Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. Trims Stock Holdings in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. lessened its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 1.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 92,482 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 945 shares during the quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $6,011,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter valued at $347,903,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 340.9% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,512,340 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $163,303,000 after acquiring an additional 1,942,573 shares during the period. Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super acquired a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter worth approximately $35,986,000. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 18.5% in the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 3,083,329 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $200,756,000 after purchasing an additional 481,750 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP increased its position in Synchrony Financial by 258.0% during the fourth quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 586,678 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $38,134,000 after purchasing an additional 422,800 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Synchrony Financial Trading Down 1.0 %

NYSE SYF opened at $51.42 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $19.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 1.24. Synchrony Financial has a 12 month low of $40.55 and a 12 month high of $70.93. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $52.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $60.23.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The financial services provider reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.26. The business had revenue of $3.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.80 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 18.30%. As a group, research analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 5th will be given a $0.30 dividend. This is a positive change from Synchrony Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 5th. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.33%. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.71%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on SYF shares. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $65.00 to $57.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $76.00 to $50.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $70.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Synchrony Financial from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $63.95.

Synchrony Financial 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.