WINTON GROUP Ltd Sells 14,617 Shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

WINTON GROUP Ltd cut its stake in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 37.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 24,776 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 14,617 shares during the period. WINTON GROUP Ltd’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $1,169,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Principal Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter valued at about $60,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in Synchrony Financial by 19.7% during the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 29,688 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,134,000 after acquiring an additional 4,877 shares during the last quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance purchased a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial during the fourth quarter worth approximately $245,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the 4th quarter worth approximately $182,739,000. Finally, Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 14.7% in the 4th quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd now owns 49,708 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,898,000 after purchasing an additional 6,371 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on SYF. Morgan Stanley reissued an “underweight” rating and issued a $30.00 price target on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research note on Wednesday, June 12th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Synchrony Financial from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. Compass Point assumed coverage on Synchrony Financial in a research report on Tuesday, July 16th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $56.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised Synchrony Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Finally, JMP Securities lifted their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $49.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $50.41.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Bart Schaller sold 930 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.84, for a total value of $47,281.20. Following the sale, the insider now owns 49,390 shares in the company, valued at $2,510,987.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Bart Schaller sold 930 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.84, for a total value of $47,281.20. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 49,390 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,510,987.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Brian J. Sr. Wenzel sold 74,698 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.73, for a total value of $3,490,637.54. Following the sale, the insider now owns 76,251 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,563,209.23. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

Shares of SYF stock opened at $47.13 on Monday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $48.29 and its 200-day moving average price is $45.07. The stock has a market cap of $18.63 billion, a PE ratio of 6.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.62. The company has a current ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. Synchrony Financial has a 12 month low of $27.30 and a 12 month high of $52.67.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $5.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.44 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 13.52% and a return on equity of 16.06%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.32 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Synchrony Financial will post 5.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 15th. Investors of record on Monday, August 5th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 5th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.12%. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.35%.

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.