Zacks Research Issues Negative Outlook for SYF Earnings

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research cut their Q3 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Synchrony Financial in a report released on Thursday, July 16th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the financial services provider will post earnings of $2.55 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $2.57. The consensus estimate for Synchrony Financial’s current full-year earnings is $9.34 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Synchrony Financial’s Q4 2026 earnings at $2.49 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.42 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $3.02 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.58 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $10.04 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $2.67 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $2.17 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $10.89 EPS.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Loop Capital assumed coverage on Synchrony Financial in a report on Friday, May 22nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $81.00 target price for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $81.00 to $78.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 13th. HSBC raised their price target on shares of Synchrony Financial from $93.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $77.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Synchrony Financial from $100.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Synchrony Financial currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $87.32.

Synchrony Financial Stock Performance

SYF opened at $73.74 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 1.24. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $73.10 and a 200 day simple moving average of $73.46. Synchrony Financial has a 1 year low of $63.08 and a 1 year high of $88.77. The company has a market capitalization of $24.80 billion, a PE ratio of 7.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.32.

Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The financial services provider reported $2.27 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.14 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $3.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.81 billion. Synchrony Financial had a return on equity of 23.41% and a net margin of 15.80%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.89 earnings per share. Synchrony Financial has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.100-9.500 EPS.

Synchrony Financial declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, April 21st that permits the company to buyback $0.00 in shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Synchrony Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 5th were given a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 5th. Synchrony Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 12.41%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Jonathan S. Mothner sold 51,258 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.23, for a total transaction of $3,651,107.34. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 132,664 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,449,656.72. This represents a 27.87% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Company insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Synchrony Financial

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SYF. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Synchrony Financial by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 19,080,903 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,355,698,000 after buying an additional 191,920 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Synchrony Financial by 34.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 13,595,381 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $907,356,000 after acquiring an additional 3,494,741 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley boosted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 7.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,230,111 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $519,778,000 after acquiring an additional 442,226 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Synchrony Financial by 6.4% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,039,753 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $410,760,000 after acquiring an additional 365,353 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in Synchrony Financial by 10.4% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 5,490,921 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $458,108,000 after acquiring an additional 517,781 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.48% of the company’s stock.

Key Synchrony Financial News

Here are the key news stories impacting Synchrony Financial this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised its estimates for Synchrony’s Q2 2028 earnings, reflecting a slightly more optimistic longer-term outlook for the company. Synchrony Financial analyst estimate update
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts also increased FY2028 EPS estimates, suggesting continued confidence in Synchrony’s earnings power over the next few years. Synchrony Financial analyst estimate update
• Neutral Sentiment: Another pre-earnings note highlighted potential support from stronger purchase volumes and a wider net interest margin, which could help Synchrony beat Q2 expectations. Will Higher Purchase Volumes Fuel Synchrony’s Q2 Earnings Beat?
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are also watching the company’s July 21 earnings release closely, with market focus centered on whether key operating metrics will support a beat. Countdown to Synchrony (SYF) Q2 Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research trimmed several near- to medium-term EPS estimates, including Q3 2026, Q4 2026, Q1 2027, Q3 2027, Q4 2027, and FY2027, which can pressure the stock by signaling softer expected profitability ahead. Synchrony Financial analyst estimate update

About Synchrony Financial

Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) is a consumer financial services company that specializes in providing point-of-sale financing and private-label, co-branded and branded credit card programs. The company serves as a payments and lending partner to retailers, digital merchants and service providers, offering consumer financing solutions designed to drive customer engagement and sales. Synchrony also operates a direct bank that offers deposit products, including savings accounts and certificates of deposit, which support its funding and customer-facing product suite.

Its core product set includes private-label and co-branded credit cards, general-purpose credit cards, installment loan programs and promotional financing options that are integrated into merchants’ checkout experiences.