First National Bank of Omaha Increases Stock Position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

First National Bank of Omaha increased its position in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 35.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 65,224 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 17,012 shares during the quarter. First National Bank of Omaha's holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $3,253,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Southpoint Capital Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 37.9% in the third quarter. Southpoint Capital Advisors LP now owns 4,600,000 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $229,448,000 after purchasing an additional 1,265,000 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 402.8% in the 2nd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 1,520,209 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $71,739,000 after buying an additional 1,217,872 shares in the last quarter. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI increased its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 389.8% in the 3rd quarter. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI now owns 1,138,672 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $56,797,000 after acquiring an additional 906,172 shares during the last quarter. Soros Fund Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the 3rd quarter worth $41,088,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 14.6% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 5,726,704 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $264,917,000 after acquiring an additional 727,649 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.48% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Synchrony Financial

In other news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of the company's 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 transaction, the insider now owns 127,587 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,291,879.13. This represents a 21.12 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Curtis Howse sold 21,934 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.13, for a total transaction of $1,209,221.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 99,743 shares in the company, valued at $5,498,831.59. This trade represents a 18.03 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Synchrony Financial Stock Up 0.0 %

Shares of SYF stock traded up $0.03 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $67.95. 4,859,767 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,940,362. Synchrony Financial has a 12-month low of $35.12 and a 12-month high of $69.39. The business's fifty day moving average is $59.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $51.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.87, a P/E/G ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.63.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.94 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.77 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $3.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.76 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 16.64%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.48 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Synchrony Financial will post 6.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 4th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 4th. Synchrony Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 13.05%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently issued reports on SYF. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $55.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Synchrony Financial from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $60.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $68.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Barclays lifted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $49.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Synchrony Financial currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $60.68.

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.