Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Coverage Initiated by Analysts at StockNews.com

StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) in a report published on Monday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

Several other research analysts have also commented on the stock. Wolfe Research reissued a peer perform rating on shares of Discover Financial Services in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $105.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Seaport Res Ptn cut Discover Financial Services from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 15th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Discover Financial Services from $116.00 to $104.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Discover Financial Services from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $126.29.

Discover Financial Services Stock Down 1.2 %

Discover Financial Services stock opened at $122.81 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $30.78 billion, a PE ratio of 14.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.12. Discover Financial Services has a fifty-two week low of $79.04 and a fifty-two week high of $131.65. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $125.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $112.43.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.98 by ($1.88). Discover Financial Services had a net margin of 10.56% and a return on equity of 17.07%. The firm had revenue of $4.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.07 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.58 EPS. Research analysts expect that Discover Financial Services will post 11.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 23rd will be issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 22nd. Discover Financial Services’s payout ratio is 31.93%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Discover Financial Services

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Swedbank AB purchased a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $13,322,000. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Tidal Investments LLC lifted its stake in Discover Financial Services by 122.6% in the first quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 12,094 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,585,000 after buying an additional 6,662 shares during the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services by 10.0% in the first quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 404,849 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $53,072,000 after acquiring an additional 36,941 shares during the period. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Discover Financial Services by 74.0% during the first quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 7,976 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,046,000 after acquiring an additional 3,391 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

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; private student loans, 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.