DFS Discover Financial Services

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 30, 2011 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Discover Financial Services (DFS), Tree.com, Inc. (TREE), MasterCard Incorporated (MA), Visa Inc. (V) and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:

Discover Downgraded to Neutral

We have downgraded our recommendation on Discover Financial Services (DFS) to Neutral based on a weak momentum in the earnings outlook. The company reported third-quarter 2011 earnings per share of $1.18, significantly ahead of both the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 91 cents and 47 cents recorded in the year-ago quarter.

Discover’s credit card sales volume has been witnessing modest improvement owing to improved consumer spending and credit quality trends. In the first nine months of 2011, card sales volume climbed 8% year over year to reach $75.1 billion.

Improved credit trends have helped in substantial release of credit loss reserves, a part of which has been reinvested for operational growth. Recently, the company has been focusing on increasing its card acceptance through various alliances.

The agreement with Banco Popular de Puerto Rico commercial bank is likely to expand Discover card acceptance through millions of card members and billions in spending on the Discover and Diners Club International networks. The deal with WorldPay is also expected to augment the acceptance of Discover and Diners Club cards, while the agreement with NETS Inc. will not only increase the usage of the PULSE network for PIN debit transactions, but also substantially increase the acceptances of Discover’s PULSE, Diners Club and Discover Cards in the U.S.

Additionally, Discover continues to explore healthy opportunities for inorganic growth as well. The Student Loan Corp. (SLC) acquisition comes in line with the company’s long-term goal of bolstering its private student loan portfolio, which has grown steadily over the past three years when many others had to discontinue the business altogether. Furthermore, the agreement to acquire Home Loan Center, a subsidiary of Tree.com, Inc. (TREE), has added a residential mortgage component to Discover's direct-to-consumer banking business.

Discover has also implemented several capital bolstering initiatives, including equity and debt offering, which have supported the company in achieving a strong capital base. Besides, the proficient cost containment measures have aided substantial reduction in loan loss provisions, improvement in delinquency and net charge-off rates and moderation in interest expenses, thereby prompting significant enhancement in bottom-line growth over the past several quarters. In fact, in the third quarter of 2011, Discover’s credit card delinquency rate hit the lowest in 25 years and the charge-off rate fell below 4% for the first time since 2007.

However, Discover’s competitors in the credit card business such as MasterCard Incorporated (MA) and Visa Inc. (V) have substantially larger scales of operation than the company, thereby posing ample risk on the operational front. Not only do the arch-rivals have relatively stronger global presence and brand names, but they also own exclusive contracts with many financial institutions, thereby limiting Discover’s business opportunities with such institutions.

Moreover, we expect continued adverse impact of the implementation of CARD Act provisions along with an anticipated increase in the volume of promotional rate offers to unfavorably impact credit card yield in 2011, although we believe that it will be partially offset by continued improvement in interest charge-offs. A decline in credit card yield, together with the addition of lower rate student loans from the acquisition of SLC would lead to a further reduction in the net interest margin.

Moreover, Discover incurs considerable expenses in order to compete with other credit card issuers to attract and retain customers and increase card usage. Discover’s profits are largely tapered due to the company’s higher-than-expected advertising and marketing expenditures.

Besides, employee compensation and benefits expenses are showing an increasing trend, on the back of the SLC acquisition and staff additions. Additionally, in June 2011, the company agreed to settle eight class-action lawsuits related to its marketing policies, which is likely to considerably add to expenses, although the settlement is yet to be approved by the court.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Discover’s fourth-quarter 2011 earnings is currently 90 cents per share, up about 40% year over year. For full year 2011, the Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at $4.02 per share, up by a substantial 230% from 2010.

The company currently carries a Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term Hold rating.

More Nat Gas for Anadarko

Independent oil and gas producer Anadarko Petroleum Corporation’s (APC) latest discovery off the coast of Mozambique has substantially raised the total reserve of natural gas in the field located in the Offshore Area 1 of Mozambique's Rovuma Basin at the Lagosta prospect.

Initial finding from this field, a year ago, suggested an estimated reserve of about 6 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas but the new find has lifted the estimated recoverable resource to a range of 15–30 Tcf of natural gas, with total estimated reserve at 30–50 Tcf of natural gas.

The exploration well Barquentine-3, drilled at a total depth of approximately 13,400 feet, (4,084 meters), encountered about 5,170 feet (1,575 meters) of water. The partnership is mobilizing new drilliship in the area to spur exploration activity.

Anadarko is working jointly with five other players in the Offshore Area 1 of Mozambique and has a 36.5% working interest. Other players have working interest in the field ranging from 8.5% (Cove Energy Mozambique Rovuma Offshore Ltd.) to 20% (Mitsui E&P Mozambique Area 1, Limited).

Global demand for natural gas is on the rise due to its clean burning nature and the company is working to capitalize on this new wave. This new find will come into commercial operation from 2018 and the company has plans to send the same to meet energy demand from China and Japan.

Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5515.

About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5517

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leon Zacks. As a PhD from MIT Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5518.

Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts

Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
http://www.zacks.com

 
ANADARKO PETROL (APC): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
DISCOVER FIN SV (DFS): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
MASTERCARD INC (MA): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
TREE.COM INC (TREE): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
VISA INC-A (V): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Zacks Investment Research