Signaturefd LLC Sells 1,072 Shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Signaturefd LLC decreased its position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 10.0% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 9,620 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 1,072 shares during the quarter. Signaturefd LLC’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $367,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 44.1% in the 4th quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 1,274 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Systematic Alpha Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $100,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA lifted its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 13.4% in the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 2,711 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $104,000 after purchasing an additional 320 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other Synchrony Financial news, insider Brian D. Doubles sold 134,696 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction 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 sale, the insider now directly owns 660,353 shares in the company, valued at $27,246,164.78. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Synchrony Financial news, insider David P. Melito sold 7,283 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.99, for a total value of $283,964.17. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 14,183 shares in the company, valued at $552,995.17. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Brian D. Doubles sold 134,696 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total value of $5,557,556.96. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 660,353 shares in the company, valued at $27,246,164.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 148,158 shares of company stock worth $6,106,106. Company insiders own 0.65% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Oppenheimer restated a “market perform” rating on shares of Synchrony Financial in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Synchrony Financial in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $56.00 target price for the company. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $42.72.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

SYF opened at $44.66 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $18.17 billion, a PE ratio of 6.41, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a current ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. Synchrony Financial has a 1 year low of $26.59 and a 1 year high of $45.33. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $41.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is $36.76.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.37 by ($0.19). The firm had revenue of $5.57 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.44 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 13.49% and a return on equity of 16.01%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.35 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Synchrony Financial will post 5.57 EPS for the current year.

Synchrony Financial announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, April 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase up to 5.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 6th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.24%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 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.