Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV Boosts Stake in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV lifted its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Free Report) by 25.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,977 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 5,525 shares during the quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV's holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $4,673,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Grove Bank & Trust increased its position in shares of Discover Financial Services by 78.1% during the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 203 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Bfsg LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.94% of the company's stock.

Discover Financial Services Price Performance

Shares of DFS traded up $1.23 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $189.35. 2,832,032 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,633,049. The stock has a market capitalization of $47.65 billion, a PE ratio of 11.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.16. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $168.63 and a 200 day simple moving average of $175.84. Discover Financial Services has a fifty-two week low of $119.95 and a fifty-two week high of $205.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on DFS. StockNews.com cut Discover Financial Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Argus upgraded shares of Discover Financial Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Barclays increased their price target 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. Truist Financial increased their price target on Discover Financial Services from $219.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, UBS Group raised Discover Financial Services from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the company from $150.00 to $239.00 in a report on Monday, January 13th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $191.64.

Discover Financial Services Company Profile

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.