iSAM Funds UK Ltd Invests $399,000 in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

iSAM Funds UK Ltd acquired a new position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 7,999 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $399,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in SYF. Southpoint Capital Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 37.9% in the 3rd quarter. Southpoint Capital Advisors LP now owns 4,600,000 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $229,448,000 after purchasing an additional 1,265,000 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 402.8% in the second quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 1,520,209 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $71,739,000 after acquiring an additional 1,217,872 shares in the last quarter. Soros Fund Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the third quarter worth $41,088,000. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 14.6% during the second 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 400.2% in the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 842,539 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $39,751,000 after purchasing an additional 674,093 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.48% of the company's stock.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:SYF traded up $1.00 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $67.92. The company had a trading volume of 3,423,147 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,582,129. Synchrony Financial has a 12-month low of $34.42 and a 12-month high of $69.00. The company has a fifty day moving average of $59.42 and a two-hundred day moving average of $51.37. The company has a market cap of $26.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.87, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.25.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.77 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $3.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.76 billion. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 16.64% and a net margin of 13.98%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.48 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Synchrony Financial will post 6.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Compass Point increased their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. JMP Securities restated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial in a report on Monday, October 14th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $58.68.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Curtis Howse sold 21,934 shares of Synchrony Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.13, for a total transaction of $1,209,221.42. Following the sale, the insider now owns 99,743 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,498,831.59. This trade represents a 18.03 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total transaction of $2,220,253.37. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 127,587 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,291,879.13. This trade represents a 21.12 % 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 Company 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.