Yeomans Consulting Group Inc. Makes New Investment in Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF)

Yeomans Consulting Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 5,349 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $348,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Synchrony Financial by 151.4% during the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 807 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 486 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 76.4% during the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 111,680 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $7,259,000 after acquiring an additional 48,382 shares in the last quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 16.5% during the 4th quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 5,689 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $370,000 after acquiring an additional 807 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 19.0% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 2,334 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $152,000 after purchasing an additional 373 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Artemis Investment Management LLP bought a new stake in Synchrony Financial in the fourth quarter worth $2,331,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Synchrony Financial

In related news, insider Curtis Howse sold 21,934 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.13, for a total transaction of $1,209,221.42. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 99,743 shares in the company, valued at $5,498,831.59. This represents a 18.03 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 34,163 shares of Synchrony Financial stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.99, for a total value of $2,220,253.37. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have commented on SYF shares. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of 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. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on Synchrony Financial from $58.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. JMP Securities restated a “market outperform” rating and set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Compass Point lifted their target price on Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Synchrony Financial from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Synchrony Financial currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $65.45.

Synchrony Financial Price Performance

Shares of SYF stock opened at $70.39 on Friday. Synchrony Financial has a twelve month low of $37.64 and a twelve month high of $70.93. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $66.53 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $56.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $27.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.19, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.64.

Synchrony Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced 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. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 3rd. Synchrony Financial’s payout ratio is 13.05%.

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.