Últimas noticias sobre Discover Finl (NYSE:DFS) Bolsa

Discover Finl

Discover Financial Services is a bank operating in two distinct segments: direct banking and payment services. The company issues credit and debit cards and provides other consumer banking products including deposit accounts and personal loans. It also operates the Discover, Pulse, and Diners Club networks. The Discover network is the fourth-largest payment network in the United States as ranked by overall purchase volume, and Pulse is one of the largest ATM networks in the country.

Discover Financial Services

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Regional banks still have room to run and thrive even as it is &#8220;easy to overstate the advantage&#8221; for big banks, says Truist Securities in its latest note, highlighting three key paths for regional banks to succeed.
What Happened: Big banks have clear economies of scale, and they have been re-rated relative to small banks with the top five U.S. banks holding about 47% market share for a decade. According to the Truist Securities note, dated Jan. 6, the big banks are in a better position, but at the same time, individual regionals can position themselves to thrive.
Truist initiated coverage on 14 regional financial companies outlining three key strategies relating to pace, magnitude, and quality for the regional banks to remain competitive.
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Growth: Focus on unique and sustainable growth opportunities via differentiated customer base, a different form of fee Income and a niche business with competitive moat. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Disciplined Capital Allocation: Efficiently deploy capital to support growth and enhance shareholder value.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Adapt to changing market conditions, including interest rates, yield curve shifts, loan and deposit growth, and commercial real estate market dynamics.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Regional Banks</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBAN#NASDAQ">HBAN</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>M&amp;T Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$151</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Citizens Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Comerica Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMA#NYSE">CMA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCNCA#NASDAQ">FCNCA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$2,303</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Regions Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$25</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cards</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ally Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALLY#NYSE">ALLY</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$350</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Capital One Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$229</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Discover Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Synchrony Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYF#NYSE">SYF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$72</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42867184/yield-curve-normalization-cheap-valuation-eps-growth-to-boost-banks-in-2025-truist-initiates-coverage-on-these-14-regional-names">Yield Curve Normalization, Cheap Valuation, EPS Growth To Boost Banks In 2025: Truist Initiates Coverage On These 14 Regional Names</a>
Why It Matters: The three listed key paths for regional banks and card companies to thrive can be differentiated and linked to the stocks as mentioned by Truist in their research note.
Differentiated Growth Stories
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Customer Base: American Express Co has an exclusive high-end customer base, which would require an investment of over $100 billion to replicate, according to Truist. On the other hand, Fifth Third Bancorp has a unique ability to organically build a strong deposit market share.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Form of Fee Income: Capital One Financial Corp has seen an expansion of network revenues following the acquisition of Discover. While, KeyCorp&#8217;s leading regional investment banking franchise will be favored by given the potential for increased deal activity driven by the Federal Reserve&#8217;s interest rate cuts and anticipated political changes.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Niche Business with Competitive Moat: Wintrust Financial Corp secures a dominant position in the highly profitable insurance premium finance market. Whereas, Huntington Bancshares Inc&#8216;s differentiated approach, including its expansion into new lending areas, will support its continued strong performance in loan, deposit, and fee growth across high-quality markets.</li>
</ul>
Disciplined Capital Deployment
<ul>
<li>Another way in which the regional banks could thrive includes a disciplined capital deployment which typically follows organic growth first, followed by dividends and buybacks, and potentially mergers and acquisitions. However, the key lies not in the order itself, but in the flexibility and agility with which banks can adjust their capital allocation strategy in response to evolving company, industry, and macroeconomic conditions.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Truist believes some banks are attractively valued for share repurchases. M&amp;T Bank Corp&#8216;s CFO in a recent conference hinted at higher buybacks in 2025.</li>
</ul>
Navigating The Evolving Landscape
<ul>
<li>According to Truist, it&#8217;s not unusual for multiple challenges to arise simultaneously. The current environment has witnessed sluggish loan and deposit growth amidst rapid interest rate hikes. However, it is anticipated that at least some of these headwinds will begin to abate in the coming year, leading to a more favorable environment for the banking sector</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>CRE Valuation: Banks with significant commercial real estate exposure in high-growth, high-income markets, such as Fifth Third and Huntington, are well-positioned for future CRE origination opportunities. M&amp;T and Citizens Financial Group Inc. will also benefit from an eventual improvement in market conditions.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42836744/baby-its-cold-outside-these-5-winter-ready-stocks-have-what-it-takes-to-make-you-feel-warm-and-cozy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baby, It's Cold Outside: These 5 Winter-Ready Stocks Have What It Takes To Make You Feel Warm And Cozy</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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Regional Banks Can Thrive Despite Big Bank Dominance: Truist Securities Highlights Three Key Paths For Thriving Regional Banks

