DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main Grows Position in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main grew its stake in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Free Report) by 57.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,306 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 4,140 shares during the quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main's holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $1,959,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Driehaus Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at $858,000. EP Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 7,445 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,290,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Centiva Capital LP increased its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 744.1% during the fourth quarter. Centiva Capital LP now owns 30,000 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $5,197,000 after purchasing an additional 26,446 shares in the last quarter. Blackstone Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth about $30,315,000. Finally, Cary Street Partners Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth about $198,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.94% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on DFS shares. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "hold" rating and set a $180.00 price target on shares of Discover Financial Services in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $169.00 to $129.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of Discover Financial Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $191.64.

Discover Financial Services Trading Down 2.2%

Shares of NYSE DFS traded down $4.40 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $199.67. 2,142,994 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,660,265. The company has a market capitalization of $50.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.51, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.16. Discover Financial Services has a 52-week low of $119.95 and a 52-week high of $207.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $169.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $177.48.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The financial services provider reported $4.25 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.33 by $0.92. The business had revenue of $4.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.25 billion. Discover Financial Services had a net margin of 17.29% and a return on equity of 26.18%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.10 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Discover Financial Services

Discover Financial Services, through its subsidiaries, provides digital banking products and services, and payment services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Digital Banking and Payment Services. The Digital Banking segment offers Discover-branded credit cards to individuals; personal loans, home loans, and other consumer lending; and direct-to-consumer deposit products comprising savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, IRA certificates of deposit, IRA savings accounts and checking accounts, and sweep accounts.