Freedom Together Foundation Sells 32,000 Shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Freedom Together Foundation lowered its stake in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 80.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 7,629 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 32,000 shares during the quarter. Discover Financial Services accounts for 0.1% of Freedom Together Foundation’s portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. Freedom Together Foundation’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $1,322,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in DFS. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Grove Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services by 78.1% during the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Bfsg LLC purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. bought a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on DFS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Discover Financial Services from $169.00 to $129.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. TD Securities decreased their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $188.00 to $184.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. UBS Group raised Discover Financial Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $150.00 to $239.00 in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Barclays increased their target price on Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Discover Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $191.64.

Discover Financial Services Stock Performance

Shares of Discover Financial Services stock opened at $190.10 on Friday. Discover Financial Services has a 1 year low of $119.95 and a 1 year high of $205.76. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $168.89 and its 200 day moving average is $176.46. The stock has a market cap of $47.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.91, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 1.03.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The financial services provider reported $4.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.33 by $0.92. The firm had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.25 billion. Discover Financial Services had a net margin of 17.29% and a return on equity of 26.18%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.10 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.