Analysts at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/truist-securities">Truist Securities</a> initiated coverage on 24 large-cap, regional, and trust banks, as well as credit card companies. They anticipate strong earnings growth over the next two years, projecting an annual increase of 12-15% fueled by factors like improving loan growth, a steeper yield curve, and ample capital for expansion.
What Happened: Forecasting a favorable environment for banks in 2025 and 2026, the analysts at Truist foresee a less stringent regulatory environment, with more clarity and flexibility for banks regarding mergers and acquisitions, and the deployment of excess capital.
The note highlighted that the banking stocks were de-rated during the first two years of Trump 1.0 because the yield curve was flattened and late-cycle macro concerns surfaced, even as the administration enacted bank-friendly tax reform and regulatory tailoring. However, according to the brokerage, a little Fed easing and a steeper curve are necessary for the stocks to be re-rated and two rate cuts are expected in 2025, as hinted by Fed during their December meeting. 
According to Truist, while bank valuations have increased, they remain relatively attractive compared to historical levels. They currently trade at a price-to-book value (P/TBV) below their post-financial crisis average, and at a significant discount to the broader market. The note adds that given the current market valuations, bank stocks appear undervalued relative to the S&amp;P 500.
However, despite Truist beliefs that the sector offers attractive opportunities, careful stock selection is crucial according to them. &#8220;While we're not at &#8216;close your eyes and buy ‘em levels,&#8217; we still see attractive opportunities across the sector and view stock selection as increasingly important,&#8221; the note said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42836744/baby-its-cold-outside-these-5-winter-ready-stocks-have-what-it-takes-to-make-you-feel-warm-and-cozy">Baby, It&#8217;s Cold Outside: These 5 Winter-Ready Stocks Have What It Takes To Make You Feel Warm And Cozy</a>
Why It Matters: Truist&#8217;s coverage on 24 financial stocks is spread across three subgroups namely, large-cap, regional, and trust banks, which is initiated with a positive outlook.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Large-Cap Banks</h3>
The research note examines long-term investment potential of large U.S. banks as these institutions possess significant advantages, including, &#8220;embedded offense&#8221; with the presence of strong existing businesses and customer relationships.
It also anticipates cyclical tailwinds and capital leverage for such banks given a favorable economic environment and the ability to effectively utilize capital for growth.
These factors position large U.S. banks to achieve organic growth by the expansion of core businesses, double-digit earnings growth and an attractive returns on equity.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Large Cap Banks</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Citigroup (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$85</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wells Fargo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$82</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$260</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PNC Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$215</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>US Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$54</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Regional Banks And Cards</h3>
Truist also initiated coverage on 14 regional financial companies outlining three key strategies for regional banks to remain competitive.
<ul>
<li>Differentiated Growth: Focus on unique and sustainable growth opportunities.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Disciplined Capital Allocation: Efficiently deploy capital to support growth and enhance shareholder value.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Navigating the Evolving Landscape: Adapt to changing market conditions, including interest rates, yield curve shifts, loan and deposit growth, and commercial real estate market dynamics.</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Regional Banks</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBAN#NASDAQ">HBAN</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>M&amp;T Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wintrust Financial (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WTFC#NASDAQ">WTFC</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$151</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Citizens Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CFG#NYSE">CFG</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Comerica Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMA#NYSE">CMA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCNCA#NASDAQ">FCNCA</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$2,303</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Regions Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$25</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cards</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ally Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALLY#NYSE">ALLY</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$350</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Capital One Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$229</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Discover Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Synchrony Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYF#NYSE">SYF</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$72</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trust Banks And Capital Markets</h3>
Truist anticipates gradual interest rate decreases, the eventual end of quantitative tightening, and a healthy economy and capital markets providing a competitive landscape to trust banks.
According to the analysts, investors should prioritize stocks with the potential for sustained operating leverage. Which is the ability to increase profitability significantly with relatively small increases in revenue. And stocks with strong capital returns, with high levels of income through dividends and share buybacks.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Trust Banks And Capital Markets</td>
<td>Rating</td>
<td>Price Target</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BK#NYSE">BK</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Charles Schwab (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>)</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$86</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Northern Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTRS#NASDAQ">NTRS</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>State Street (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STT#NYSE">STT</a>)</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$106</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42813271/as-billionaires-load-up-on-energy-stocks-given-trumps-proposed-policies-this-analyst-highlights-charlie-mungers-1962-oil-investment-which-can-outperform-all-the-rest">As Warren Buffett And Other Billionaires Load Up On Energy Stocks, This Analyst Highlights Charlie Munger&#8217;s 1962 Oil Investment Which Can &#8216;Outperform All The Rest&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

