Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Receives Average Recommendation of "Hold" from Brokerages

Shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) have been given an average recommendation of "Hold" by the eleven analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $188.40.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Discover Financial Services from $169.00 to $129.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Discover Financial Services from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $150.00 to $239.00 in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $262.00 to $219.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Barclays upped their price objective 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Discover Financial Services

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter worth $38,489,000. Brookstone Capital Management purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter worth $282,000. Meyer Handelman Co. purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $239,000. Mechanics Bank Trust Department purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $234,000. Finally, JBGlobal.com LLC bought a new position in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter valued at $346,000. 86.94% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Discover Financial Services Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of DFS traded up $0.96 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $160.03. The company's stock had a trading volume of 938,600 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,577,046. Discover Financial Services has a 52 week low of $119.31 and a 52 week high of $205.76. The stock has a market cap of $40.27 billion, a PE ratio of 10.03, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.20. The company's fifty day moving average price is $174.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $172.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 predict that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Discover Financial Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.75%. Discover Financial Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 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.