Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Shares Purchased by AlphaStar Capital Management LLC

AlphaStar Capital Management LLC raised its position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 17.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 30,189 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,497 shares during the quarter. AlphaStar Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $1,962,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in SYF. Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 123.3% during the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 354,903 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $23,069,000 after acquiring an additional 195,982 shares during the last quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,094 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $461,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the period. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter worth about $240,000. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt lifted its position in Synchrony Financial by 314.5% in the fourth quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 136,012 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $8,841,000 after buying an additional 103,200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd boosted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 17.6% during the fourth quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 47,021 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,056,000 after buying an additional 7,053 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Synchrony Financial Price Performance

Shares of SYF opened at $67.51 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $67.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $58.00. Synchrony Financial has a twelve month low of $38.17 and a twelve month high of $70.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.28 billion, a PE ratio of 7.91, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.63.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.89 by $0.02. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 18.30% and a net margin of 15.36%. Research analysts anticipate that Synchrony Financial will post 7.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SYF has been the subject of several research reports. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $60.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $62.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Compass Point lowered shares of Synchrony Financial from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $70.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Synchrony Financial currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $69.30.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Synchrony Financial news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total transaction of $2,220,253.37. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 127,587 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,291,879.13. The trade was a 21.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

About Synchrony Financial

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.