Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Invests $5.07 Million in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 29,290 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $5,074,000.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in DFS. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at $351,766,000. FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 8.0% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,493,862 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,051,314,000 after purchasing an additional 558,227 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC acquired a new position in Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter worth about $39,067,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,489,000. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,219,000. 86.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Discover Financial Services Price Performance

DFS traded up $0.43 on Friday, reaching $164.90. 1,942,331 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,410,225. The stock has a market cap of $41.49 billion, a PE ratio of 10.33, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Discover Financial Services has a twelve month low of $119.31 and a twelve month high of $205.76. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $186.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $168.86.

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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 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 26.18% and a net margin of 17.29%. Sell-side analysts expect that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 EPS for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd will be issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. Discover Financial Services's payout ratio is currently 17.54%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on DFS. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" 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. Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $262.00 to $219.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Discover Financial Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $192.40.

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.