Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Short Interest Up 16.8% in February

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 14,540,000 shares, an increase of 16.8% from the February 13th total of 12,450,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,800,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.8 days. Approximately 3.8% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays raised shares of Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $59.00 to $79.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Synchrony Financial from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $59.00 to $72.00 in a report on Monday, December 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $62.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $60.00 to $85.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective 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. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $68.70.

Synchrony Financial Trading Down 1.2 %

NYSE SYF opened at $53.85 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $20.93 billion, a PE ratio of 6.31, a P/E/G ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a fifty day moving average of $62.61 and a 200 day moving average of $60.17. Synchrony Financial has a 1 year low of $39.67 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 1.24.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.89 by $0.02. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 18.30%. Research analysts forecast that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Investors of record on Monday, February 3rd were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 3rd. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.86%. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 11.71%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Apollon Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,094 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $461,000 after buying an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 6.0% in the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 3,085 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $200,000 after buying an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC increased its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC now owns 9,290 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $604,000 after buying an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Smithfield Trust Co increased its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 19.7% in the fourth quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 1,099 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $69,000 after buying an additional 181 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedmont Private Capital increased its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 7,700 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $491,000 after buying an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. 96.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.