,291,879.13. This represents a 21.12 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen upped their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Compass Point lowered Synchrony Financial from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $70.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Synchrony Financial from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $59.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Monday, December 9th. JMP Securities restated a “market outperform” rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Synchrony Financial currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $69.30.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

NYSE SYF opened at $67.51 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.91, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.63. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $67.17 and a 200 day moving average of $57.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. Synchrony Financial has a twelve month low of $38.17 and a twelve month high of $70.93.

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 return on equity of 18.30% and a net margin of 15.36%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Synchrony Financial will post 7.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 3rd will be given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 3rd. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.48%. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 11.71%.

Synchrony Financial 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.