Valmark Advisers Inc. Grows Holdings in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Valmark Advisers Inc. raised its position in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 24.9% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,144 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 428 shares during the quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc.’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $371,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new position in Discover Financial Services during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Grove Bank & Trust increased its stake in Discover Financial Services by 78.1% during the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 203 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth about $37,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Discover Financial Services by 27.4% during the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 316 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Decker Retirement Planning Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $47,000. 86.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Discover Financial Services Stock Performance

Shares of DFS opened at $196.96 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $49.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.46. Discover Financial Services has a 52-week low of $118.74 and a 52-week high of $205.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $185.09 and a 200 day moving average price of $161.40.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a net margin of 17.29% and a return on equity of 26.18%. Research analysts predict that Discover Financial Services will post 13.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. Discover Financial Services’s payout ratio is 17.54%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Evercore ISI increased their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $156.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays increased their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Discover Financial Services from $170.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $186.46.

Discover Financial Services Company Profile

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.