Synchrony Financial $SYF Stake Boosted by Sciencast Management LP

Key Points

• Sciencast Management LP increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 32.1%, acquiring an additional 13,421 shares during the first quarter, bringing their total holdings to 55,277 shares valued at approximately $2.93 million.
• Other institutional investors also show interest in Synchrony Financial, with multiple firms increasing their positions significantly, and institutional ownership now accounts for 96.48% of the company's stock.
• Synchrony Financial recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share, representing an annualized yield of 1.6%, with insiders owning only 0.33% of the stock following recent sales.

Sciencast Management LP grew its position in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 32.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 55,277 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 13,421 shares during the quarter. Sciencast Management LP's holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $2,926,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT acquired a new stake in Synchrony Financial during the first quarter worth about $30,000. MAI Capital Management increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 36.3% during the first quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 627 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Synchrony Financial during the first quarter worth about $34,000. CVA Family Office LLC increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 355.9% during the first quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 693 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 541 shares during the last quarter. Finally, TCTC Holdings LLC increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 89.0% during the first quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 788 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 371 shares during the last quarter. 96.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Synchrony Financial

In other Synchrony Financial news, insider Curtis Howse sold 11,380 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.00, for a total transaction of $739,700.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 108,062 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,024,030. This trade represents a 9.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Brian J. Sr. Wenzel sold 8,514 shares of Synchrony Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.00, for a total value of $595,980.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 68,588 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,801,160. The trade was a 11.04% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 20,494 shares of company stock valued at $1,376,450. Insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SYF has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Barclays dropped their price target on Synchrony Financial from $81.00 to $80.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on Synchrony Financial from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Truist Financial upped their target price on Synchrony Financial from $68.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 24th. Redburn Atlantic raised Synchrony Financial to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Synchrony Financial from $52.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Synchrony Financial has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $74.05.

Synchrony Financial Stock Down 1.6%

SYF traded down $1.25 on Wednesday, reaching $74.82. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,270,140 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,475,310. The stock has a market cap of $27.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.49. Synchrony Financial has a 1 year low of $40.54 and a 1 year high of $77.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 1.24. The business's 50 day moving average is $71.97 and its 200 day moving average is $61.38.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The financial services provider reported $2.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.72 by $0.78. The firm had revenue of $3.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.71 billion. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 21.34% and a net margin of 14.43%.Synchrony Financial's revenue for the quarter was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.55 earnings per share. Synchrony Financial has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 5th were issued a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 5th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.6%. Synchrony Financial's dividend payout ratio is currently 14.56%.

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.