Oxford Asset Management LLP Takes $367,000 Position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Oxford Asset Management LLP bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 5,640 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $367,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Boothbay Fund Management LLC bought a new stake in Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,314,000. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter valued at $6,920,000. Virtus ETF Advisers LLC increased its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 16.2% in the fourth quarter. Virtus ETF Advisers LLC now owns 20,266 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,317,000 after purchasing an additional 2,830 shares during the period. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. raised its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 5.9% in the fourth quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 288,787 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $18,771,000 after buying an additional 16,200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its position in Synchrony Financial by 340.9% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,512,340 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $163,303,000 after buying an additional 1,942,573 shares in the last quarter. 96.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Synchrony Financial Price Performance

NYSE:SYF traded up $0.44 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $52.39. The stock had a trading volume of 3,303,809 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,955,592. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.37 billion, a PE ratio of 6.13, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.45. Synchrony Financial has a 52 week low of $40.55 and a 52 week high of $70.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.24. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $52.08 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $60.23.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last released its 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 net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 18.30%. The firm had revenue of $3.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.80 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. This is a positive change from Synchrony Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 5th. Synchrony Financial's payout ratio is currently 16.46%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on SYF. Compass Point downgraded shares of Synchrony Financial from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $70.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Bank of America lifted their price target on Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley reissued an "equal weight" rating and set a $44.00 price objective (down from $82.00) on shares of Synchrony Financial in a report on Monday, April 7th. Barclays raised Synchrony Financial from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $59.00 to $79.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $65.00 to $57.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $63.95.

Synchrony Financial Company 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.