Mariner LLC Raises Stock Position in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Mariner LLC boosted its position in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 5.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 47,042 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,338 shares during the quarter. Mariner LLC’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $8,149,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of DFS. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Grove Bank & Trust boosted 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 acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Bfsg LLC purchased a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter worth approximately $37,000. 86.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Discover Financial Services Stock Performance

NYSE:DFS opened at $159.91 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.09. Discover Financial Services has a fifty-two week low of $119.95 and a fifty-two week high of $205.76. The firm has a market cap of $40.23 billion, a PE ratio of 10.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.20. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $171.42 and a 200-day moving average price of $172.34.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a net margin of 17.29% and a return on equity of 26.18%. Equities research analysts predict that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.75%. Discover Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 17.54%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on DFS. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. StockNews.com downgraded Discover Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Truist Financial cut their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $262.00 to $219.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Discover Financial Services has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $188.40.

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.