Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Analysts

Shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF – Get Rating) have been given an average rating of “Hold” by the seventeen brokerages that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $38.86.

A number of analysts have weighed in on SYF shares. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $56.00 to $53.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $44.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $29.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Barclays lowered shares of Synchrony Financial from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $41.00 to $38.00 in a report on Friday, January 6th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 24th.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Bart Schaller sold 11,071 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.25, for a total transaction of $401,323.75. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 71,664 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,597,820. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider Alberto Casellas sold 39,460 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.14, for a total transaction of $1,426,084.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 70,040 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,531,245.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Bart Schaller sold 11,071 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.25, for a total transaction of $401,323.75. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 71,664 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,597,820. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.55% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Synchrony Financial

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Live Oak Investment Partners bought a new stake in Synchrony Financial in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its position in Synchrony Financial by 41.9% in the 4th quarter. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 935 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 276 shares in the last quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC grew its position in Synchrony Financial by 231.5% in the 3rd quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 948 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 662 shares in the last quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Synchrony Financial in the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Cowa LLC bought a new stake in Synchrony Financial in the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. 95.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

NYSE SYF opened at $36.38 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $34.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $34.04. The stock has a market cap of $15.90 billion, a PE ratio of 5.96, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.62. Synchrony Financial has a fifty-two week low of $27.22 and a fifty-two week high of $41.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.20.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF – Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Monday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $1.26 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $4.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.04 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 17.51% and a return on equity of 24.07%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.48 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Synchrony Financial will post 5.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 6th were issued a dividend of $0.23 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 3rd. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.53%. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio is currently 15.08%.

Synchrony Financial Company Profile

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Synchrony Financial engages in the provision of consumer financial services. The firm is also involved in managing credit products through the following sales platforms: Home and Auto, Digital, Diversified and Value, Health and Wellness, and Lifestyle. The company was founded on September 12, 2003 and is headquartered in Stamford, CT.