Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Short Interest Up 16.8% in February

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 14,540,000 shares, an increase of 16.8% from the February 13th total of 12,450,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 3,800,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.8 days. Approximately 3.8% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

Shares of Synchrony Financial stock traded up $1.41 on Wednesday, reaching $54.46. The stock had a trading volume of 4,927,712 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,652,822. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $63.07 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $60.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.24. Synchrony Financial has a fifty-two week low of $39.67 and a fifty-two week high of $70.93. The stock has a market cap of $21.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.67.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 18.30%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 EPS for the current year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Investors of record on Monday, February 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s payout ratio is currently 11.71%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Compass Point downgraded shares of Synchrony Financial from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $70.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $60.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Synchrony Financial from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $40.00 to $82.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $70.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $68.70.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Synchrony Financial

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of SYF. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter valued at $347,903,000. Sachem Head Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Synchrony Financial during the 4th quarter valued at $142,838,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in 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 valued at $163,303,000 after purchasing an additional 1,942,573 shares during the last quarter. Azora Capital LP raised its stake in Synchrony Financial by 700.5% during the 4th quarter. Azora Capital LP now owns 2,107,839 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $137,010,000 after purchasing an additional 1,844,509 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 169.0% in the 4th quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 2,356,862 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $153,196,000 after purchasing an additional 1,480,702 shares during the last quarter. 96.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.