Discover Financial (DFS) Q4 Earnings Top Estimates, Rise Y/Y

Discover Financial Services’ DFS fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of $2.25 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.9%. Moreover, the bottom line improved 10.8% year over year on higher revenues and loan growth. The Payments Services segment witnessed significant growth in the fourth quarter.

Operational Update

In the reported quarter, the company’s revenues — net of interest expenses — increased 5% year over year to $2.9 billion, driven by higher net interest income, and discount and interchange revenues. However, the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.1%.

Total loans grew 6% year over year to $95.9 billion.

Interest expenses of $615 million increased 1.7% year over year.

Total other expenses rose 6.7% to $1.18 billion due to higher employee compensation and benefits, information processing and communications, and professional fees.

Discover Financial Services Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Discover Financial Services Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Discover Financial Services price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Discover Financial Services Quote

Segmental Update

Direct Banking Segment

This segment’s pre-tax income inched up 1% to $883 million owing to more net interest income. However, the same was largely offset by a rise in provision for loan losses and higher operating expenses.

Total loans climbed 6% year over year to $95.9 billion. Credit card loans augmented 6% to $77.2 billion.

Personal loans ascended 3% while private student loans rose 3%, both on a year-over-year basis. Private student loans excluding purchased student loans also shot up 9% year over year.

Net interest income increased 5% year over year, backed by loan growth. Net interest margin was 10.29%, down 6 basis points from the year-ago quarter.

Payment Services Segment

Payment Services pre-tax income was $41 million in the quarter under review, up 78.3% from the year-earlier period owing to higher revenues, aided by transaction volume growth from PULSE and Network Partners businesses.

Payment Services volume was up 9% from the prior-year period.

PULSE dollar volume expanded 6% year over year, fueled by the impact of new issuers and acquiring relationships on the network and strong growth from existing issuers and acquirers.

Diners Club volume grew 1.5% from the year-earlier quarter.

Network Partners volume expanded 52%, backed by AribaPay.

Strong Financial Position

Discover Financial had total assets worth $113.9 billion as of Dec 31, 2019, up 4.1% year over year.

Total liabilities as of Dec 31, 2019 were $102.1 billion, up 3.8% year over year.

Total equity was $11.8 billion on Dec 31, 2019, up 6.5% year over year.

Discover Financial’s return on equity for the fourth quarter was 24%.

Share Repurchase Update

During the quarter under review, the company repurchased approximately 4.9 million shares of common stock for $401 million.

Shares of common stock outstanding dipped 1.5% from the previously reported quarter’s tally.

Zacks Rank

Discover Financial carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Upcoming Releases From Finance Sector

Some stocks worth considering from the finance sector with a perfect mix of elements to surpass estimates in the upcoming quarterly releases are as follows:

AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc. EQH is slated to announce fourth-quarter earnings on Feb 27. The stock has an Earnings ESP of +2.68% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Moody's Corporation MCO has an Earnings ESP of +1.00% and a Zacks Rank of 2. The company is scheduled to release fourth-quarter earnings on Feb 12.

ProAssurance Corporation PRA is set to report fourth-quarter earnings on Feb 20. The stock is Zacks #2 Ranked and has an Earnings ESP of +36.71%.

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