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Price Target

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

General

NTRS

SCHW

Yield Curve Normalization, Cheap Valuation, EPS Growth To Boost Banks In 2025: Truist Initiates Coverage On These 14 Regional Names

Discover Finl's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) short percent of float has risen 10.94% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.11 million shares sold short, which is 1.42% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.72 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Discover Finl Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736258411_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Discover Finl has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Discover Finl's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Discover Finl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.92%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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Short Ideas

(DFS) - Analyzing Discover Finl's Short Interest

Truist Securities analyst Brian Foran initiates coverage on Discover Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $233.

Truist Securities Initiates Coverage On Discover Finl with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $233

WIIM

Discover Financial shares are trading higher after Barclays upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raised its price target from $137 to $186.

Barclays analyst Terry Ma upgrades Discover Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and raises the price target from $137 to $186.

Upgrades

Barclays Upgrades Discover Finl to Overweight, Raises Price Target to $186

In the last three months, 7 analysts have published ratings on Discover Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>), offering a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The following table provides a quick overview of their recent ratings, highlighting the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts' evaluations of 12-month price targets offer additional insights, showcasing an average target of $172.43, with a high estimate of $232.00 and a low estimate of $150.00. This upward trend is evident, with the current average reflecting a 13.76% increase from the previous average price target of $151.57.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1735941610_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Investigating Analyst Ratings: An Elaborate Study</h2>
A clear picture of Discover Finl's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Donald Fandetti</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Richard Shane</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sanjay Sakhrani</td>
<td>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$232.00</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Pancari</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>In-Line</td>
<td>$163.00</td>
<td>$156.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Donald Fandetti</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$152.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jon Arfstrom</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$161.00</td>
<td>$148.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Pancari</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>In-Line</td>
<td>$156.00</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Discover Finl. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Discover Finl compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for Discover Finl's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
For valuable insights into Discover Finl's market performance, consider these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators. Stay well-informed and make prudent decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DFS/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Discover Finl analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Discover Finl: A Closer Look</h2>
Discover Financial Services is a bank operating in two distinct segments: direct banking and payment services. The company issues credit and debit cards and provides other consumer banking products including deposit accounts and personal loans. It also operates the Discover, Pulse, and Diners Club networks. The Discover network is the fourth-largest payment network in the United States as ranked by overall purchase volume, and Pulse is one of the largest ATM networks in the country.
<h3>Financial Insights: Discover Finl</h3>
Market Capitalization Highlights: Above the industry average, the company's market capitalization signifies a significant scale, indicating strong confidence and market prominence.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Discover Finl showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 10.58% as of 30 September, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers.
Net Margin: Discover Finl's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 18.73% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): Discover Finl's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROE, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROE of 5.37%, the company showcases efficient use of equity capital and strong financial health.
Return on Assets (ROA): Discover Finl's ROA falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.55%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Discover Finl's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 1.13.
<h2>The Basics of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Analysts are specialists within banking and financial systems that typically report for specific stocks or within defined sectors. These people research company financial statements, sit in conference calls and meetings, and speak with relevant insiders to determine what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts will rate each stock once a quarter. 
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Demystifying Discover Finl: Insights From 7 Analyst Reviews

Wells Fargo analyst Donald Fandetti maintains Discover Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $160 to $185.

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Discover Finl, Raises Price Target to $185

SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>) has faced recent downgrades from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/upgrades/24/12/42407670/sofi-technologies-shares-fall-after-bofa-downgrade-over-valuation-concerns">analysts</a> citing concerns over the company&#8217;s high valuation. However, technical analysis, particularly moving averages, suggests potential support for the stock. 
What Happened: SoFi was downgraded to &#8216;underperform&#8217; by Keefe, Bruyette, and Woods (KBW), despite a recent rally driven by investor optimism and lower interest rates. While KBW slightly increased its price target, it expressed concerns about SOFI&#8217;s lofty valuation, deeming its long-term earnings potential insufficient to justify the current stock price.
The brokerage emphasized the challenges of achieving ambitious earnings targets, citing the need for significant revenue growth and margin improvement. KBW concluded that the current risk-reward profile for SOFI investors leans heavily toward potential losses.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>, the stock was nearly three times more expensive than its peers. The forward price-to-earnings for SoFi was 76.923, whereas the average of its peers stood at 26.384.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stocks</td>
<td>Market Cap</td>
<td>Forward P/E</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>American Express (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/axp#NYSE">AXP</a>)</td>
<td>209.453B</td>
<td>19.531</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Capital One Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</td>
<td>67.880B</td>
<td>11.696</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Discover Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>)</td>
<td>43.322B</td>
<td>14.065</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Synchrony Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SYF#NYSE">SYF</a>)</td>
<td>25.327B</td>
<td>9.709</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>)</td>
<td>16.711B</td>
<td>76.923</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>Average: 26.3848</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a></figcaption></figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/01/42754775/dollar-strength-to-be-driven-by-trumps-deregulation-tariff-and-tax-policies-in-2025-after-a-strong-2024">Dollar Strength To Be Driven By Trump&#8217;s Deregulation, Tariff And Tax Policies In 2025 After A Strong 2024 </a>
Why It Matters: In December, BofA Securities downgraded SoFi, citing overvaluation. They believed SoFi&#8217;s current stock price was ahead of its financial performance, trading at a significant premium to its peers.
Conversely, Jefferies maintained its &#8220;Buy&#8221; rating on SoFi and increased its price target, expressing optimism about the company&#8217;s future
From a technical perspective, the analysis of daily moving averages shows strong support for the SoFi Tech stock.
SoFi&#8217;s shares closed at $15.4 apiece on Tuesday, this was above its 50, and 200-day simple moving averages, suggesting a largely bullish trend. The 20-day moving average price was $15.86 apiece. 
These simple moving averages represent the average price of the security over the specified number of days. While 50 and 200-day averages represent longer-term prices, the eight and 20-day moving averages are for shorter periods. 
On the other hand, the relative strength index of 50.75 suggested that the stock is in the neutral zone.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02024249/SOFI-stock-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-714438" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02024249/SOFI-stock-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02024249/SOFI-stock-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02024249/SOFI-stock-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02024249/SOFI-stock-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02024249/SOFI-stock.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Price Action: The company shares rose 59.59% in 2024, outperforming the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which rose by 26.99%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com">Benzinga</a>, SoFi has a consensus price target of $9.98 per share based on the ratings of 26 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SOFI/analyst-ratings">analysts</a>. The highest price target out of all the analysts tracked by Benzinga is $16 apiece issued by JPMorgan as of Dec. 2, 2024. The lowest target price is $3 per share issued by Wedbush on April 30, 2024.
The average price target of $13.67 apiece between Morgan Stanley, B of A Securities, and JPMorgan implies an 11.14% downside for SoFi.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SOFI/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="942" height="349" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02024537/SOFI-ANR.png" alt="" class="wp-image-714441" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02024537/SOFI-ANR.png 942w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02024537/SOFI-ANR-300x111.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/02024537/SOFI-ANR-768x285.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 942px) 100vw, 942px" /></a></figure>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/01/42754939/sp-500-scaled-a-record-57-all-time-highs-in-2024-heres-what-analysts-think-is-in-store-in-2025">S&amp;P 500 Scaled A Record 57 All-Time Highs In 2024: Here&#8217;s What Analysts Think Is In Store This Year </a></li>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Downgrades

