Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Stake Lessened by Cetera Investment Advisers

Cetera Investment Advisers decreased its position in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 50,296 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 539 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers’ holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $2,373,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SYF. V Square Quantitative Management LLC grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 19.4% during the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 11,709 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $447,000 after acquiring an additional 1,905 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the 4th quarter worth approximately $246,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 18.5% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 65,514 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,502,000 after purchasing an additional 10,207 shares in the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 8.2% during the fourth quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 11,872 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $453,000 after purchasing an additional 900 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 21.2% during the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 58,603 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,238,000 after buying an additional 10,242 shares in the last quarter. 96.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Synchrony Financial Price Performance

NYSE SYF opened at $53.15 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.34 billion, a PE ratio of 7.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.61. Synchrony Financial has a 12-month low of $27.30 and a 12-month high of $53.30. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $48.39 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $46.18.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $5.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.44 billion. Synchrony Financial had a net margin of 13.52% and a return on equity of 16.06%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.32 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Synchrony Financial will post 5.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 5th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.88%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 5th. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio is 14.35%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

SYF has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. BTIG Research downgraded Synchrony Financial from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Synchrony Financial from $49.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Synchrony Financial from $49.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $42.00 to $41.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 18th. Finally, Compass Point assumed coverage on shares of Synchrony Financial in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. They set a “buy” rating and a $56.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Synchrony Financial presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.43.

Insider Activity at Synchrony Financial

In other Synchrony Financial news, insider Brian J. Sr. Wenzel sold 74,698 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.73, for a total transaction of $3,490,637.54. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 76,251 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,563,209.23. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Bart Schaller sold 930 shares of Synchrony Financial stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.84, for a total value of $47,281.20. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 49,390 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,510,987.60. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Brian J. Sr. Wenzel sold 74,698 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.73, for a total value of $3,490,637.54. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 76,251 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,563,209.23. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.33% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Synchrony Financial

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.