Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Shares Bought by Todd Asset Management LLC

Todd Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 7.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 665,300 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 44,625 shares during the period. Todd Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $25,408,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the third quarter valued at $35,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 44.1% during the fourth quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 1,274 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares during the period. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the fourth quarter valued at $55,000. Private Trust Co. NA increased its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 13.4% during the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 2,711 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $104,000 after purchasing an additional 320 shares during the period. Finally, Systematic Alpha Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the third quarter valued at $100,000. 96.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Brian D. Doubles sold 134,696 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total value of $5,557,556.96. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 660,353 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $27,246,164.78. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Curtis Howse sold 6,179 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.82, for a total value of $264,584.78. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 152,604 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,534,503.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Brian D. Doubles sold 134,696 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total value of $5,557,556.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 660,353 shares in the company, valued at $27,246,164.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.65% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Synchrony Financial Stock Up 1.3 %

Shares of Synchrony Financial stock traded up $0.60 during trading on Friday, hitting $45.60. 3,485,300 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,323,139. The stock has a market cap of $18.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.54, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.24. Synchrony Financial has a twelve month low of $26.59 and a twelve month high of $45.91. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $42.15 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $37.39.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The financial services provider reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.37 by ($0.19). The firm had revenue of $5.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.44 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 13.49% and a return on equity of 16.01%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.35 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 5.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Wednesday, April 24th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase up to 5.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 3rd. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.19%. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio is 14.35%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Oppenheimer reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Synchrony Financial in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. Barclays lifted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 9th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, April 25th. Wolfe Research raised Synchrony Financial from an “underperform” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $36.00 to $50.00 in a report on Thursday, April 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “underweight” rating and set a $30.00 target price on shares of Synchrony Financial in a report on Thursday, February 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $43.74.

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.