Technicals

ETFs

SOFI

SoFi Tech Downgraded Over Valuation Concerns: Stock Priced Three Times Its Peers

Discover Financial Restates Diluted EPS For Quarter Ended Sept 30, 2024 To $3.32

On Wednesday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced significant measures to protect consumers from deceptive <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/credit-cards" rel="noreferrer noopener">credit card</a> practices and help them save money on interest and fees.
These efforts include issuing a circular to law enforcement agencies, publishing new research on retail credit cards, and launching a comparison tool to aid consumers in navigating the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-takes-action-on-bait-and-switch-credit-card-rewards-tactics/" rel="noreferrer noopener">credit card market</a>.
Investors will closely watch credit card companies, including Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), Mastercard Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), American Express Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>), Affirm Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFRM#NASDAQ">AFRM</a>), Corpay, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CPAY#NYSE">CPAY</a>), Global Payments Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPN#NYSE">GPN</a>) and Shift4 Payments, Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOUR#NYSE">FOUR</a>).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42553094/jabil-q1-earnings-tops-expectations-cloud-and-data-center-growth-outlook" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jabil Q1 Earnings: Revenue And EPS Beat, Cloud and Data Center Growth, Raises Annual Outlook</a>
According to the CFPB, some credit card issuers may be engaging in illegal practices such as devaluing rewards points or miles, making it difficult for consumers to redeem promised benefits.
The agency highlighted that companies could face penalties if they fail to deliver advertised rewards, mislead users with hidden terms, or revoke rewards through unclear policies.
The circular aims to deter companies from engaging in bait-and-switch tactics and to encourage fair competition within the credit card industry.
As part of its ongoing research, the CFPB discovered that retail credit cards often charge higher interest rates than general-purpose cards. According to the study, more than 90% of retail cards carry a maximum annual percentage rate (APR) above 30%, compared to just 38% for non-retail cards.
Retail cards, frequently promoted during peak shopping seasons, also account for a disproportionate share of late fees, highlighting potential consumer risks.
The CFPB unveiled its &#8220;Explore Credit Cards&#8221; tool to address these concerns, designed to provide unbiased information about over 500 credit cards. Unlike traditional comparison sites, this platform enables users to compare cards based on interest rates, fees, and rewards without pay-to-play promotions.
Earlier this year, the CFPB revealed that larger credit card issuers charge significantly higher interest rates than smaller banks and credit unions. By making average interest rate data publicly accessible, the CFPB aims to empower consumers to make informed decisions and find the best rates tailored to their needs.
The CFPB plans to continue monitoring the credit card market and welcomes voluntary data contributions from additional issuers to enhance its comparison tool further.
In October, the CFPB ordered Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) to pay <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41501333/apple-goldman-sachs-fined-89-million-over-apple-card-missteps-government-watchdog-orders-victim-comp" rel="noreferrer noopener">$89 million in fines</a> for deceptive practices regarding the Apple Card.
In December, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) Wealth Management agreed to pay a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42405341/morgan-stanley-agrees-to-pay-15m-penalty-to-settle-sec-charges-over-advisors-stealing-client-funds" rel="noreferrer noopener">$15 million fine</a> after the SEC found the firm failed to prevent financial advisors from using client funds to cover personal credit card bills. The SEC investigation uncovered gaps in supervisory practices between 2015 and 2022, allowing unauthorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers to advisors&#8217; accounts.
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Photo via Shutterstock

Government

Regulations

AAPL

AFRM

CPAY

FOUR

Consumer Finance Watchdog Cracks Down on Credit Card Sneaky Fees and False Promises

<a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001393612/000139361224000062/dfs-20241213.htm" title="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001393612/000139361224000062/dfs-20241213.htm">https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001393612/000139361224000062/dfs-20241213.htm</a>

Discover Financial Services Credit Card Charge-Off Rate 2.41% At November End; Credit Card Delinquency Rate 1.77% At November End

JP Morgan analyst Richard Shane maintains Discover Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $135 to $150.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on Discover Finl, Raises Price Target to $150

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Sanjay Sakhrani maintains Discover Finl (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $170 to $232.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Outperform on Discover Finl, Raises Price Target to $232

