Synchrony Financial $SYF Shares Purchased by Cozad Asset Management Inc.

Key Points

• Cozad Asset Management increased its Synchrony Financial stake by 82.5% in the first quarter, adding 18,503 shares for a total holding of 40,944 shares valued at approximately $2.8 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 96.48% of SYF.
• Synchrony reported quarterly EPS of $2.59, beating estimates by $0.45, while revenue matched expectations at $3.72 billion. The company reaffirmed FY2026 EPS guidance of $9.25–$9.50 and raised its quarterly dividend to $0.34 per share.
• Analyst sentiment remains moderately positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $87.72, although several near-term EPS forecasts were reduced and Truist maintained a Hold rating.

Cozad Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 82.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 40,944 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 18,503 shares during the quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $2,785,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SYF. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 19,080,903 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,355,698,000 after acquiring an additional 191,920 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 34.6% in the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 13,595,381 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $907,356,000 after acquiring an additional 3,494,741 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 7.6% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,230,111 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $519,778,000 after purchasing an additional 442,226 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 6.4% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,039,753 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $410,760,000 after purchasing an additional 365,353 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 10.4% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 5,490,921 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $458,108,000 after purchasing an additional 517,781 shares during the period. 96.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Synchrony Financial

In related news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 51,258 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.23, for a total transaction of $3,651,107.34. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 132,664 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $9,449,656.72. This represents a 27.87% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 0.36% of the company's stock.

Key Synchrony Financial News

Here are the key news stories impacting Synchrony Financial this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Long-term earnings outlook improved: Zacks Research raised its FY2028 EPS forecast to $11.57 from $10.89 and increased its FY2026 estimate slightly to $9.35 from $9.33. The FY2026 figure is in line with the broader consensus forecast. Zacks Research earnings estimates
• Neutral Sentiment: Synchrony issued $1.1 billion of senior notes: The financing, launched under an underwriting agreement dated July 28, provides additional capital but also increases the company’s debt obligations and future interest expense. Synchrony Financial Issues $1.1 Billion Senior Notes
• Neutral Sentiment: Truist maintained its Hold rating: The reaffirmation indicates no change in the analyst’s view, limiting the potential for a fresh positive catalyst. Truist Financial Reaffirms Hold Rating
• Negative Sentiment: Several near-term EPS forecasts were cut: Zacks lowered its Q3 2026 estimate to $2.40 from $2.55, Q1 2027 to $2.32 from $2.42, Q3 2027 to $2.93 from $3.02, and Q1 2028 to $2.63 from $2.67. These reductions suggest some caution about Synchrony’s nearer-term earnings momentum, despite the stable $9.35 FY2026 consensus forecast.

Synchrony Financial Trading Down 1.7%

NYSE SYF opened at $75.82 on Friday. Synchrony Financial has a one year low of $63.08 and a one year high of $88.77. The company's 50 day moving average price is $73.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $72.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.77, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.32.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.14 by $0.45. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 15.44% and a return on equity of 23.09%. The firm had revenue of $3.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.72 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.50 earnings per share. Synchrony Financial has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.250-9.500 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 9.35 EPS for the current year.

Synchrony Financial announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback program on Tuesday, April 21st that authorizes the company to repurchase $0.00 in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are usually a sign that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Synchrony Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.34 per share. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 5th. This is a positive change from Synchrony Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Synchrony Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on SYF shares. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $86.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Loop Capital started coverage on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research note on Friday, May 22nd. They set a "hold" rating and a $81.00 price objective for the company. BTIG Research downgraded Synchrony Financial from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Synchrony Financial from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b-)" rating on shares of Synchrony Financial in a report on Friday, July 17th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Synchrony Financial has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $87.72.

Synchrony Financial Profile

Synchrony Financial NYSE: SYF is a consumer financial services company that specializes in providing point-of-sale financing and private-label, co-branded and branded credit card programs. The company serves as a payments and lending partner to retailers, digital merchants and service providers, offering consumer financing solutions designed to drive customer engagement and sales. Synchrony also operates a direct bank that offers deposit products, including savings accounts and certificates of deposit, which support its funding and customer-facing product suite.

Its core product set includes private-label and co-branded credit cards, general-purpose credit cards, installment loan programs and promotional financing options that are integrated into merchants' checkout experiences.

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