Synchrony Financial Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings with Strategic Growth Initiatives
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 27 2026
0mins
Should l Buy SYF?
Source: seekingalpha
- Earnings Performance: Synchrony Financial reported net earnings of $751 million for Q4 2025, translating to $2.04 per diluted share, despite a $0.14 restructuring charge, indicating robust profitability amidst market fluctuations.
- Record Purchase Volume: The company achieved a record purchase volume of $49 billion in Q4, a 3% year-over-year increase, with digital platform purchases rising by 6%, showcasing significant progress in digital transformation and enhancing competitive positioning.
- Partner Expansion: Synchrony added or renewed over 25 partners in the quarter, including Bob's Discount Furniture and RH, further solidifying its market position in co-branded partnerships and driving sales growth.
- Optimistic Outlook: Management projects net earnings per diluted share between $9.10 and $9.50 for 2026, reflecting confidence in new programs and technology investments while cautioning about potential regulatory risks, particularly concerning APR caps.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy SYF?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on SYF
Wall Street analysts forecast SYF stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 71.110
Low
83.00
Averages
94.60
High
101.00
Current: 71.110
Low
83.00
Averages
94.60
High
101.00
About SYF
Synchrony Financial is a consumer financial services company focused on delivering digitally enabled product suites. The Company provides a range of credit products through financing programs it has established with a diverse group of national and regional retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups, industry associations and healthcare service providers. It offers private label, dual card, co-brand, and general-purpose credit cards, as well as short- and long-term installment loans, and savings products through Synchrony Bank (the Bank). The Company primarily manages its credit products through five sales platforms such as Home & Auto, Digital, Diversified & Value, Health & Wellness and Lifestyle. The Bank offers directly to retail, affinity relationships and commercial customers, a range of deposit products, including certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), money market accounts, savings accounts and sweep and affinity deposits.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Helix Partners Acquires $6.97 Million Stake in Cinemark Holdings
- New Investment Move: On February 13, 2026, Helix Partners Management LP disclosed a new position by acquiring 300,000 shares of Cinemark Holdings, valued at approximately $6.97 million, indicating confidence in the company's potential turnaround.
- Ownership Analysis: This acquisition represents 2.34% of Helix Partners' 13F reportable AUM, highlighting its strategic positioning within a diversified investment portfolio.
- Company Financials: Cinemark reported $858 million in revenue and $51 million in net income for Q3 2026, and despite a 21.1% decline in stock price over the past year, its fundamentals suggest resilience amid challenges.
- Future Outlook: With the elimination of pandemic-related debt and a $300 million share repurchase program alongside a 12.5% dividend increase, investors should monitor whether Cinemark can leverage its improved financial health to generate sustainable cash flow.
See More
Credit Card Companies Face Bipartisan Pressure
- Political Pressure Intensifies: Amid persistent inflation, Trump and Sanders have found common ground in seeking to lower credit card annual percentage rates, with Trump proposing a 10% cap and Sanders advocating for a permanent 15% cap, potentially reshaping the profitability of credit card companies.
- Cautious Industry Response: Major credit card issuers like Capital One are in a holding pattern amidst political rhetoric, fearing that if a cap is implemented, they will be compelled to cut credit lines, adversely affecting credit access for lower-income households.
- Profitability at Risk: Analysts predict that a long-term rate cap could reduce Capital One's earnings per share by 25% or wipe them out entirely, as credit card operations account for approximately 74% of its total revenue, primarily derived from interest on customer balances.
- Acquisition Impact Significant: Capital One's $35 billion acquisition of Discover last year will be affected by any interest rate limits, as Discover's credit card balances will also be impacted, further diminishing Capital One's competitive edge, especially without a robust payment network.
See More
Latest Wall Street Rating Updates
- Coinbase Rating Maintained: Bernstein reiterates Coinbase as outperform, noting that despite Q4 revenue missing estimates by 3% and a 28% drop in adjusted EPS to $0.66, the stock remains undervalued, indicating long-term optimism.
- Instacart's Strong Performance: Barclays maintains an overweight rating on Instacart, highlighting its rare beat-and-raise earnings report in the internet earnings cycle, suggesting a unique advantage in a competitive market that may attract more investor interest.
- Airbnb Upgraded to Buy: Deutsche Bank upgrades Airbnb from hold to buy, stating that while it faces AI disruption risks, its unique supply chain offers more insulation compared to peers, which is likely to draw more investor attention.
- CrowdStrike's Attractive Valuation: HSBC upgrades CrowdStrike from hold to buy, citing attractive current valuation and projecting a non-GAAP EPS CAGR of 38.3% over FY26-29, indicating strong growth potential.
See More
Jim Cramer Comments on Synchrony Financial's Stock Outlook
- Investment Advice: Jim Cramer explicitly stated he does not want to own Synchrony Financial (SYF) and prefers Capital One (COF), indicating a lack of confidence in SYF that may influence investor decisions.
- Stock Price Dynamics: Cramer noted Capital One's stock has pulled back from $259 to $225, showcasing its attractiveness, while SYF's stock has declined by 1.1% since the comments were made, reflecting market concerns about its outlook.
- Share Repurchase Situation: Synchrony Financial has been retiring 7% of its shares annually, which somewhat boosts earnings per share; however, Cramer believes this is insufficient to offset its lack of investment appeal, potentially leading investors to reassess its value.