The regional banking sector has spent much of the last two years making headlines for all the wrong reasons. <a href="https://www.fdic.gov/resources/resolutions/bank-failures/in-brief/2023">Bank failures</a> like Silicon Valley, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank rocked the sector, and the SPDR Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KRE#NYSE">KRE</a>) dropped more than 40% at the end of 2023.
Investors remained on edge to start 2024 following another pair of failures, but the sector has rebounded following the Federal Reserve's rate-cut strategy and the 2024 U.S. presidential election results.
The incoming Trump administration is expected to replace several top regulators, such as Linda Khan (at the FTC), Rohit Chopra (CFPB), and Gary Gensler (SEC), which could create an atmosphere for more mergers and acquisitions through less stringent regulation.
Regional banks stand to be some of the biggest beneficiaries of this attitude change, and KRE has already jumped 18% in the last month.
Let&#8217;s take a look at five of the most promising regional bank stocks to buy ahead of the new crop of regulators.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How We Narrowed It Down to Six Stocks to Buy</h2>
Looser capital guidelines and diminished regulatory scrutiny will benefit plenty of firms in the finance sector. We trimmed our regional bank stock list down to five based on the following criteria:
<ul>
<li>Beneficiary of Relaxed Deregulation &#8211; Several banking rules involving capital requirements (like Basel III) and liquidity standards could be relaxed during a second Trump admin, in addition to a more friendly M&amp;A environment. Regional banks can't meet these requirements as efficiently as larger national banks, so deregulation often benefits smaller banks.</li>
<li>Valuation Metrics &#8211; The banks on our list have affordable stocks compared to their sector peers based on metrics like Price-to-Earnings (P/E), Price-to-Sales (P/S), and Price-to-Book (P/B) rates.</li>
<li>Dividend Yield &#8211; If you own bank stocks, you want to be compensated with stock price appreciation and dividend income. These regional banks all pay higher dividend yields than the industry average.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Six Regional Banks to Buy</h2>
Based on the above criteria, here are five regional bank stocks to consider adding to your portfolio before a second Trump administration, and its new crop of top regulators, sets up shop in Washington.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>)</h3>
US Bancorp&#8217;s roots date back to the Civil War when it was awarded the 24th national bank charter of the United States. Today, it&#8217;s one of the largest regional banks in the United States, with a market cap of over $83 billion and 68,000 employees. USB shares have lagged in 2024, with a 23% year-to-date gain compared to 30% from KRE, but looser regulations could be a tailwind as the bank <a href="https://www.usbank.com/about-us-bank/company-blog/article-library/us-bancorp-completes-acquisition-of-union-bank.html">acquired MUFG Union Bank</a> in 2022 to expand operations into California, Oregon, and Washington. The stock has reasonable fundamental metrics like a 16.5 P/E ratio and 1.97 P/S ratio and pays a 3.73% dividend yield.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133051/USB-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670667" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133051/USB-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133051/USB-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133051/USB-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133051/USB.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>)</h3>
KeyCorp has a market cap under $20 billion and less reach than bigger regional banks like US Bancorp, but the stock makes our list thanks to a combination of good value, high dividend yield, and potential growth from deregulation. The bank has two segments: Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking, with the commercial wing focused on small and mid-size business services. KeyBanc Capital Markets is the company's M/A wheelhouse, having negotiated more than 500 clients on mergers in the mid-size business space. KEY stock has the highest P/E ratio of banks on our list at 19.4 but rewards shareholders with a 4.17% dividend yield, and its P/B rate is bottom third in the sector at 1.3.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133059/KEY-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670668" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133059/KEY-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133059/KEY-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133059/KEY-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133059/KEY.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Regions Financial Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>)</h3>
Regions Financial doesn't have a hundred-plus-year history like US Bancorp or KeyCorp, but it does offer a variety of banking and wealth management services to clients across the southern region. RF shares have actually outperformed KRE so far in 2024 (42% vs 30%), and its debt/equity level of 0.35 is the lowest of our selections, indicating a well-capitalized bank poised to benefit from more risk-taking. The stock pays a 3.66% dividend yield with a 13.4 P/E ratio and 1.48 P/B ratio.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133104/RF-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670669" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133104/RF-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133104/RF-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133104/RF-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133104/RF.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Truist Financial Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TFC#NYSE">TFC</a>)</h3>
Formed during the merger of SunTrust Bank and BB&amp;T Corp, Truist Financial is the second-largest regional bank on our list, and one of the reasons is that KRE is up more than 30% this year. TFC shares have matched the regional banking ETF performance almost penny for penny in 2024, but the stock remains well below its 2022 all-time high. Truist has the lowest P/B ratio on our list at 1.08, pays a 4.36% dividend yield, and recently sold off its insurance and asset management subsidiaries to improve its liquidity and capitalization situation. Truist mainly serves states east of the Mississippi River but plans to expand operations in the Sun Belt. These plans could benefit from increased M/A activity and deregulation in the next few years.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/matt-options-inner-circle-checkout-black-friday/?utm_source=WebRD-1129">BLACK FRIDAY: Don&#8217;t Miss Out on Big Gains With Matt Maley &#8211; $1000 Off</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133110/TFC-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670670" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133110/TFC-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133110/TFC-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133110/TFC-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133110/TFC.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">M&amp;T Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>)</h3>
M&amp;T Bank (which stands for Manufacturers and Traders) is one of the nation&#8217;s oldest banks, with predecessors tracing back as far as 1856. MTB has a $36 billion market cap and pays a 2.45% dividend, the lowest on our list but easily sustained by the company's income. The stock has been one of 2024's biggest success stories, posting an astonishing 60% gain in 2024, which doubled the regional banking ETF. Following the bank's strong October earnings report, more gains could be on the horizon, causing many analysts to upgrade their ratings and price targets. M&amp;T Bank has a 16.3 P/E ratio and a 1.4 P/B ratio, and its net profit margin of 18.7 is bested only by Regions Financial.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133115/MTB-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670671" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133115/MTB-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133115/MTB-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133115/MTB-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133115/MTB.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Discover Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>)&nbsp;</h3>
Discover Financial has been linked with Capital One since the latter announced intentions to purchase the former for $35 billion in February. However, the deal has been in limbo since New York regulators began investigating the acquisition for possible antitrust violations. DFS shares traded in a tight range from July until the week of the election, but both DFS and COF stocks immediately gapped up on the Wednesday following Trump's victory. Investors anticipate the deal going through in a less harsh regulatory environment, so DFS shares could continue to rally in the weeks ahead.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="395" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133121/DFS-1024x395.png" alt="" class="wp-image-670672" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133121/DFS-1024x395.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133121/DFS-300x116.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133121/DFS-768x296.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/29133121/DFS.png 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Keep in mind that campaign promises don't always materialize in reality, and the previous Trump administration was often as much bark as bite. Less regulation and more M&amp;A are expected, but investments based on political overtures are short-term bets by nature. Don't hang on to losing stocks if the regulatory environment we get is different than anticipated.
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Opinion

