We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Why Is Discover (DFS) Up 0.4% Since Last Earnings Report?
Read MoreHide Full Article
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Discover (DFS - Free Report) . Shares have added about 0.4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Discover due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Discover Financial Q1 Earnings Miss on High Costs
Discover Financialreported first-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.10, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 63.1%. The bottom line declined 69.3% year over year.
Discover Financial's revenues, net of interest expenses, climbed 12.3% year over year to $4.2 billion. The top line beat the consensus mark by 3.7%.
The weak first-quarter earnings were due to escalating operating costs, feeble contributions from the Digital Banking segment and higher provision for credit losses. The company facing challenges from rising charge-offs may have worried the investors. Nevertheless, the negatives were partially offset by receivables growth, deposit inflows and growing PULSE and Diners Club volumes.
Operational Update
Total operating expenses of $2.3 billion escalated 67% year over year due to increased employee compensation and benefits expenses, marketing and business development costs, professional fees, and information processing & communications expenses. The figure came higher than our estimate of $1.6 billion. Moreover, operating efficiency (total operating expenses divided by revenues, net of interest expenses) deteriorated 1800 basis points (bps) year over year to 54.9% in the first quarter.
Interest expenses increased 55% year over year to $1.5 billion in the quarter under review. Discover Financial’s net income of $308 million tumbled 68% year over year.
Segmental Performance
Digital Banking
The segment reported a pretax income of $322 million, which fell 73% year over year in the first quarter. The decline was due to an increased provision for credit losses and elevated operating expenses, partly offset by growing revenues, net of interest expenses. The metric missed our estimate by 67.2%. Provision for credit losses increased 36% year over year to $1.5 billion.
Total loans rose 12% year over year to $126.6 billion in the quarter under review. Personal loans also grew 21% year over year. Credit card loans advanced 11% year over year, whereas private student loans remained flat year over year.
Net interest income of $3.5 billion climbed 11% year over year in the first quarter thanks to increased average receivables, partially offset by a lower net interest margin. The figure surpassed our estimate of $3.4 billion. The net interest margin deteriorated 31 bps year over year to 11.03%.
Payment Services
The segment's pretax income was $82 million, comparing favorably with the prior-year quarter’s income of $47 million. The significant improvement came from an increase in PULSE revenues. Expanding PULSE and Diners Club volumes also contributed to the upside. The metric surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $60 million.
The Payment Services volume of $100.3 billion advanced 18% year over year in the first quarter. The PULSE dollar volume rose 21% year over year on improved debit transaction volume. Meanwhile, the Diners Club volume climbed 11% year over year, attributable to continued strength in most of the regions. The Network Partners’ volume increased 4% year over year in the quarter under review due to higher AribaPay volume.
Financial Position (as of Mar 31, 2024)
Discover Financial exited the first quarter with total assets of $152.7 billion, higher than $151.5 billion at 2023-end. The liquidity portfolio (comprising cash and cash equivalents and other investments, excluding cash-in-process) amounted to $25.7 billion, higher than $23.3 billion at 2023-end.
Borrowings decreased from $21.3 billion at 2023-end to $20.5 billion. Total liabilities of $138 billion at the first-quarter end were higher than $136.7 billion at 2023-end. Total equity fell from $14.8 billion at 2023-end to $14.7 billion.
Capital Deployment Update
Management has currently paused share repurchases through merger closing. It declared a quarterly cash dividend of 70 cents per share and expects it to remain at this level.
Merger Update
Discover Financial entered into a definitive agreement in February 2024 to merge with Capital One. This merger will enhance Discover Financial’s network, making it more competitive in the marketplace. However, the closing of the merger is subject to various conditions like regulatory and shareholder approval.
2024 Guidance
Management expects the loans to be up low single this year, while it achieved 15% loan growth in 2023. The net interest margin is forecasted to be in the range of 10.7, down from the 2023 reported figure of 11.07%.
Operating expenses are estimated to rise in mid-single digits from $6 billion in 2023, excluding merger and card misclassification-related costs. The average net charge-off rate is estimated to be in the range of 4.9-5.2% for the full year. The estimate stands higher than the 2023 figure of 3.42%.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed an upward trend in estimates review.
The consensus estimate has shifted 6.25% due to these changes.