- Market Comparison: While SYF has potential in credit cards and healthcare financing, analysts believe it offers less upside compared to certain AI stocks, which may carry greater upside potential and less downside risk, affecting its position in investment portfolios.
See More
UBS Lowers Target Price for Synchrony Financial to $82 from $90
UBS Target Price Adjustment: UBS has lowered its target price for a specific financial asset from $90 to $82.
Market Implications: This adjustment may reflect changing market conditions or expectations regarding the asset's performance.
See More
Form 144: Synchrony Financial (SYF.US) Executive Plans to Sell $3.8 Million in Common Shares
Share Sale Announcement: Howse Curtis intends to sell 52,556 shares of Synchrony Financial (SYF.U.S) on February 2, with a total market value of approximately $3.8 million.
Reduction in Holdings: Since November 3, 2025, Howse Curtis has reduced his shareholding in Synchrony Financial by 12,086 shares, valued at approximately $894.61K.
See More
Helix Partners Acquires $6.97 Million Stake in Cinemark Holdings
- New Investment Move: On February 13, 2026, Helix Partners Management LP disclosed a new position by acquiring 300,000 shares of Cinemark Holdings, valued at approximately $6.97 million, indicating confidence in the company's potential turnaround.
- Ownership Analysis: This acquisition represents 2.34% of Helix Partners' 13F reportable AUM, highlighting its strategic positioning within a diversified investment portfolio.
- Company Financials: Cinemark reported $858 million in revenue and $51 million in net income for Q3 2026, and despite a 21.1% decline in stock price over the past year, its fundamentals suggest resilience amid challenges.
- Future Outlook: With the elimination of pandemic-related debt and a $300 million share repurchase program alongside a 12.5% dividend increase, investors should monitor whether Cinemark can leverage its improved financial health to generate sustainable cash flow.
See More
Credit Card Companies Face Bipartisan Pressure
- Political Pressure Intensifies: Amid persistent inflation, Trump and Sanders have found common ground in seeking to lower credit card annual percentage rates, with Trump proposing a 10% cap and Sanders advocating for a permanent 15% cap, potentially reshaping the profitability of credit card companies.
- Cautious Industry Response: Major credit card issuers like Capital One are in a holding pattern amidst political rhetoric, fearing that if a cap is implemented, they will be compelled to cut credit lines, adversely affecting credit access for lower-income households.
- Profitability at Risk: Analysts predict that a long-term rate cap could reduce Capital One's earnings per share by 25% or wipe them out entirely, as credit card operations account for approximately 74% of its total revenue, primarily derived from interest on customer balances.
- Acquisition Impact Significant: Capital One's $35 billion acquisition of Discover last year will be affected by any interest rate limits, as Discover's credit card balances will also be impacted, further diminishing Capital One's competitive edge, especially without a robust payment network.
See More
Latest Wall Street Rating Updates
- Coinbase Rating Maintained: Bernstein reiterates Coinbase as outperform, noting that despite Q4 revenue missing estimates by 3% and a 28% drop in adjusted EPS to $0.66, the stock remains undervalued, indicating long-term optimism.
- Instacart's Strong Performance: Barclays maintains an overweight rating on Instacart, highlighting its rare beat-and-raise earnings report in the internet earnings cycle, suggesting a unique advantage in a competitive market that may attract more investor interest.
- Airbnb Upgraded to Buy: Deutsche Bank upgrades Airbnb from hold to buy, stating that while it faces AI disruption risks, its unique supply chain offers more insulation compared to peers, which is likely to draw more investor attention.
- CrowdStrike's Attractive Valuation: HSBC upgrades CrowdStrike from hold to buy, citing attractive current valuation and projecting a non-GAAP EPS CAGR of 38.3% over FY26-29, indicating strong growth potential.
See More
Jim Cramer Comments on Synchrony Financial's Stock Outlook
- Investment Advice: Jim Cramer explicitly stated he does not want to own Synchrony Financial (SYF) and prefers Capital One (COF), indicating a lack of confidence in SYF that may influence investor decisions.
- Stock Price Dynamics: Cramer noted Capital One's stock has pulled back from $259 to $225, showcasing its attractiveness, while SYF's stock has declined by 1.1% since the comments were made, reflecting market concerns about its outlook.
- Share Repurchase Situation: Synchrony Financial has been retiring 7% of its shares annually, which somewhat boosts earnings per share; however, Cramer believes this is insufficient to offset its lack of investment appeal, potentially leading investors to reassess its value.
- Market Comparison: While SYF has potential in credit cards and healthcare financing, analysts believe it offers less upside compared to certain AI stocks, which may carry greater upside potential and less downside risk, affecting its position in investment portfolios.
See More
UBS Lowers Target Price for Synchrony Financial to $82 from $90
UBS Target Price Adjustment: UBS has lowered its target price for a specific financial asset from $90 to $82.
Market Implications: This adjustment may reflect changing market conditions or expectations regarding the asset's performance.
See More
Form 144: Synchrony Financial (SYF.US) Executive Plans to Sell $3.8 Million in Common Shares
Share Sale Announcement: Howse Curtis intends to sell 52,556 shares of Synchrony Financial (SYF.U.S) on February 2, with a total market value of approximately $3.8 million.
Reduction in Holdings: Since November 3, 2025, Howse Curtis has reduced his shareholding in Synchrony Financial by 12,086 shares, valued at approximately $894.61K.
See More