6 Regional Bank Stocks to Buy Before Trump Names New SEC Leadership

The Company expects the Restated Financial Statements to reflect the following approximate impacts: as of December 31, 2023, (i) an increase in assets of $190 million, (ii) an increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $783 million, and (iii) a decrease in retained earnings of $593 million.&nbsp;
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, pre-tax income would be reduced by approximately $190 million to $3,636 million and $77 million to $5,641 million, respectively. For the third quarter of 2024, pre-tax income would decrease by approximately $6 million to $1,282 million while pre-tax income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 would increase by approximately $700 million to $4,462 million (as compared to the pre-tax income reported in the financial information with respect to the quarter ended September 30, 2024 in the exhibits furnished with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 16, 2024).

Discover Financial Services Gets NYSE Notice Regarding Filing Of Form 10-Q; Plans To Restate Certain Prior Period Financial Statements

Discover Finl's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) short percent of float has risen 12.72% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 4.27 million shares sold short, which is 1.95% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.64 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Discover Finl Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732197617_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Discover Finl has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Discover Finl's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Discover Finl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 7.51%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into Discover Finl's Recent Short Interest

Americans are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38901540/gen-z-is-charging-too-much-and-not-paying-bills-what-the-latest-credit-card-delinquency-data-say">racking up debt</a> and having a difficult time paying it off. 
The 30 or more day delinquency rate for Discover Financial Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>) ticked up slightly in October from 3.84% to 3.87%. This is slightly lower than the Riverwoods, Illinois-based company&#8217;s yearly high of 4.02% in January.
Rates are slightly higher at Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>), ending the month at 4.61%, slightly higher than September&#8217;s 4.53%.
American Express Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) is known for its wealthier consumer base. The New York, New York-based company has not yet released delinquency data for October, but its 30+ day rate stood at 1.4% in September.
Higher delinquency rates can lead to increased provisions for credit losses and tighter lending standards.
Delinquency on the Rise: The Federal Bank of New York released its quarterly debt <a href="https://www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/interactives/householdcredit/data/pdf/HHDC_2024Q3">report</a> on Wednesday.
The report found that total household debt increased by $147 billion to $17.94 trillion in 2024&#8217;s third quarter. Credit card balances increased by $24 billion to $1.17 trillion, 8.1% higher than it was a year ago.
Credit card delinquency rates improved slightly overall, with 8.8% of balances transitioning to delinquency compared to 9.1% last quarter.
The percentage of credit card debt 90 or more days delinquent has risen faster than any other debt type in 2024.
Also Read:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/42011035/just-before-bidens-term-ends-taiwan-semiconductor-lands-6-6-billion-in-us-funding-to-build-advanced-chip-plants">Just Before Biden&#8217;s Term Ends, Taiwan Semiconductor Lands $6.6 Billion in US Funding to Build Advanced Chip Plants</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Econ #s

Personal Finance

Credit Card Delinquencies Tick Up At Discover, Capital One: Total Household Debt Hovers Just Below $18 Trillion

