Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ Purchases 82,830 Shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ raised its position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 54.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 235,287 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 82,830 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $15,305,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of SYF. Bogart Wealth LLC bought a new position in Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its position in Synchrony Financial by 92.7% in the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 607 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd increased its position in Synchrony Financial by 111.5% in the fourth quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 480 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 253 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP increased its position in Synchrony Financial by 301.3% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 899 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 675 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raleigh Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Synchrony Financial by 151.4% in the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 807 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 486 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have commented on SYF shares. Barclays upgraded Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $59.00 to $79.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on Synchrony Financial from $62.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Synchrony Financial from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $60.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded Synchrony Financial from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $40.00 to $82.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $69.30.

Synchrony Financial Price Performance

Shares of Synchrony Financial stock opened at $51.92 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $63.90 and a 200 day moving average of $60.03. Synchrony Financial has a 12 month low of $39.67 and a 12 month high of $70.93. The firm has a market cap of $20.18 billion, a PE ratio of 6.08, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.02. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 18.30% and a net margin of 15.36%. On average, research analysts expect that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 3rd were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s payout ratio is 11.71%.

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.