World Investment Advisors Boosts Stake in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

World Investment Advisors raised its holdings in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 525.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 34,646 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 29,104 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors' holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $1,834,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 116.5% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 11,059 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $719,000 after acquiring an additional 5,952 shares during the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Synchrony Financial in the 4th quarter worth about $57,000. Atria Investments Inc increased its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 15.0% in the 4th quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 7,655 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $498,000 after purchasing an additional 996 shares in the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter valued at about $10,530,000. Finally, Callan Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial during the fourth quarter valued at about $269,000. Institutional investors own 96.48% of the company's stock.

Synchrony Financial Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of NYSE SYF traded up $0.91 during trading on Thursday, hitting $71.07. 1,445,135 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,864,457. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.76, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.46. The business's fifty day moving average is $60.95 and its 200 day moving average is $59.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.25. Synchrony Financial has a fifty-two week low of $40.55 and a fifty-two week high of $71.88.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 19.68% and a net margin of 13.00%. The business had revenue of $3.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.80 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced 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. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 5th. This is an increase from Synchrony Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.69%. Synchrony Financial's payout ratio is presently 16.46%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on SYF. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $62.00 to $81.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday. Evercore ISI cut their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $64.00 to $56.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Cfra Research upgraded Synchrony Financial to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Synchrony Financial from $76.00 to $50.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $65.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 1st. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $67.33.

Insider Transactions at Synchrony Financial

In related news, insider Curtis Howse sold 11,380 shares of Synchrony Financial 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. The trade was a 9.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 40,639 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.07, for a total value of $2,441,184.73. Following the sale, the insider owned 146,628 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,807,943.96. This trade represents a 21.70% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

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.