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Synchrony Financial (SYF)
NYSE:SYF

Synchrony Financial (SYF) AI Stock Analysis

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SYF

Synchrony Financial

(NYSE:SYF)

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Neutral 68 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:
$77.00
▲(5.75% Upside)
Action:DowngradedDate:02/26/26
The score is driven primarily by solid underlying financial quality (profitability, cash generation, improving leverage) and a notably low valuation, supported by constructive 2026 guidance and improving credit trends. These positives are tempered by weak technical momentum and the revenue-growth concern highlighted in the financial statement analysis, plus ongoing credit/regulatory sensitivity.
Positive Factors
Strong cash generation
Consistent operating cash flow (~$9.85B) and free cash flow parity with net income indicate durable cash conversion. This supports ongoing partner financing, investment in digital/product growth, and capital returns while providing buffers through credit cycles and funding variability.
High returns on capital
Very high ROTCE (~25.8%) and solid ROA reflect efficient capital use in a lending model. Persistent high returns enable sustainable shareholder distributions and reinvestment, and provide resilience against moderate credit volatility while supporting strategic partnership investments.
Durable partner network & product traction
Large, sticky retail partnerships and multi-product adoption (co‑brands, Pay Later) diversify revenue sources and deepen customer engagement. High renewal rates and merchant distribution create structural volume resilience and recurring fee/interest streams across economic cycles.
Negative Factors
Sharp 2025 revenue decline
A pronounced revenue drop in 2025 materially reduces near-term growth visibility and raises questions about portfolio mix and sustainable origination trends. Even with healthy margins, persistent top-line weakness can limit reinvestment capacity and long-term earnings expansion.
Regulatory risk to product economics
Proposed APR caps or similar regulatory changes could structurally compress yields, reduce credit availability for lower‑income customers, and impair merchant economics for private‑label programs. Such policy shifts would erode net interest income and the unit economics of core retail partnerships.
Funding & capital sensitivity
Material debt balances and modest declines in capital ratios increase sensitivity to funding costs and credit shocks. In a credit‑sensitive lending model, reduced capital headroom or tighter funding could constrain receivables growth, limit buybacks/dividends, and force more conservative underwriting.

Synchrony Financial (SYF) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Synchrony Financial Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSynchrony Financial, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a consumer financial services company in the United States. It provides credit products, such as credit cards, commercial credit products, and consumer installment loans. The company also offers private label credit cards, dual cards, co-brand and general purpose credit cards, short- and long-term installment loans, and consumer banking products; and deposit products, including certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts, money market accounts, and savings accounts to retail and commercial customers, as well as accepts deposits through third-party securities brokerage firms. In addition, it provides debt cancellation products to its credit card customers through online, mobile, and direct mail; healthcare payments and financing solutions under the CareCredit, Pets Best, and Walgreens brands; payments and financing solutions in the apparel, specialty retail, outdoor, music, and luxury industries; and point-of-sale consumer financing for audiology products and dental services. The company offers its credit products through programs established with a group of national and regional retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups, industry associations, and healthcare service providers; and deposit products through various channels, such as digital and print. It serves digital, health and wellness, retail, home, auto, powersports, jewelry, pets, and other industries. Synchrony Financial was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
How the Company Makes MoneySynchrony Financial generates revenue primarily through interest income from the credit products it offers. This includes interest charged on outstanding balances of credit cards and other financing products. Additionally, the company earns fees from retailers and merchants for providing financing solutions, which can include a percentage of sales made using their cards. Synchrony also collects late fees and other ancillary charges from cardholders. Significant partnerships with major retailers allow Synchrony to expand its customer base and enhance transaction volume, which directly contributes to its earnings. The company also benefits from its strategic initiatives in digital banking, offering savings programs that attract deposits and contribute to its interest income.

