Axa S.A. Sells 1,545 Shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Axa S.A. lowered its position in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 26.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,270 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 1,545 shares during the period. Axa S.A.’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $740,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of DFS. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 3.3% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 294,975 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $41,382,000 after buying an additional 9,463 shares during the period. Czech National Bank raised its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 6.4% during the fourth quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 54,438 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $9,430,000 after acquiring an additional 3,292 shares during the last quarter. Aprio Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth $225,000. City Center Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the fourth quarter worth $258,000. Finally, Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new position in Discover Financial Services during the 4th quarter worth $506,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. TD Securities decreased their price target on Discover Financial Services from $188.00 to $184.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $180.00 price objective on shares of Discover Financial Services in a research report on Wednesday. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $219.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Argus upgraded Discover Financial Services to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $191.64.

Discover Financial Services Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of Discover Financial Services stock opened at $190.10 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.09. Discover Financial Services has a 52 week low of $119.95 and a 52 week high of $205.76. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $168.89 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $176.46. The stock has a market capitalization 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.

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

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.