Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-one analysts that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $69.30.

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Compass Point cut Synchrony Financial from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $70.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $72.50 to $82.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Synchrony Financial from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $40.00 to $82.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their price target for the company from $60.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Synchrony Financial

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Park Square Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $90,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new position in Synchrony Financial in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,643,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 15,194 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $988,000 after acquiring an additional 475 shares during the period. Integrated Advisors Network LLC lifted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 10,823 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $704,000 after acquiring an additional 347 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ascent Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 12.5% in the fourth quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 12,606 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $819,000 after acquiring an additional 1,396 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Synchrony Financial Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of SYF stock opened at $55.81 on Thursday. 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 has a fifty-two week low of $39.67 and a fifty-two week high of $70.93. The company has a market cap of $21.70 billion, a PE ratio of 6.54, a P/E/G ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.63. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $65.39 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $59.88.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 predict that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Investors of record on Monday, February 3rd were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.79%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio is currently 11.71%.

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.