Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Shares Sold by E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB

E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB decreased its stake in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 12.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,280 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 1,320 shares during the period. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $1,302,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in DFS. Trust Co. of Virginia VA acquired a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the first quarter valued at about $223,000. Vicus Capital purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $224,000. River Street Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Discover Financial Services by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. River Street Advisors LLC now owns 9,932 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,302,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC increased its holdings in Discover Financial Services by 159.9% during the 1st quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC now owns 27,705 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,632,000 after acquiring an additional 17,046 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HFG Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $200,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

Discover Financial Services Trading Up 4.1 %

Shares of DFS stock opened at $148.93 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $37.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. Discover Financial Services has a fifty-two week low of $79.04 and a fifty-two week high of $157.06. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $138.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $131.54.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.28 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.36 billion. Discover Financial Services had a net margin of 12.88% and a return on equity of 20.92%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.59 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Discover Financial Services will post 13.15 EPS for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 21st will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.88%. Discover Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.93%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $115.00 to $119.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, July 19th. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $140.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $135.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, July 19th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $152.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $148.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $136.12.

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.