Victory Capital Management Inc. Sells 5,882 Shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Victory Capital Management Inc. lessened its position in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 81,678 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 5,882 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $11,459,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in DFS. DiNuzzo Private Wealth Inc. increased its stake in Discover Financial Services by 506.5% in the 3rd quarter. DiNuzzo Private Wealth Inc. now owns 188 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 157 shares during the period. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services in the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd increased its stake in Discover Financial Services by 147.8% in the 2nd quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 223 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the period. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its stake in Discover Financial Services by 72.5% in the 2nd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 226 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the period. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Discover Financial Services by 348.2% in the 2nd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 251 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 195 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

Discover Financial Services Stock Up 0.2 %

DFS stock opened at $172.80 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $150.42 and a 200 day moving average of $136.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $43.39 billion, a PE ratio of 13.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. Discover Financial Services has a 52 week low of $85.19 and a 52 week high of $188.26.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $3.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.28 by $0.41. The company had revenue of $5.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.36 billion. Discover Financial Services had a net margin of 13.78% and a return on equity of 21.38%. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.59 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Discover Financial Services will post 13.23 earnings per share for the current year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 21st will be paid a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 21st. Discover Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.60%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

DFS has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Discover Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $148.00 to $161.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $156.00 to $163.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $152.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $138.81.

Discover Financial Services 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.