Vista Investment Partners LLC Reduces Stock Position in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Vista Investment Partners LLC cut its holdings in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 0.2% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 80,381 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 177 shares during the period. Synchrony Financial accounts for 1.6% of Vista Investment Partners LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Vista Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $5,225,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 92.7% in the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 607 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP increased its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 301.3% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 899 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 675 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in Synchrony Financial in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $50,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 151.4% in 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 during the period. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 36.6% during the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,662 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $83,000 after purchasing an additional 445 shares in the last quarter. 96.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total value of $2,220,253.37. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 127,587 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,291,879.13. This trade represents a 21.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Curtis Howse sold 21,934 shares of Synchrony Financial stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the insider now owns 99,743 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,498,831.59. This trade represents a 18.03 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Synchrony Financial Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of SYF stock opened at $70.52 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.25. The business has a 50-day moving average of $66.75 and a 200 day moving average of $56.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $27.46 billion, a PE ratio of 9.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.64. Synchrony Financial has a 1-year low of $37.74 and a 1-year high of $70.93.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Investors of record on Monday, February 3rd will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s payout ratio is 13.05%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on SYF shares. UBS Group increased their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Evercore ISI raised their price target on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Compass Point boosted their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market outperform” rating and issued a $60.00 target price on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $72.50 to $82.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have assigned 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 an average target price of $67.30.

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.