Symmetry Investments LP Buys Shares of 20,000 Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Symmetry Investments LP acquired a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 20,000 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $3,465,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Bfsg LLC acquired a new position in Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Grove Bank & Trust boosted its stake 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 buying an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. 86.94% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Discover Financial Services Stock Performance

Shares of DFS opened at $172.47 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $170.61 and a two-hundred day moving average of $172.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Discover Financial Services has a one year low of $119.95 and a one year high of $205.76. The stock has a market cap of $43.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.81, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.20.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a net margin of 17.29% and a return on equity of 26.18%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. Discover Financial Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 17.54%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DFS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays boosted their price target on Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Discover Financial Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $169.00 to $129.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Discover Financial Services from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the company from $150.00 to $239.00 in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Discover Financial Services presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $188.40.

Discover Financial Services 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.

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