SLM vs Synchrony Financial
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KIRAβs take AI analyst
I put SLM and Synchrony Financial side by side, using each oneβs latest annual report. Here is what stands out:
- Synchrony Financial is the larger business, with $19.0B of revenue in fiscal 2025 against $2.0B for SLM, about 9.6 times as much.
- SLM grew revenue faster (7.3%, against β2.8%).
- Investors pay more for each dollar of Synchrony Financialβs earnings: a P/E of 7.8x against 7.1x for SLM.
Who comes out ahead
Of the 5 measures where higher (or lower) is clearly better, how many each company leads.
SLM
SLM
3/5
Revenue growthNet marginReturn on equity
Synchrony Financial
SYF
2/5
5-year growthShare count change
Side by side
Best in the row
| Latest fiscal year | SLM FY25 | SYF FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Market cap | $4.1B | $28.0B |
| Revenue | $2.0B | $19.0B |
| Free cash flow | β | β |
| Net income | $745M | $3.6B |
| Growth | ||
| Revenue growth | 7.3% | β2.8% |
| 5-year growth | 1.8% | 5.1% |
| Share count change | β4.1% | β6.7% |
| Profitability | ||
| Gross margin | β | β |
| Operating margin | β | β |
| Net margin | 37.5% | 18.7% |
| FCF margin | β | β |
| Return on capital | β | β |
| Return on equity | 32.3% | 21.3% |
| Balance sheet | ||
| Net debt | β | β |
| Net debt / EBITDA | β | β |
| Dividends and buybacks | $476M | $3.4B |
| Valuation & quality | ||
| P/E | 7.1x | 7.8x |
| Piotroski F-score | β | β |
Ten years
Revenue
Operating margin
Free cash flow
Return on capital
Each company's latest fiscal year; fiscal years end in different months. The best value in each row is highlighted where higher (or lower) is clearly better. Not investment advice.