Ensign Peak Advisors Inc Raises Stock Position in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Ensign Peak Advisors Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 40.0% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 573,340 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 163,783 shares during the period. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $99,320,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,489,000. Brookstone Capital Management purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter valued at $282,000. Meyer Handelman Co. acquired a new position in Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter worth $239,000. Mechanics Bank Trust Department purchased a new stake in Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter worth about $234,000. Finally, JBGlobal.com LLC acquired a new stake in Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $346,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

Discover Financial Services Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE DFS opened at $190.10 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $168.89 and a 200 day moving average price of $176.46. The stock has a market cap of $47.84 billion, a PE ratio of 11.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. Discover Financial Services has a 52-week low of $119.95 and a 52-week high of $205.76.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The financial services provider reported $4.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.33 by $0.92. The business had revenue of $4.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.25 billion. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 26.18% and a net margin of 17.29%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.10 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DFS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Argus raised shares of Discover Financial Services to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Barclays increased their target price on Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, TD Securities cut their price target on Discover Financial Services from $188.00 to $184.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Discover Financial Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $191.64.

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.