National Pension Service Grows Holdings in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

National Pension Service increased its position in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Free Report) by 22.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 957,758 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 177,051 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned about 0.24% of Synchrony Financial worth $47,773,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Boston Partners increased its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 66.6% during the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 6,374,260 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $274,892,000 after purchasing an additional 2,548,180 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 402.8% in the second quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 1,520,209 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $71,739,000 after acquiring an additional 1,217,872 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 14.6% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 5,726,704 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $264,917,000 after acquiring an additional 727,649 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 400.2% during the second quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 842,539 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $39,751,000 after acquiring an additional 674,093 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Candriam S.C.A. increased its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 1,043.9% in the 2nd quarter. Candriam S.C.A. now owns 655,173 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $30,916,000 after acquiring an additional 597,900 shares during the period. 96.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Synchrony Financial Trading Down 4.3 %

Synchrony Financial stock traded down $2.87 during trading on Thursday, hitting $64.64. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,810,877 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,960,066. The stock's fifty day moving average is $51.84 and its 200 day moving average is $48.05. Synchrony Financial has a 1-year low of $28.84 and a 1-year high of $67.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.49, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.59. 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 (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $3.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.76 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 16.64%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.48 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 6.34 EPS for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 4th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.55%. Synchrony Financial's dividend payout ratio is presently 13.05%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $42.00 to $41.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Compass Point boosted their price target on Synchrony Financial from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $49.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. JMP Securities restated a "market outperform" rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $56.60.

Insider Transactions at Synchrony Financial

In other Synchrony Financial news, insider Brian J. Sr. Wenzel sold 74,698 shares of Synchrony Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.73, for a total transaction of $3,490,637.54. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 76,251 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,563,209.23. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Curtis Howse sold 21,934 shares of Synchrony Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.13, for a total transaction of $1,209,221.42. Following the sale, the insider now owns 99,743 shares in the company, valued at $5,498,831.59. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Brian J. Sr. Wenzel sold 74,698 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.73, for a total transaction of $3,490,637.54. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 76,251 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,563,209.23. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

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.