Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Stock Holdings Lessened by AustralianSuper Pty Ltd

AustralianSuper Pty Ltd cut its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 18.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,405,833 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 555,244 shares during the period. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $156,379,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Southpoint Capital Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 37.9% in the third quarter. Southpoint Capital Advisors LP now owns 4,600,000 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $229,448,000 after acquiring an additional 1,265,000 shares in the last quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. raised its stake in Synchrony Financial by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 4,447,275 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $221,830,000 after purchasing an additional 157,948 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 18.5% in the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 3,083,329 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $200,756,000 after purchasing an additional 481,750 shares in the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 1.7% during the third quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 2,199,554 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $109,714,000 after buying an additional 37,484 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Synchrony Financial by 8.4% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,061,979 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $102,852,000 after acquiring an additional 158,960 shares during the period. 96.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

NYSE SYF opened at $64.06 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $67.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $58.35. Synchrony Financial has a 52-week low of $38.78 and a 52-week 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 1.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.50, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.63.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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%. Equities research analysts forecast that Synchrony Financial will post 7.45 EPS for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 3rd will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio is 11.71%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on SYF shares. Barclays raised shares of Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $59.00 to $79.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target 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. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Synchrony Financial from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Synchrony Financial from $72.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $69.30.

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.