Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) have earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-one research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $68.10.

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Synchrony Financial from $62.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $60.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $70.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of 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 report on Monday, December 9th.

Synchrony Financial Stock Down 3.3 %

NYSE:SYF opened at $52.39 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $61.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $60.62. Synchrony Financial has a 52-week low of $39.67 and a 52-week high of $70.93. The company has a market cap of $20.37 billion, a PE ratio of 6.13, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.24.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last issued its quarterly 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%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 3rd were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s payout ratio is 11.71%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Synchrony Financial

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Synchrony Financial in the 4th quarter worth about $347,903,000. Sachem Head Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $142,838,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in Synchrony Financial by 340.9% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,512,340 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $163,303,000 after buying an additional 1,942,573 shares in the last quarter. Azora Capital LP grew its position in Synchrony Financial by 700.5% during the fourth quarter. Azora Capital LP now owns 2,107,839 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $137,010,000 after buying an additional 1,844,509 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 169.0% in the 4th quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 2,356,862 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $153,196,000 after acquiring an additional 1,480,702 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

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.