Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Shares Sold by Aviva PLC

Aviva PLC decreased its stake in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Free Report) by 18.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 209,620 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 48,894 shares during the quarter. Aviva PLC owned approximately 0.08% of Discover Financial Services worth $36,312,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Bfsg LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Grove Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of Discover Financial Services by 78.1% during the 4th quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 203 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the period. Finally, Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.94% of the company's stock.

Discover Financial Services Price Performance

Shares of DFS stock traded down $3.79 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $154.84. The company had a trading volume of 541,660 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,572,767. Discover Financial Services has a 12-month low of $119.31 and a 12-month high of $205.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.09. The company has a market capitalization of $38.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.69, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.20. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $176.23 and a 200-day moving average of $171.71.

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Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a net margin of 17.29% and a return on equity of 26.18%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd will be given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.81%. Discover Financial Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 17.54%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Discover Financial Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group raised shares of Discover Financial Services from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $150.00 to $239.00 in a report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $169.00 to $129.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $188.40.

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.