Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Downgraded to “Hold” Rating by StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Friday.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on the stock. Evercore ISI raised their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $156.00 to $163.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Truist Financial began coverage on Discover Financial Services in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $233.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group raised Discover Financial Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $150.00 to $239.00 in a research note on Monday, January 13th. 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, January 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $160.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $180.57.

Discover Financial Services Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of Discover Financial Services stock opened at $201.59 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.63, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.46. Discover Financial Services has a twelve month low of $101.71 and a twelve month high of $204.93. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $178.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $154.01.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 27.52% and a net margin of 17.29%. Equities research analysts forecast that Discover Financial Services will post 12.82 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 is Friday, May 23rd. Discover Financial Services’s payout ratio is 17.54%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. DiNuzzo Private Wealth Inc. grew 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 acquiring an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services during the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. Grove Bank & Trust grew its position in Discover Financial Services by 78.1% during the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 203 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. acquired a new position in Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 37.1% during the 3rd quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 292 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the period. 86.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Discover Financial Services

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.