DISCOVER ONGOING INVESTOR DEADLINE ALERT: Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Discover To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options
If you purchased or acquired securities in Discover stock or options between February 21, 2019 and August 14, 2023 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/DFS.
There is no cost or obligation to you.
NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Discover Financial Services ("Discover" or the "Company") (NYSE: DFS) and reminds investors of the October 31, 2023 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading minority and Woman-owned national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia.
The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) DFS maintained deficient risk management and compliance procedures; (ii) as a result of the foregoing deficiencies, the Company had, inter alia, failed to comply with applicable student loan servicing standards, misclassified certain credit card accounts, overcharged customers, and failed to stem its ballooning credit card delinquency rate; (iii) the foregoing issues, when they became known, would subject DFS to significant financial exposure, regulatory scrutiny, and reputational harm; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
DFS is an American financial services company that owns and operates Discover Bank, an online bank that offers checking and savings accounts, personal loans, home equity loans, student loans, and credit cards. DFS's shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "DFS".
At all relevant times, DFS represented that it maintained robust risk management and compliance protocols for its various business segments and needs, including, among other things, its customer credit card and student loan practices.
On July 20, 2022, DFS issued a press release announcing its financial results for the second quarter of 2022. Among other items, DFS disclosed that it "is suspending until further notice its existing share repurchase program because of an internal investigation relating to its student loan servicing practices and related compliance matters." The Company also advised that "[t]he investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by a board-appointed independent special committee."
On this news, DFS's stock price fell $9.80 per share, or 8.93%, to close at $100 per share on July 21, 2022.
On July 19, 2023, DFS issued a press release announcing its financial results for the second quarter of 2023. Among other items, DFS disclosed that it had misclassified certain credit card products over an approximate 15-year period as a result of an acknowledged compliance failure. Specifically, DFS disclosed that it had incorrectly classified certain credit card accounts into its highest merchant and merchant acquirer pricing tier, beginning around mid-2007. In addition, the Company disclosed receipt of a proposed consent order from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in connection with an unrelated regulatory matter.
On this news, DFS's stock price fell $19.40 per share, or 15.92%, to close at $102.45 per share on July 20, 2023.
On August 14, 2023, DFS issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors (the "Board") and Defendant Roger C. Hochschild ("Hochschild") "have agreed that Hochschild will step down as Chief Executive Officer and President and as a member of the Board", effective immediately. Notably, the same press release also quoted DFS's Chair of the Board, who assured investors that "[t]he Board is continuously focused on Discover reaching its full potential across the business, including our commitment to enhancing compliance, risk management and corporate governance."
That same day, in an exhibit to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, DFS also disclosed that its credit card delinquency rate increased to 3.00% for the 24-month period ended July 31, 2023, as compared to 2.86% for the 24-month period ended June 31, 2023. As reported by Seeking Alpha that day, the Company's credit card delinquency rate now stood at a higher level than the pre-pandemic rate of 2.37% in July 2019.
Then, on August 15, 2023, Seeking Alpha published an article reporting on analyst speculation that Defendant Hochschild's resignation was directly tied to DFS's recently reported regulatory and risk oversight issues.
Following these developments, DFS's stock price fell $9.69 per share, or 9.44%, to close at $92.96 per share on August 15, 2023.
Finally, on August 17, 2023, during an earnings call hosted by DFS, the Company's top officers acknowledged that it was "paying the price" for past underinvestment in compliance, stressing that Defendant Hochschild's abrupt departure reflected a commitment to moving past regulatory troubles, thereby validating previously reported analyst suspicions on the matter.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Discover's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
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