Venturi Wealth Management LLC Boosts Stake in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 204.8% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 5,065 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,403 shares during the quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $329,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in SYF. Fortis Group Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial during the fourth quarter valued at $244,000. Truist Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 10.4% during the 4th quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 19,353 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,258,000 after acquiring an additional 1,817 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 14.5% in the fourth quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 143,045 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $9,937,000 after acquiring an additional 18,142 shares during the last quarter. Monument Capital Management grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. Monument Capital Management now owns 44,230 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,875,000 after purchasing an additional 1,323 shares during the period. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. increased its position in Synchrony Financial by 15.6% during the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 4,868 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $316,000 after purchasing an additional 657 shares during the last quarter. 96.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

Shares of SYF stock opened at $63.79 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 1.24. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $66.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $58.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.47, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.63. Synchrony Financial has a 12 month low of $39.35 and a 12 month high of $70.93.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, topping 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%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 11.71%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on SYF shares. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $72.50 to $82.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Synchrony Financial from $72.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Bank of America raised their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded Synchrony Financial from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $40.00 to $82.00 in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $69.30.

About Synchrony Financial

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.