Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Stake Reduced by Kwmg LLC

Kwmg LLC cut its position in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 13.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 112,662 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 16,985 shares during the quarter. Kwmg LLC's holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $7,323,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wedmont Private Capital raised its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 7,700 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $491,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank lifted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 4.9% in the fourth quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 84,418 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $5,487,000 after acquiring an additional 3,907 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 20,208 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,314,000 after acquiring an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC increased its position in Synchrony Financial by 28.8% during the 4th quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 63,672 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $4,139,000 after purchasing an additional 14,255 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB raised its stake in Synchrony Financial by 18.5% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 3,083,329 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $200,756,000 after purchasing an additional 481,750 shares during the last quarter. 96.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Synchrony Financial Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of NYSE:SYF traded up $1.11 during trading on Monday, hitting $64.88. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,712,728 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,598,404. The company has a market capitalization of $25.26 billion, a PE ratio of 8.47, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.64. Synchrony Financial has a fifty-two week low of $35.29 and a fifty-two week high of $69.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.25. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $65.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $55.52.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.94 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $3.81 billion during 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 revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.48 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Synchrony Financial will post 6.51 EPS for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 4th were given a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 4th. Synchrony Financial's payout ratio is currently 13.05%.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Curtis Howse sold 21,934 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction 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 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of Synchrony Financial stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total transaction of $2,220,253.37. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 127,587 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,291,879.13. This represents a 21.12 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird set a $62.00 price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. StockNews.com raised Synchrony Financial from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $68.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. JMP Securities reissued a "market outperform" rating and issued a $60.00 price target on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Finally, Compass Point upped their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $65.45.

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.