Caxton Associates LP Cuts Stock Position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Caxton Associates LP decreased its position in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 62.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 24,222 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 40,965 shares during the quarter. Caxton Associates LP's holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $1,574,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bogart Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. TCTC Holdings LLC bought a new stake in Synchrony Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 111.5% during the 4th quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 480 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. Accredited Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial during the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 151.4% in the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 807 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 486 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.48% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on SYF. Compass Point cut shares of Synchrony Financial from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $70.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $76.00 to $50.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $44.00 price target (down previously from $82.00) on shares of Synchrony Financial in a report on Monday, April 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Synchrony Financial from $70.00 to $65.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $63.95.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE SYF traded up $0.16 during trading on Friday, reaching $55.62. 3,295,145 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,942,923. The company has a 50-day moving average of $51.40 and a 200-day moving average of $60.17. Synchrony Financial has a 52-week low of $40.55 and a 52-week high of $70.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 1.24.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The financial services provider reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.26. The firm had revenue of $3.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.80 billion. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 18.30% and a net margin of 15.36%. Analysts forecast that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, May 5th will be given a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 5th. This is an increase from Synchrony Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. Synchrony Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 16.46%.

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.