NORTHSTAR ASSET MANAGEMENT Co LLC Acquires New Stake in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

NORTHSTAR ASSET MANAGEMENT Co LLC purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund purchased 1,250 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $217,000.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. DiNuzzo Private Wealth Inc. lifted its position in Discover Financial Services by 506.5% during the third quarter. DiNuzzo Private Wealth Inc. now owns 188 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares during the last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust raised its position in shares of Discover Financial Services by 78.1% during the 4th quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 203 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter worth $37,000. Finally, Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new position in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at $47,000. Institutional investors own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

Discover Financial Services Stock Down 1.5 %

NYSE DFS opened at $199.73 on Monday. Discover Financial Services has a 1 year low of $106.65 and a 1 year high of $205.76. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.19 billion, a PE ratio of 12.51, a PEG ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The business’s 50-day moving average is $183.23 and its 200 day moving average is $159.09.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 26.18% and a net margin of 17.29%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Discover Financial Services will post 13.57 earnings per share for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.40%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. Discover Financial Services’s payout ratio is currently 17.54%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays lifted their price target on Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Discover Financial Services from $233.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Discover Financial Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $150.00 to $239.00 in a report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of Discover Financial Services from $156.00 to $163.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $186.46.

About Discover Financial Services

Discover Financial Services, through its subsidiaries, provides digital banking products and services, and payment services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Digital Banking and Payment Services. The Digital Banking segment offers Discover-branded credit cards to individuals; personal loans, home loans, and other consumer lending; and direct-to-consumer deposit products comprising savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, IRA certificates of deposit, IRA savings accounts and checking accounts, and sweep accounts.