Focus Partners Wealth Makes New $387,000 Investment in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Focus Partners Wealth purchased a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 5,947 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $387,000.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in SYF. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter worth $347,903,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 340.9% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,512,340 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $163,303,000 after purchasing an additional 1,942,573 shares during the period. Azora Capital LP lifted its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 700.5% during the 4th quarter. Azora Capital LP now owns 2,107,839 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $137,010,000 after purchasing an additional 1,844,509 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 26.7% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 5,183,717 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $336,942,000 after purchasing an additional 1,093,922 shares during the period. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. purchased a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter worth $44,021,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.48% of the company's stock.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

NYSE:SYF opened at $57.32 on Thursday. 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 firm has a 50-day moving average of $52.46 and a two-hundred day moving average of $60.42. The stock has a market cap of $21.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.71, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.42. Synchrony Financial has a 1-year low of $40.55 and a 1-year high of $70.93.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 22nd. The financial services provider reported $1.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.26. The company had revenue of $3.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.80 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 18.30%. On average, research analysts expect that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 5th were given a dividend of $0.30 per share. This is a boost from Synchrony Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 5th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.09%. Synchrony Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.46%.

Insider Transactions at Synchrony Financial

In other news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 40,639 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.07, for a total transaction of $2,441,184.73. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 146,628 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,807,943.96. This trade represents a 21.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on SYF shares. Morgan Stanley reissued an "equal weight" rating and set a $44.00 price target (down previously from $82.00) on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research note on Monday, April 7th. Compass Point downgraded Synchrony Financial from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $70.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $76.00 to $50.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. StockNews.com upgraded Synchrony Financial from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $70.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Synchrony Financial has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $63.95.

Synchrony Financial Profile

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.

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