Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Shares Sold by Vision Capital Management Inc.

Vision Capital Management Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 2.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,523 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 391 shares during the period. Vision Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $2,343,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. DiNuzzo Private Wealth Inc. increased its stake in Discover Financial Services by 506.5% during the 3rd quarter. DiNuzzo Private Wealth Inc. now owns 188 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 157 shares during the period. Grove Bank & Trust boosted 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 worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the period. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new position in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth $47,000. 86.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Discover Financial Services Stock Up 1.7 %

DFS opened at $201.79 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The stock has a market cap of $50.71 billion, a PE ratio of 12.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.46. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $182.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $157.92. Discover Financial Services has a 1-year low of $104.08 and a 1-year high of $205.76.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 26.18% and a net margin of 17.29%. As a group, research analysts expect that Discover Financial Services will post 13.39 earnings per share for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Dividend Announcement

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 given a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. Discover Financial Services’s payout ratio is 17.54%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Discover Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $170.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective 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. Barclays upped their price target 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. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their target price on Discover Financial Services from $156.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock 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 eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $182.64.

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.