Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Shares Purchased by Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC

Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Free Report) by 32.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 10,174 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 2,484 shares during the period. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC's holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $1,762,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. National Pension Service grew its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 14.8% during the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 439,756 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $61,693,000 after acquiring an additional 56,814 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Discover Financial Services by 10.5% in the third quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 115,487 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $16,202,000 after buying an additional 10,946 shares during the last quarter. Brookstone Capital Management purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $282,000. Meyer Handelman Co. purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $239,000. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,415,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.94% of the company's stock.

Discover Financial Services Price Performance

Shares of DFS stock traded up $6.03 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $196.14. 1,238,124 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,519,959. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The firm has a market cap of $49.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.29, a P/E/G ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.46. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $184.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $160.75. Discover Financial Services has a fifty-two week low of $109.50 and a fifty-two week high of $205.76.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 forecast that Discover Financial Services will post 13.57 EPS for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Dividend Announcement

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 1.43%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. Discover Financial Services's payout ratio is currently 17.54%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on DFS. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Barclays upped their target price on Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Discover Financial Services from $233.00 to $262.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. StockNews.com downgraded Discover Financial Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Discover Financial Services from $156.00 to $163.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $186.46.

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.