Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Receives an Average “Moderate Buy” Recommendation from Brokerages

Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF – Get a rating) received an average rating of “moderate buy” from the seventeen analysts who currently cover the stock, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst rated the stock with a sell rating, four gave the company a hold rating and seven gave the company a buy rating. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that updated their coverage on the stock in the past year is $44.00.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on SYF. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Synchrony Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a Thursday, Aug. 25, report. Credit Suisse Group raised its price target on Synchrony Financial shares from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a Tuesday, July 19 research note. Barclays cut its price target on Synchrony Financial shares from $64.00 to $49.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a Monday July 11 research note. Stephens raised his price target on Synchrony Financial shares from $29.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a Tuesday, July 19 research note. Finally, Piper Sandler set a price target of $41.00 on Synchrony Financial shares in a Tuesday, July 19 research note.

Synchrony financial price performance

NYSE:SYF shares opened at $33.42 on Friday. The company’s fifty-day moving average price is $32.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $34.48. The company has a market capitalization of $16.10 billion, a price/earnings ratio of 4.88, a PEG ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 1.56. Synchrony Financial has a 1-year low of $27.22 and a 1-year high of $52.49. The company has a debt ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 1.21.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF – Get a rating) last released its quarterly results on Monday, July 18. The financial services provider reported EPS of $1.60 for the quarter, beating analyst consensus estimates of $1.43 by $0.17. The company posted revenue of $3.80 billion for the quarter, versus analyst estimates of $2.74 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 22.76% and a return on equity of 27.06%. In the same quarter of the previous year, the company achieved EPS of $2.12. On average, equity research analysts expect Synchrony Financial to post earnings per share of 5.79 for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial increases its dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 11. Shareholders of record on Monday August 1 received a dividend of $0.23. This represents an annualized dividend of $0.92 and a dividend yield of 2.75%. This is a boost from Synchrony Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 29. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 13.43%.

Institutional investors weigh in on Synchrony Financial

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently changed their holdings in SYF. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in Q2 for a value of approximately $28,000. Clear Street Markets LLC increased its stake in Synchrony Financial shares by 392.0% in Q2. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 1,048 shares of the financial services provider worth $29,000 after acquiring 835 additional shares in the last quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial in Q2 for a value of approximately $31,000. Quent Capital LLC increased its stake in Synchrony Financial shares by 50.1% in Q1. Quent Capital LLC now owns 1,003 shares of the financial services provider worth $35,000 after acquiring 335 additional shares in the last quarter. Finally, Column Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stock position in Synchrony Financial in Q1 for about $37,000. 94.12% of the shares are held by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Synchrony Financial Company Profile

(Get a rating)

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 cards, co-branded 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 for retail and commercial customers, as well as deposits through brokerage firms in third-party securities.

Further reading

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