Round Hill Asset Management Lowers Position in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Round Hill Asset Management reduced its holdings in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Free Report) by 16.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,083 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 3,935 shares during the period. Discover Financial Services comprises about 2.5% of Round Hill Asset Management's holdings, making the stock its 11th largest holding. Round Hill Asset Management's holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $3,479,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Bfsg LLC bought a new stake in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter valued at about $35,000. Grove Bank & Trust increased its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 78.1% in the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 203 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the period. Finally, Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.94% of the company's stock.

Discover Financial Services Stock Down 1.0 %

Discover Financial Services stock traded down $1.64 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $156.98. The stock had a trading volume of 1,581,144 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,579,890. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.50 billion, a PE ratio of 9.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.20. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $175.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $171.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.09. Discover Financial Services has a fifty-two week low of $119.31 and a fifty-two week high of $205.76.

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Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 26.18% and a net margin of 17.29%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Discover Financial Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.78%. Discover Financial Services's payout ratio is currently 17.54%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DFS has been the subject of several research analyst reports. UBS Group upgraded shares of Discover Financial Services from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the company from $150.00 to $239.00 in a research note on Monday, January 13th. StockNews.com cut shares of Discover Financial Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Barclays boosted their price target on Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Discover Financial Services from $169.00 to $129.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $188.40.

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.