Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Upgraded to "Strong-Buy" at Hsbc Global Res

Key Points

• Synchrony Financial has been upgraded to a "strong-buy" rating by Hsbc Global Res, improving from a previous "hold" rating, reflecting positive investor sentiment.
• Multiple firms, including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Evercore ISI, have raised their price targets for Synchrony Financial, indicating increased confidence in the company's growth potential, with targets now ranging from $80 to $100.
• Synchrony Financial reported earnings of $2.50 per share for the last quarter, significantly surpassing analyst expectations, and has set a fiscal year 2025 guidance for earnings per share.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at Hsbc Global Res from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note issued on Thursday,Zacks.com reports.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 11th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $83.00 to $84.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 30th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, September 29th. Finally, BTIG Research raised shares of Synchrony Financial from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $100.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Synchrony Financial presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $77.45.

Synchrony Financial Trading Down 4.1%

Shares of SYF opened at $68.07 on Thursday. Synchrony Financial has a 52-week low of $40.54 and a 52-week high of $77.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. The firm's fifty day moving average is $73.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $64.07. The stock has a market cap of $25.33 billion, a PE ratio of 8.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.50.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The financial services provider reported $2.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.78. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 14.43% and a return on equity of 21.34%. The company had revenue of $3.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.71 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.55 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. Synchrony Financial has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Research analysts forecast that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Brian J. Sr. Wenzel sold 8,514 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.00, for a total value of $595,980.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 68,588 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,801,160. The trade was a 11.04% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Darrell Owens sold 600 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.95, for a total transaction of $40,770.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 21,372 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,452,227.40. This trade represents a 2.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Synchrony Financial

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Investors Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych Spolka Akcyjna purchased a new stake in Synchrony Financial during the second quarter worth about $26,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT purchased a new stake in Synchrony Financial during the first quarter worth about $30,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 5,787.5% during the second quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 471 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 463 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 337.0% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 590 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 455 shares during the period. Finally, MAI Capital Management increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 36.3% during the first quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 627 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the period. 96.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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