Russell Investments Group Ltd. Decreases Stock Holdings in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Russell Investments Group Ltd. trimmed its position in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Free Report) by 18.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 228,271 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 50,219 shares during the quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned 0.09% of Discover Financial Services worth $39,521,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Grove Bank & Trust boosted its position in shares of Discover Financial Services by 78.1% during the 4th quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 203 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Bfsg LLC bought a new position in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter worth about $37,000. Institutional investors own 86.94% of the company's stock.

Discover Financial Services Stock Performance

NYSE:DFS traded down $1.64 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $156.98. The company had a trading volume of 1,581,144 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,582,131. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The business's 50 day moving average price is $175.40 and its 200-day moving average price is $172.09. Discover Financial Services has a 1-year low of $119.31 and a 1-year high of $205.76. The firm has a market cap 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.

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Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%. Research analysts forecast that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 EPS for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be paid a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. Discover Financial Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 17.54%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently commented on DFS. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Discover Financial Services from $169.00 to $129.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of Discover Financial Services from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $150.00 to $239.00 in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price 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.