ALLY
Ally Financial Inc.
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$13.67B
5Y Perf.+154.0%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
ALLY vs SYF
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SYF
Synchrony Financial
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$26.12B
5Y Perf.+268.9%
ALLY vs SYF — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ALLY | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Credit Services | Financial - Credit Services |
| Market Cap | $13.67B | $26.12B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $12.15B | $19.12B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $852M | $3.60B |
| Gross Margin | 52.0% | 51.0% |
| Operating Margin | 8.6% | 24.2% |
| Forward P/E | 8.3x | 8.1x |
| Total Debt | $21.77B | $15.18B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $10.03B | $14.97B |
ALLY vs SYF — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ALLY
SYF
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY) | 100 | 254.0 | +154.0% |
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | 100 | 368.9 | +268.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ALLY vs SYF
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SYF leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Ally Financial Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ALLY
Ally Financial Inc.
The Banking Pick
ALLY is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.42
- 209.7% 10Y total return vs SYF's 179.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.42, current ratio 0.90x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
SYF
Synchrony Financial
The Banking Pick
SYF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and bank quality.
- Rev growth -7.9%, EPS growth 8.7%
- NIM 15.5% vs ALLY's 2.7%
- -7.9% NII/revenue growth vs ALLY's -25.7%
Best for: growth exposure and bank quality
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SYF | -7.9% NII/revenue growth vs ALLY's -25.7% |
| Value | SYF | Lower P/E (8.1x vs 8.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | SYF | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs ALLY's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | ALLY | Beta 1.42 vs SYF's 1.52 |
| Dividends | SYF | 1.6% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SYF | +43.0% vs ALLY's +39.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SYF | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs ALLY's 0.4% |
ALLY vs SYF — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
Segment breakdown not available.
ALLY vs SYF — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSYFLAGGINGALLY
ALLYAlly Financial Inc.
1leads
SYFSynchrony Financial
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ALLYMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SYF3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SYF9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SYF4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ALLY2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
SYF1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ALLY and SYF each lead in 2 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SYF is the larger business by revenue, generating $19.1B annually — 1.6x ALLY's $12.2B. SYF is the more profitable business, keeping 18.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ALLY's 7.0%.
| Metric | ALLYAlly Financial In… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $12.2B | $19.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.0B | $4.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $852M | $3.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$295M | $9.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +52.0% | +51.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | +24.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.0% | +18.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +51.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.7% | +20.1% |
Evenly matched — ALLY and SYF each lead in 2 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SYF leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 8.1x trailing earnings, SYF trades at a 57% valuation discount to ALLY's 18.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SYF's 5.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ALLY's 12.9x.
| Metric | ALLYAlly Financial In… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $13.7B | $26.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $25.4B | $26.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.69x | 8.09x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.31x | 8.11x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.25x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.92x | 5.13x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.12x | 1.37x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.90x | 1.60x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 2.65x |
SYF leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SYF leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SYF delivers a 21.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $5 for ALLY. SYF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.91x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ALLY's 1.40x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SYF scores 7/9 vs ALLY's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ALLYAlly Financial In… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.5% | +21.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.2% | +10.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.0% | +12.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.40x | 0.91x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $11.7B | $209M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $10.0B | $15.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $21.8B | $15.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.22x | 1.13x |
SYF leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SYF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SYF five years ago would be worth $17,862 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,484 for ALLY. Over the past 12 months, SYF leads with a +43.0% total return vs ALLY's +39.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SYF at 42.0% vs ALLY's 24.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ALLYAlly Financial In… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -1.9% | -10.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +39.8% | +43.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.1% | +186.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -5.2% | +78.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +209.7% | +179.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.1% | +42.0% |
SYF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ALLY leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ALLY is the less volatile stock with a 1.42 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SYF's 1.52 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ALLY currently trades 93.7% from its 52-week high vs SYF's 84.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ALLYAlly Financial In… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.42x | 1.52x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $47.27 | $88.77 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $32.28 | $52.99 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.7% | +84.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 52.7 | 49.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.5M | 3.6M |
ALLY leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
SYF leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ALLY as "Buy" and SYF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 20.5% upside for SYF (target: $91) vs 20.4% for ALLY (target: $53). SYF is the only dividend payer here at 1.59% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ALLYAlly Financial In… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $53.33 | $90.55 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 38 | 41 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.19 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +11.3% |
SYF leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
SYF leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ALLY leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallSynchrony Financial (SYF)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
ALLY vs SYF: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ALLY or SYF a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the stronger pick with -7.
9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -25. 7% for Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY). Synchrony Financial (SYF) offers the better valuation at 8. 1x trailing P/E (8. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY) a "Buy" — based on 38 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ALLY or SYF?
On trailing P/E, Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the cheapest at 8.
1x versus Ally Financial Inc. at 18. 7x. On forward P/E, Synchrony Financial is actually cheaper at 8. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ALLY or SYF?
Over the past 5 years, Synchrony Financial (SYF) delivered a total return of +78.
6%, compared to -5. 2% for Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ALLY returned +209. 7% versus SYF's +179. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ALLY or SYF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ally Financial Inc.
(ALLY) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 42β versus Synchrony Financial's 1. 52β — meaning SYF is approximately 7% more volatile than ALLY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Synchrony Financial (SYF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 91% versus 140% for Ally Financial Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ALLY or SYF?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Synchrony Financial (SYF) is pulling ahead at -7.
9% versus -25. 7% for Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ally Financial Inc. grew EPS 31. 7% year-over-year, compared to 8. 7% for Synchrony Financial. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — ALLY or SYF?
Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the more profitable company, earning 18.
6% net margin versus 7. 0% for Ally Financial Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SYF leads at 24. 2% versus 8. 6% for ALLY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALLY leads at 52. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is ALLY or SYF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Synchrony Financial (SYF) trades at 8.
1x forward P/E versus 8. 3x for Ally Financial Inc. — 0. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SYF: 20. 5% to $90. 55.
08Which pays a better dividend — ALLY or SYF?
In this comparison, SYF (1.
6% yield) pays a dividend. ALLY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ALLY or SYF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.
6% yield, +179. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SYF: +179. 0%, ALLY: +209. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between ALLY and SYF?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: ALLY is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SYF is a mid-cap deep-value stock. SYF pays a dividend while ALLY does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(ALLY: -25.7% · SYF: -7.9%)Net Margin>
%
(ALLY: 7.0% · SYF: 18.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
(ALLY: 18.7x · SYF: 8.1x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.