VGM Scores
Currently, Discover has an average Growth Score of C, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with an A. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Discover has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Why Is Discover (DFS) Up 0.4% Since Last Earnings Report?
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Discover (DFS - Free Report) . Shares have added about 0.4% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Discover due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Discover Financial Q1 Earnings Miss on High Costs
Discover Financial reported first-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.10, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 63.1%. The bottom line declined 69.3% year over year.
Discover Financial's revenues, net of interest expenses, climbed 12.3% year over year to $4.2 billion. The top line beat the consensus mark by 3.7%.
The weak first-quarter earnings were due to escalating operating costs, feeble contributions from the Digital Banking segment and higher provision for credit losses. The company facing challenges from rising charge-offs may have worried the investors. Nevertheless, the negatives were partially offset by receivables growth, deposit inflows and growing PULSE and Diners Club volumes.
Operational Update
Total operating expenses of $2.3 billion escalated 67% year over year due to increased employee compensation and benefits expenses, marketing and business development costs, professional fees, and information processing & communications expenses. The figure came higher than our estimate of $1.6 billion. Moreover, operating efficiency (total operating expenses divided by revenues, net of interest expenses) deteriorated 1800 basis points (bps) year over year to 54.9% in the first quarter.
Interest expenses increased 55% year over year to $1.5 billion in the quarter under review. Discover Financial’s net income of $308 million tumbled 68% year over year.
Segmental Performance
Digital Banking
The segment reported a pretax income of $322 million, which fell 73% year over year in the first quarter. The decline was due to an increased provision for credit losses and elevated operating expenses, partly offset by growing revenues, net of interest expenses. The metric missed our estimate by 67.2%. Provision for credit losses increased 36% year over year to $1.5 billion.
Total loans rose 12% year over year to $126.6 billion in the quarter under review. Personal loans also grew 21% year over year. Credit card loans advanced 11% year over year, whereas private student loans remained flat year over year.
Net interest income of $3.5 billion climbed 11% year over year in the first quarter thanks to increased average receivables, partially offset by a lower net interest margin. The figure surpassed our estimate of $3.4 billion. The net interest margin deteriorated 31 bps year over year to 11.03%.
Payment Services
The segment's pretax income was $82 million, comparing favorably with the prior-year quarter’s income of $47 million. The significant improvement came from an increase in PULSE revenues. Expanding PULSE and Diners Club volumes also contributed to the upside. The metric surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $60 million.
The Payment Services volume of $100.3 billion advanced 18% year over year in the first quarter. The PULSE dollar volume rose 21% year over year on improved debit transaction volume. Meanwhile, the Diners Club volume climbed 11% year over year, attributable to continued strength in most of the regions. The Network Partners’ volume increased 4% year over year in the quarter under review due to higher AribaPay volume.
Financial Position (as of Mar 31, 2024)
Discover Financial exited the first quarter with total assets of $152.7 billion, higher than $151.5 billion at 2023-end. The liquidity portfolio (comprising cash and cash equivalents and other investments, excluding cash-in-process) amounted to $25.7 billion, higher than $23.3 billion at 2023-end.
Borrowings decreased from $21.3 billion at 2023-end to $20.5 billion. Total liabilities of $138 billion at the first-quarter end were higher than $136.7 billion at 2023-end. Total equity fell from $14.8 billion at 2023-end to $14.7 billion.
Capital Deployment Update
Management has currently paused share repurchases through merger closing. It declared a quarterly cash dividend of 70 cents per share and expects it to remain at this level.
Merger Update
Discover Financial entered into a definitive agreement in February 2024 to merge with Capital One. This merger will enhance Discover Financial’s network, making it more competitive in the marketplace. However, the closing of the merger is subject to various conditions like regulatory and shareholder approval.
2024 Guidance
Management expects the loans to be up low single this year, while it achieved 15% loan growth in 2023. The net interest margin is forecasted to be in the range of 10.7, down from the 2023 reported figure of 11.07%.
Operating expenses are estimated to rise in mid-single digits from $6 billion in 2023, excluding merger and card misclassification-related costs. The average net charge-off rate is estimated to be in the range of 4.9-5.2% for the full year. The estimate stands higher than the 2023 figure of 3.42%.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed an upward trend in estimates review.
The consensus estimate has shifted 6.25% due to these changes.
VGM Scores
Currently, Discover has an average Growth Score of C, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with an A. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Discover has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.