Synchrony Financial Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 27, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 28, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized multiple operational and financial strengths: record fourth-quarter purchase volume, margin expansion, improved credit metrics, broad partner wins, and strong digital/product adoption. Management provided a constructive 2026 outlook (mid-single-digit receivables growth, NII growth, EPS guidance $9.10–$9.50) while acknowledging near-term headwinds — elevated payment rates, higher RSAs and expenses, a modest decline in ending receivables, and regulatory risk. On balance, the positives (revenue and margin gains, credit improvement, partnership momentum, product traction and shareholder returns) outweigh the near-term challenges and investments.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Purchase Volume and Yearly Sales
Fourth-quarter purchase volume reached a record $49.0 billion, up 3% year-over-year. For full-year 2025 Synchrony generated more than $182 billion of sales for partners, and connected nearly 70 million customers.
Strong Earnings and Returns
Q4 net earnings of $751 million ($2.40 per diluted share) (included a $0.14 per-share restructuring charge). Full-year net earnings were $3.6 billion ($9.28 per diluted share). Q4 return on average assets was 2.5% and return on tangible common equity was 21.8%; full-year ROA 3.0% and ROTCE 25.8%.
Net Interest Income and Margin Expansion
Net interest income increased 4% year-over-year to $4.8 billion. Net interest margin rose 82 basis points versus prior year to 15.83%, driven by a 53-basis-point increase in loan receivables yield and a 51-basis-point decline in interest-bearing liability costs.
Improved Credit Metrics
Credit trends improved: 30+ delinquency rate 4.49% (down 21 bps YoY), 90+ delinquency 2.17% (down 23 bps YoY), and Q4 net charge-off rate 5.37% (down 108 bps YoY). Provision for credit losses decreased $118 million to $1.4 billion, driven by a $294 million decrease in net charge-offs.
Digital and Product Momentum
Digital platform purchase volume increased 6% YoY. Total site visits rose 18% and sales through digital channels grew 17% in 2025. Unique provisioned accounts and digital wallet sales more than doubled YoY, driving a 400-basis-point gain in dual and co-branded cards wallet penetration.
Multi-Product Strategy and Pay Later Traction
Dual and co-branded cards accounted for 50% of total purchase volume and grew 16% YoY. Synchrony Pay Later is now offered at more than 6,200 merchants and when Pay Later and revolving products are offered together, Synchrony observes at least a 10% average increase in sales.
Business Development and Partner Renewals
Added/renewed more than 25 partners in Q4 (e.g., Bob's Discount Furniture, RH, Polaris) and more than 75 partners over the past year; approximately 97% of interest and fees from top 25 partners renewed through 2028 and top five partners renewed through 2030+.
Capital Return and Funding Mix
Returned $1.1 billion to shareholders in Q4 ($952 million share repurchases and $106 million dividends) and $3.3 billion for the full year. At December 31, deposits represented 84% of total funding; issued a $750 million three-year secured bond at a 4.06% coupon.
2026 Financial Outlook
Guidance for 2026 includes mid-single-digit ending receivables growth (with acceleration in back half of year), continued net interest income growth, an expected portfolio net charge-off rate in line with the 5.5%–6% long-term target, and EPS between $9.10 and $9.50.
Negative Updates
Ending Receivables and Segment Weakness
Ending loan receivables decreased 1% in Q4 to $104 billion, reflecting higher payment rates and lower average active accounts. Home and Auto purchase volume declined 2% YoY, and some platforms saw lower average active accounts.
Elevated Payment Rates and Receivables Turn
Payment rate rose ~45 basis points YoY to 16.3% (about 155 bps above pre-pandemic Q4 average), which contributed to lower receivables balances and can temper near-term loan growth despite improving purchase volume.
Higher RSAs and Impact on Net Revenue
RSAs totaled $1.1 billion (4.3% of average loan receivables) in Q4, up $175 million versus prior year. Net revenue was flat at $3.8 billion as higher net interest income was offset by higher RSAs driven by program performance.
Rising Expenses and Lower Efficiency
Other expenses increased 10% to $1.4 billion, reflecting higher employee costs, technology investments and a $67 million restructuring charge. The efficiency ratio rose to 36.9%, ~360 basis points higher YoY (excluding the restructuring item the increase would be ~180 bps).
Allowance and Capital Trends
Allowance for credit losses was 10.06% of loan receivables (declined modestly q/q), and key capital ratios declined ~70 basis points YoY (CET1 12.6%, Tier 1 13.8%, total capital 15.8%). Total liquid assets decreased 3% to $16.6 billion (13.9% of assets).
Regulatory and Policy Risk
Management highlighted potential regulatory risks such as proposed APR caps (e.g., 10% cap discussed publicly) that could materially reduce credit availability for lower-income consumers and materially affect merchants and program economics.
J-Curve/Investment Drag from New Programs
Near-term investments for growth (new program launches, marketing, staffing, technology such as AI and cloud) and CECL reserving dynamics create a J-curve effect that pressures early period EPS and increases reserve dollars as new portfolios ramp.
Company Guidance
For 2026 management guided net earnings per diluted share of $9.10–$9.50, with mid‑single‑digit ending loan receivables growth (accelerating into the back half of the year and reflecting launches like Walmart One Pay, Lowe’s commercial co‑brand transferring in Q2, and Versatile), portfolio net charge‑offs expected to be in line with their long‑term target of 5.5%–6.0%, RSAs rising but staying within a 4.0%–4.5% of average receivables target, no additional broad‑based credit refinements assumed, baseline macro assumptions of full‑year GDP +2%, year‑end unemployment 4.8%, year‑end fed funds 3.25%, and a full‑year deposit base of ~65%; they expect net interest income to grow (partly from PPPC benefits and lower funding costs), other expenses (excluding $98M of 2025 notable items) to grow in line with receivables, payment rates to remain elevated, and that receivables growth will be driven by average active account and purchase volume trends.

