Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Short Interest Down 12.8% in March

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 12,680,000 shares, a decline of 12.8% from the February 28th total of 14,540,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 4,130,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.1 days. Approximately 3.3% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $77.00 to $65.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Synchrony Financial from $85.00 to $70.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday. UBS Group upped their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Compass Point downgraded shares of Synchrony Financial from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $70.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Synchrony Financial currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $68.26.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Synchrony Financial

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bogart Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. TCTC Holdings LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 111.5% during the fourth quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 480 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares in the last quarter. Accredited Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 151.4% during the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 807 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 486 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.48% of the company's stock.

Synchrony Financial Trading Down 6.0 %

SYF traded down $2.80 on Friday, reaching $43.76. 9,503,831 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,871,908. Synchrony Financial has a twelve month low of $39.67 and a twelve month high of $70.93. The company's 50 day moving average is $59.21 and its 200-day moving average is $60.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.24. The company has a market cap of $17.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.12, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.67.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.02. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 18.30%. Equities analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial's dividend payout ratio is presently 11.71%.

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.