Today, Telered hosted representatives from Discover Global Network to mark the beginning of their work together. Telered, through the Sistema Clave system, is integrating with the Discover Global Network.
With this agreement, Sistema Clave users will be able to make purchases and payments at more than 70 million global acceptance locations1, as well as on frequently used online merchants and streaming platforms; and withdraw cash at more than 1.8 million ATMs worldwide across Discover's network. Additionally, Discover Global Network cardholders will be able to transact at Telered merchants in Panama.
For local users, the traditional advantages of the Sistema Clave card, such as low cost and PIN security for transactions, will be maintained, and Discover Global Network will help add contactless technology for quick payments and integration with digital wallets and transportation systems like the Panama Metro.
For merchants in Panama, the agreement represents the opening of a new universe of opportunities by allowing transactions from more than 345 million cardholders2 from Discover Network, Diners Club&#xAE;, PULSE&#xAE; and more than 25 strategic alliances from around the world, expanding their potential market. Additionally, the alliance with Discover will provide issuing and acquiring financial institutions with a more robust infrastructure, new security capabilities, will allow the issuance of cards with an international profile, and access to new global alliances.

Telered And Discover Global Network Sign Strategic Alliance, Increasing Acceptance For Cardholders

Discover Financial Reports $100.7B In Credit Card Loans As Of October 2024, Up From $98.7B YoY; Average Balances Remain Stable At $100.2B; Net Principal Charge-Off Rate Drops To 4.31% With Disaster Relief Impact, Though Up From 4.42% YoY; Delinquency Rate Rises Slightly To 3.87%

Monthly Options Series: Earn A Potential 10-15% Income (Jan. 2025)

Deutsche Bank raised the firm's price target on Discover (DFS) to $202 from $167 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares as part of a 2025 outlook fo...

Discover price target raised to $202 from $167 at Deutsche Bank

In a report released today, Donald Fandetti from Wells Fargo assigned a Hold rating to Discover Financial Services (DFS – Research Report), with a ...

Wells Fargo Issues a Hold Rating on Discover Financial Services (DFS)

Wells Fargo raised the firm's price target on Discover (DFS) to $185 from $160 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm is construc...

Discover price target raised to $185 from $160 at Wells Fargo

American Express, Franklin Resources among top S&P 500 financial movers in 2024

In a report released today, Terry Ma from Barclays upgraded Discover Financial Services (DFS – Research Report) to a Buy, with a price target of $1...

Positive Report for Discover Financial Services (DFS) from Barclays

Capital One, Discover, Synchrony upped at Barclays

Truist analyst Brian Foran initiated coverage of Discover (DFS) with a Buy rating and $233 price target. Post-election "chatter" seems to suggest t...

Discover initiated with a Buy at Truist

Capital One (COF) and Discover Financial (DFS) announced last night the filing of the joint proxy statement and prospectus relating to the proposed...

Capital One, Discover file proxy for merger, see early 2025 close

Discover Financial: Strong Fundamentals And Strategic Outlook

AMAT

ARES

AVGO

CTAS

ESNT

EZPW

FINV

LRCX

MKTX

NAVI

NMIH

OPFI

QFIN

RGLD

Press Releases

Kelly Welsh Joins Discover as Incoming Interim Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Head of Corporate and Public Affairs

Telered and Discover® Global Network Sign Strategic Alliance, Increasing Acceptance for Cardholders

Discover Financial Services Receives NYSE Notice Regarding Filing of Form 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarter Ended September 30, 2024 and Announces Decision to Restate Certain Prior Period Financial Statements

Discover® Recognized as a Best Place to Work for IT Professionals for Twenty-First Year

Discover Survey: Save More, Earn More and Spend Less Are Top 2025 Financial Resolutions for American Consumers

Capital One and Discover Announce Special Meetings of Stockholders to Be Held on February 18, 2025

Capital One Receives Approval of Delaware State Bank Commissioner for Acquisition of Discover Financial Services

Discover Financial Services Announces Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Release on January 22, 2025, and Conference Call on January 23, 2025

DISCOVER FINANCIAL INVESTOR ALERT by the Former Attorney General of Louisiana: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Adequacy of Price and Process in Proposed Sale of Discover Financial Services - DFS

SHAREHOLDER NOTICE: Halper Sadeh LLC Investigates VOXX and DFS on Behalf of Shareholders

VOXX

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Credit Acceptance

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Dave

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FirstCash Hldgs

FinVolution Group American Depositary Shares

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Joint Stock Company Kaspi.kz - American Depository Shares

Kaspi.kz

LendingClub

Lufax Holding Ltd American Depositary Shares, each representing two (2) Ordinary Shares

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