Brokerages Set Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Price Target at $140.33

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) has received an average recommendation of "Hold" from the eighteen research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $140.33.

Several research firms have weighed in on DFS. Evercore ISI increased their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $156.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $148.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Discover Financial Services from $152.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Discover Financial Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, November 4th.

Discover Financial Services Trading Up 1.1 %

NYSE DFS traded up $1.92 on Friday, reaching $179.22. The company had a trading volume of 1,450,097 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,647,613. Discover Financial Services has a 52 week low of $96.46 and a 52 week high of $188.26. The stock's 50 day moving average is $160.69 and its 200-day moving average is $141.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. The stock has a market cap of $45.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.46, a PEG ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.45.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.28 by $0.41. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 21.38% and a net margin of 13.78%. The company had revenue of $5.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.36 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.59 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Discover Financial Services will post 13.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 21st were issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 21st. Discover Financial Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 22.60%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Discover Financial Services

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp raised its stake in Discover Financial Services by 15.7% in the third quarter. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp now owns 6,207 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $871,000 after purchasing an additional 842 shares in the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC raised its position in Discover Financial Services by 7.0% during the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 14,415 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,022,000 after purchasing an additional 942 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB boosted its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services by 117.6% in the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 7,869 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,104,000 after purchasing an additional 4,253 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 19.5% in the 3rd quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 46,475 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $6,520,000 after purchasing an additional 7,585 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invst LLC lifted its position in shares of Discover Financial Services by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Invst LLC now owns 7,253 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,018,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. 86.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.