Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Given Average Recommendation of “Hold” by Brokerages

Shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) have been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the eighteen brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $160.07.

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial assumed coverage on Discover Financial Services in a report on Tuesday. They set a “buy” rating and a $233.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Discover Financial Services from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Evercore ISI increased their price target 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. Barclays upgraded shares of Discover Financial Services from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $137.00 to $186.00 in a research note on Monday. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Discover Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th.

Discover Financial Services Stock Down 1.0 %

NYSE:DFS opened at $175.89 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $44.19 billion, a PE ratio of 14.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.46. Discover Financial Services has a 52 week low of $96.46 and a 52 week high of $188.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $174.36 and a 200-day moving average of $149.88.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.28 by $0.41. Discover Financial Services had a net margin of 13.78% and a return on equity of 21.38%. The company had revenue of $5.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.36 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.59 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Discover Financial Services will post 13.43 EPS for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 21st were paid a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 21st. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.59%. Discover Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.60%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in DFS. Fulton Bank N.A. boosted its stake in Discover Financial Services by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 6,480 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,123,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services by 11.1% in the fourth quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 20,155 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,491,000 after purchasing an additional 2,017 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its position in shares of Discover Financial Services by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 342,085 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $59,307,000 after buying an additional 2,203 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services by 19.0% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,645 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $805,000 after buying an additional 742 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in Discover Financial Services by 56.9% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,290 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $223,000 after buying an additional 468 shares during the period. 86.94% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.