Empowered Funds LLC Grows Position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Empowered Funds LLC raised its position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 123.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 354,903 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 195,982 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC owned about 0.09% of Synchrony Financial worth $23,069,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Y.D. More Investments Ltd raised its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 111.5% in the 4th quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 480 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 92.7% in the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 607 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 151.4% in the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 807 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 486 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP grew its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 301.3% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 899 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 675 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at $50,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.48% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Synchrony Financial

In other Synchrony Financial news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of Synchrony Financial stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total value of $2,220,253.37. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 127,587 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,291,879.13. The trade was a 21.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

Shares of SYF stock traded down $1.25 on Wednesday, reaching $63.98. The stock had a trading volume of 5,333,454 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,723,833. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. The firm's 50-day moving average is $67.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $58.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.63. Synchrony Financial has a 12 month low of $38.25 and a 12 month high of $70.93.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.89 by $0.02. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 18.30%. On average, research analysts expect that Synchrony Financial will post 7.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 3rd will be given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 3rd. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.56%. Synchrony Financial's dividend payout ratio is currently 11.71%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on SYF. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $72.50 to $82.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Synchrony Financial from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $59.00 to $72.00 in a report on Monday, December 9th. Barclays upgraded shares of Synchrony Financial from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $59.00 to $79.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Synchrony Financial presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $69.30.

Synchrony Financial Profile

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.