Synchrony Financial Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong profitability/returns and solid cash generation with improving leverage (debt-to-equity below 1.0) support a good core financial profile. The key offset is the sharp 2025 revenue decline noted in the provided income-statement analysis, which lowers near-term growth visibility despite healthy margins.
Income Statement
63
Positive
Profitability is solid, with 2025 net margin around 18.6% and EBIT margin around 24.2%, and earnings have been relatively steady vs. 2024. However, revenue momentum is the key concern: after strong growth in 2023–2024, 2025 shows a sharp revenue decline (down ~79% per the provided growth rate), which materially weakens the growth and visibility profile despite healthy margins.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
Leverage looks manageable and improving: debt-to-equity is below 1.0 in 2024–2025 (about 0.91 in 2025), down from higher levels earlier in the period. Equity has also increased since 2023, supporting balance-sheet resilience. Returns on equity remain strong (~21% in 2024–2025), though total debt remains sizable (~$15B), keeping funding and credit-cycle sensitivity as ongoing risks for a credit services business.
Cash Flow
76
Positive
Cash generation is strong and consistent, with operating cash flow near $9.85B in both 2024 and 2025 and free cash flow matching operating cash flow in the provided data. Free cash flow growth is positive in 2023–2025 (including a sharp increase in 2025 per the provided growth figure), and free cash flow tracks net income closely (1.0x), indicating good cash conversion. A watch item is that operating cash flow coverage is relatively low (~0.12 in 2024–2025 as provided), suggesting cash flow is not large relative to the referenced obligation base used in that ratio.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue19.12B20.76B17.34B13.20B11.22B
Gross Profit9.76B9.39B7.66B8.30B9.47B
EBITDA5.13B5.03B3.36B4.38B5.89B
Net Income3.55B3.50B2.24B3.02B4.22B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets119.09B119.46B117.48B104.56B95.75B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments17.32B17.79B18.06B15.17B13.62B
Total Debt15.18B15.46B15.98B14.19B14.51B
Total Liabilities102.33B102.88B103.58B91.69B82.09B
Stockholders Equity16.77B16.58B13.90B12.87B13.65B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow9.85B9.85B8.59B6.69B7.10B
Operating Cash Flow9.85B9.85B8.59B6.69B7.10B
Investing Cash Flow-4.85B-8.90B-14.23B-10.23B-4.81B
Financing Cash Flow-4.74B-611.00M9.63B5.28B-5.20B

Synchrony Financial Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price72.81
Price Trends
50DMA
78.35
Negative
100DMA
76.19
Negative
200DMA
71.86
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.69
Negative
RSI
46.42
Neutral
STOCH
40.63
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SYF, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 72.81 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 72.78, below the 50-day MA of 78.35, and above the 200-day MA of 71.86, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -1.69 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 46.42 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 40.63 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for SYF.

