Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Shares Sold by Trust Investment Advisors

Trust Investment Advisors cut its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 1.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 11,440 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 190 shares during the quarter. Discover Financial Services accounts for approximately 1.3% of Trust Investment Advisors’ holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest position. Trust Investment Advisors’ holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $1,982,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of DFS. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new position in Discover Financial Services during the third quarter worth $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. Grove Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in Discover Financial Services by 78.1% during the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 203 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bfsg LLC purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. 86.94% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Discover Financial Services Stock Down 0.2 %

DFS stock opened at $169.86 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $185.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $169.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.64, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.45. Discover Financial Services has a one year low of $119.31 and a one year high of $205.76.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 26.18% and a net margin of 17.29%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 EPS for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.65%. Discover Financial Services’s payout ratio is currently 17.54%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DFS has been the subject of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $146.00 to $169.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $170.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. UBS Group upgraded Discover Financial Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $150.00 to $239.00 in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Discover Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $192.40.

Discover Financial Services Profile

Discover Financial Services, through its subsidiaries, provides digital banking products and services, and payment services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Digital Banking and Payment Services. The Digital Banking segment offers Discover-branded credit cards to individuals; personal loans, home loans, and other consumer lending; and direct-to-consumer deposit products comprising savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, IRA certificates of deposit, IRA savings accounts and checking accounts, and sweep accounts.