Trustmark National Bank Trust Department Raises Stake in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Trustmark National Bank Trust Department lifted its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 4.8% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 44,731 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,068 shares during the period. Trustmark National Bank Trust Department’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $2,908,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Apollon Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,094 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $461,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 6.0% in the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 3,085 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $200,000 after buying an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC raised 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 acquiring an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Smithfield Trust Co boosted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 19.7% during the 4th quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 1,099 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $69,000 after acquiring an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wedmont Private Capital grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 7,700 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $491,000 after acquiring an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com lowered Synchrony Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Synchrony Financial from $76.00 to $50.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Compass Point cut Synchrony Financial from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $70.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “equal weight” rating and set a $44.00 target price (down previously from $82.00) on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research note on Monday, April 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $65.11.

Synchrony Financial Price Performance

Shares of SYF opened at $46.10 on Monday. Synchrony Financial has a one year low of $39.67 and a one year high of $70.93. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $56.20 and its 200-day moving average is $60.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.45.

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 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%. Equities analysts anticipate that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 EPS for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 3rd were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 3rd. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.17%. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 11.71%.

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.