Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Shares Sold by Portfolio Design Labs LLC

Portfolio Design Labs LLC decreased its holdings in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 89.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 4,524 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 39,975 shares during the period. Portfolio Design Labs LLC's holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $226,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of SYF. Factorial Partners LLC raised its stake in Synchrony Financial by 12.2% during the 3rd quarter. Factorial Partners LLC now owns 101,000 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $5,038,000 after buying an additional 11,000 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 8.3% during the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 57,950 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,891,000 after purchasing an additional 4,417 shares in the last quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,690,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 1,166.6% in the third quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 53,348 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,661,000 after acquiring an additional 49,136 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caprock Group LLC grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 20.8% during the third quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 46,333 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,311,000 after purchasing an additional 7,985 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.48% of the company's stock.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

NYSE SYF traded up $0.75 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $65.15. The stock had a trading volume of 648,057 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,962,498. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a current ratio of 1.25. Synchrony Financial has a 52-week low of $29.15 and a 52-week high of $67.76. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $55.06 and a 200 day moving average of $49.47. The stock has a market cap of $25.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.59.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results 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. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 16.64% and a net margin of 13.98%. The firm had revenue of $3.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.76 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.48 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 6.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.53%. Synchrony Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 13.05%.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Curtis Howse sold 21,934 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.13, for a total value of $1,209,221.42. Following the sale, the insider now owns 99,743 shares of the company's stock, 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 legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the insider now owns 127,587 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,291,879.13. This trade represents a 21.12 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. TD Cowen increased their target price on Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $53.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Synchrony Financial from $37.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $64.00 to $72.50 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $57.43.

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.