New Mexico Educational Retirement Board Sells 200 Shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

New Mexico Educational Retirement Board lessened its holdings in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 1.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,011 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 200 shares during the period. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $2,081,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in DFS. Creative Planning raised its stake in Discover Financial Services by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 64,476 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $9,045,000 after acquiring an additional 517 shares during the period. Bleakley Financial Group LLC raised its stake in Discover Financial Services by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 6,429 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $902,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd raised its stake in Discover Financial Services by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 35,361 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $4,961,000 after acquiring an additional 803 shares during the period. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Discover Financial Services by 55.8% in the 3rd quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,548 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $357,000 after acquiring an additional 913 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in Discover Financial Services by 115.7% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,234 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $161,000 after acquiring an additional 662 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. StockNews.com cut Discover Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $156.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $146.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $186.46.

Discover Financial Services Stock Performance

NYSE:DFS opened at $196.14 on Monday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $184.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $160.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $49.29 billion, a PE ratio of 12.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.46. 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 has a twelve month low of $109.50 and a twelve month high of $205.76.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 26.18% and a net margin of 17.29%. On average, analysts anticipate that Discover Financial Services will post 13.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be paid a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. Discover Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.54%.

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.