Empirical Finance LLC Sells 256 Shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Empirical Finance LLC reduced its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) by 1.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 15,243 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 256 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC’s holdings in Synchrony Financial were worth $991,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in SYF. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Synchrony Financial by 92.7% in the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 607 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd grew its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 111.5% during the fourth quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 480 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 301.3% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 899 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 675 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial in the third quarter worth $50,000. Finally, Raleigh Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 151.4% during the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 807 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 486 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

NYSE:SYF opened at $65.45 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.48 billion, a PE ratio of 7.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. Synchrony Financial has a 12-month low of $38.25 and a 12-month high of $70.93. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $67.17 and a 200 day moving average price of $58.11.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.89 by $0.02. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 18.30% and a net margin of 15.36%. Research analysts anticipate that Synchrony Financial will post 7.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 3rd. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.53%. Synchrony Financial’s payout ratio is presently 11.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on SYF. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Synchrony Financial from $72.50 to $82.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Barclays raised Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $59.00 to $79.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised Synchrony Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $60.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $69.30.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total transaction of $2,220,253.37. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 127,587 shares in the company, valued at $8,291,879.13. This trade represents a 21.12 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.33% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.