Inceptionr LLC Has $215,000 Stake in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Inceptionr LLC trimmed its position in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 79.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,627 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 21,860 shares during the period. Inceptionr LLC's holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $215,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SYF. Westpac Banking Corp boosted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 28.9% during the 4th quarter. Westpac Banking Corp now owns 134,810 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $5,148,000 after acquiring an additional 30,259 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 19.7% in the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 29,688 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,134,000 after purchasing an additional 4,877 shares in the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in Synchrony Financial during the fourth quarter worth approximately $215,000. Boston Partners lifted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 23.6% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,826,080 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $146,112,000 after buying an additional 730,318 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AlphaStar Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter worth approximately $389,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.48% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Synchrony Financial

In related news, insider Brian D. Doubles sold 134,696 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total value of $5,557,556.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 660,353 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $27,246,164.78. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Curtis Howse sold 6,179 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.82, for a total value of $264,584.78. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 152,604 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,534,503.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Brian D. Doubles sold 134,696 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total transaction of $5,557,556.96. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 660,353 shares in the company, valued at $27,246,164.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 172,437 shares of company stock valued at $7,242,432 in the last quarter. 0.65% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of Synchrony Financial from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $45.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 2nd. Bank of America raised their price target on Synchrony Financial from $43.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th. StockNews.com raised shares of Synchrony Financial from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 25th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $43.74.

Synchrony Financial Price Performance

SYF stock traded up $0.46 on Friday, reaching $43.94. 2,826,807 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,458,385. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $42.95 and a 200-day moving average of $38.54. The firm has a market cap of $17.64 billion, a PE ratio of 6.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. Synchrony Financial has a twelve month low of $27.30 and a twelve month high of $46.72.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.19). Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 16.01% and a net margin of 13.49%. The company had revenue of $5.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.44 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.35 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 5.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, April 24th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to reacquire up to 5.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 6th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 3rd. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. Synchrony Financial's payout ratio is 14.35%.

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.