Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Stock Holdings Increased by Governors Lane LP

Governors Lane LP increased its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 1.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 262,082 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,300 shares during the quarter. Discover Financial Services makes up approximately 3.5% of Governors Lane LP’s holdings, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Governors Lane LP’s holdings in Discover Financial Services were worth $45,400,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 28,223 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,921,000 after purchasing an additional 1,138 shares during the period. Empyrean Capital Partners LP purchased a new position in Discover Financial Services during the fourth quarter worth about $100,993,000. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc boosted its stake in Discover Financial Services by 40.0% in the 4th quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 573,340 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $99,320,000 after buying an additional 163,783 shares during the last quarter. Ethic Inc. grew its holdings in Discover Financial Services by 41.7% in the 4th quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 22,826 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,954,000 after buying an additional 6,723 shares during the period. Finally, DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main increased its stake in shares of Discover Financial Services by 57.8% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 11,306 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,959,000 after acquiring an additional 4,140 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. 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 target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $185.00 to $214.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. UBS Group upgraded Discover Financial Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $150.00 to $239.00 in a report on Monday, January 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Discover Financial Services from $169.00 to $129.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Discover Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Eight 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $191.64.

Discover Financial Services Price Performance

DFS stock opened at $190.10 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $47.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.16. 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 1 year low of $119.95 and a 1 year high of $205.76. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $168.89 and a 200-day simple moving average of $176.46.

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

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; 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.