Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) Position Trimmed by AQR Capital Management LLC

AQR Capital Management LLC trimmed its stake in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) by 2.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 147,189 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 3,023 shares during the quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC owned 0.06% of Discover Financial Services worth $25,498,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in DFS. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB grew its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services by 117.6% during the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 7,869 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,104,000 after acquiring an additional 4,253 shares in the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC boosted its position in Discover Financial Services by 7.0% during the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 14,415 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,022,000 after purchasing an additional 942 shares during the last quarter. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp grew its stake in Discover Financial Services by 15.7% in the third quarter. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp now owns 6,207 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $871,000 after purchasing an additional 842 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its position in Discover Financial Services by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 294,975 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $41,382,000 after purchasing an additional 9,463 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services by 56.9% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,290 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $223,000 after buying an additional 468 shares during the last quarter. 86.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Discover Financial Services Stock Performance

DFS opened at $190.25 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $168.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $175.20. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The stock has a market cap of $47.87 billion, a PE ratio of 11.92, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.20. Discover Financial Services has a 1 year low of $119.95 and a 1 year high of $205.76.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The financial services provider reported $4.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 analysts’ expectations of $4.25 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.10 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on DFS. StockNews.com cut Discover Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on 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 lifted their price target on shares of Discover Financial Services from $186.00 to $209.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. TD Securities decreased their price objective on shares of Discover Financial Services from $188.00 to $184.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Discover Financial Services presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $188.91.

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.