Vista Investment Partners II LLC Makes New $3.36 Million Investment in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Vista Investment Partners II LLC acquired a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor acquired 51,638 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $3,356,000. Synchrony Financial makes up 2.0% of Vista Investment Partners II LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in SYF. Bogart Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd boosted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 111.5% in the fourth quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 480 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its stake 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 valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 151.4% in the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter valued at $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Synchrony Financial Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of Synchrony Financial stock opened at $54.77 on Monday. Synchrony Financial has a 12-month low of $39.67 and a 12-month high of $70.93. The stock has a market cap of $21.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.41, a P/E/G ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. The business’s 50 day moving average is $64.91 and its 200-day moving average is $60.07.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.89 by $0.02. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 18.30% and a net margin of 15.36%. Equities research analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 3rd were issued a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.83%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio is 11.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have issued reports on SYF. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Barclays upgraded Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $59.00 to $79.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Synchrony Financial from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $40.00 to $82.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Synchrony Financial from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $59.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $69.30.

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.