Synchrony Financial Risk Analysis

Synchrony Financial disclosed 36 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Synchrony Financial reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Synchrony Financial Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
$325.75M1.8912.53%10.37%10.48%-30.67%
68
Neutral
$24.60B7.6321.30%1.34%-6.38%19.65%
68
Neutral
$6.47B8.4123.76%6.07%9.51%29.38%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
63
Neutral
$3.93B5.7432.31%1.88%0.59%-1.11%
51
Neutral
$12.48B17.095.80%2.58%-6.89%-33.20%
50
Neutral
$2.76B66.147.49%73.29%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SYF
Synchrony Financial
72.81
14.61
25.11%
SLM
SLM
20.40
-9.21
-31.10%
ALLY
Ally Financial
41.49
5.94
16.70%
OMF
OneMain Holdings
56.37
7.34
14.98%
YRD
Yiren Digital
3.77
-2.82
-42.79%
UPST
Upstart Holdings
28.44
-38.29
-57.38%

Synchrony Financial Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Synchrony Financial Prices $750 Million Senior Notes Offering
Positive
Feb 25, 2026

On February 18, 2026, Synchrony Financial entered into an underwriting agreement with a syndicate of banks led by BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan Securities and Mizuho Securities to issue and sell $750 million of 4.947% fixed-to-floating rate senior notes due 2032 in a registered public offering. The notes, issued under an existing indenture structure with The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee and supplemented by a new fifteenth supplemental indenture dated February 25, 2026, enhance the company’s long-term funding profile and reflect continued access to capital markets for its ongoing financial operations.

The transaction, supported by a legal opinion from Sidley Austin LLP on the validity of the securities, underscores Synchrony’s use of senior unsecured debt as a core funding tool within its capital structure. For investors and other stakeholders, the deal signals both the company’s confidence in its credit standing and its strategy of tapping public debt markets to finance growth and manage balance sheet needs over the medium term.

The most recent analyst rating on (SYF) stock is a Buy with a $83.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Synchrony Financial stock, see the SYF Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Synchrony Financial Reports Monthly Credit Performance Statistics
Neutral
Feb 10, 2026

Synchrony Financial has released unaudited monthly charge-off and delinquency statistics covering the thirteen months ended Jan. 31, 2026, detailing period-end and average loan receivables along with key credit-quality ratios. The data show loan receivables hovering around $100 billion with 30-plus day delinquencies in the mid-4% range and net charge-off rates generally between about 4.7% and 6.8%, offering investors granular transparency into evolving consumer credit trends and portfolio risk.

The company said it will continue furnishing these performance statistics on a monthly basis, aligning the final month of each quarter with its quarterly earnings release. By committing to this regular disclosure, Synchrony enhances visibility into its credit performance for bondholders, equity investors and other stakeholders, aiding assessment of asset quality and potential impacts on funding costs and capital planning.

The most recent analyst rating on (SYF) stock is a Hold with a $82.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Synchrony Financial stock, see the SYF Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Synchrony Financial Releases December 2025 Credit Performance Metrics
Neutral
Jan 27, 2026

Synchrony Financial furnished unaudited monthly charge-off and delinquency statistics covering the thirteen months ended December 31, 2025, detailing trends in loan receivables, delinquency rates and net charge-off rates across its consumer credit portfolio. The data show period-end loan receivables fluctuating in a range of roughly $99 billion to $105 billion over the period, with 30-plus day delinquency rates remaining in the mid-4% range and net charge-off rates generally between about 5% and 7%, metrics that provide stakeholders with a granular view of credit performance and loss dynamics ahead of and alongside the company’s regular quarterly results; Synchrony also stated that it will continue to release these portfolio credit statistics on a monthly basis, reinforcing its disclosure practices around asset quality and portfolio risk.

The most recent analyst rating on (SYF) stock is a Buy with a $95.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Synchrony Financial stock, see the SYF Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Synchrony Financial Releases November 2025 Charge-Off Data
Neutral
Dec 9, 2025

Synchrony Financial has released its monthly charge-off and delinquency statistics for the thirteen months ending November 30, 2025. The company plans to continue providing these statistics monthly, aligning quarterly data releases with financial results announcements. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and provide stakeholders with timely insights into the company’s financial health and operational performance.

The most recent analyst rating on (SYF) stock is a Buy with a $92.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Synchrony Financial stock, see the SYF Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 26, 2026