Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd Acquires 3,487 Shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd increased its holdings in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 341.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,507 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 3,487 shares during the quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $293,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of SYF. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,963,573 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $650,678,000 after purchasing an additional 205,641 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 7.4% during the 4th quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 5,509,314 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $358,105,000 after buying an additional 380,870 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter worth $347,903,000. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its position in Synchrony Financial by 18.5% during the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 3,083,329 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $200,756,000 after acquiring an additional 481,750 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 16.8% in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 1,943,817 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $126,348,000 after acquiring an additional 279,517 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Synchrony Financial Price Performance

Synchrony Financial stock opened at $44.82 on Tuesday. Synchrony Financial has a 52-week low of $39.67 and a 52-week high of $70.93. The company has a market cap of $17.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.25, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.45. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $58.71 and its 200 day moving average is $60.66. The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.02. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 18.30% and a net margin of 15.36%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Synchrony Financial will post 7.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 3rd were issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 3rd. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.23%. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.71%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on SYF. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $70.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Synchrony Financial from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $59.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “equal weight” rating and set a $44.00 target price (down from $82.00) on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research report on Monday. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on Synchrony Financial from $62.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $66.26.

Synchrony Financial 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.