Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) vs Synchrony Financial (SYF) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SYF | 19.7% revenue growth vs ATLC's 13.5% |
| Value | ATLC | Lower P/E (6.0x vs 7.5x), PEG 0.25 vs 0.83 |
| Quality / Margins | SYF | 16.9% net margin vs ATLC's 8.5% |
| Stability / Safety | ATLC | Beta 1.55 vs SYF's 1.58 |
| Dividends | ATLC | 2.6% yield, 7-year raise streak, vs SYF's 1.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SYF | +15.9% vs ATLC's -4.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SYF | 3.1% ROA vs ATLC's 1.7%, ROIC 11.0% vs 3.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Atlanticus Holdings is a specialty finance company that provides credit products and services to non-prime consumers in the United States. It generates revenue primarily through two segments: Credit as a Service — which originates consumer loans for retail purchases and medical procedures — and Auto Finance — which purchases and services used car loans from independent dealers. The company's competitive advantage lies in its data-driven underwriting technology and established partnerships with retailers and automotive dealers serving the underserved non-prime market.
Synchrony Financial is a consumer financial services company that specializes in private label credit cards and installment loans for retail partners. It generates revenue primarily from interest income on its credit products — about 80% of total revenue — along with interchange fees and merchant discount revenue. Its key competitive advantage is deep, long-term partnerships with major retailers — like Amazon, Lowe's, and Walmart — which provide a captive customer base and predictable transaction volume.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
SYF leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ATLC leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SYF is the larger business by revenue, generating $20.8B annually — 15.8x ATLC's $1.3B. SYF is the more profitable business, keeping 16.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ATLC's 8.5%.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $20.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $161M | $5.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $118M | $3.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $488M | $9.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +21.6% | +45.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.6% | +21.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.5% | +16.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +35.7% | +47.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.1% | +47.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 8.1x trailing earnings, SYF trades at a 26% valuation discount to ATLC's 11.0x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ATLC offers better value at 0.47x vs SYF's 0.90x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $791M | $24.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.9B | $25.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.97x | 8.08x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 5.98x | 7.48x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.47x | 0.90x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 20.32x | 5.09x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.60x | 1.20x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.01x | 1.67x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.69x | 2.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SYF delivers a 20.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $20 for ATLC. SYF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.93x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ATLC's 5.12x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SYF scores 8/9 vs ATLC's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.2% | +20.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.7% | +3.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.8% | +11.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.7% | +12.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 5.12x | 0.93x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.1B | $751M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $375M | $14.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.5B | $15.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.69x | 1.08x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ATLC five years ago would be worth $19,303 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $18,520 for SYF. Over the past 12 months, SYF leads with a +15.9% total return vs ATLC's -4.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SYF at 26.5% vs ATLC's 17.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -21.2% | -18.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -4.8% | +15.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +63.2% | +102.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +93.0% | +85.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1587.4% | +187.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.7% | +26.5% |
Risk & Volatility
ATLC is the less volatile stock with a 1.55 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SYF's 1.58 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SYF currently trades 77.9% from its 52-week high vs ATLC's 66.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.55x | 1.58x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $78.91 | $88.77 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $41.37 | $40.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +66.3% | +77.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.9 | 49.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 58K | 3.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ATLC as "Buy" and SYF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 81.6% upside for ATLC (target: $95) vs 30.3% for SYF (target: $90). For income investors, ATLC offers the higher dividend yield at 2.62% vs SYF's 1.44%.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $95.00 | $90.08 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 41 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +1.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 7 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.37 | $0.99 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.7% | +4.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) | 100 | 416.48 | +316.5% |
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | 100 | 241.92 | +141.9% |
Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) returned +93% over 5 years vs Synchrony Financial (SYF)'s +85%. A $10,000 investment in ATLC 5 years ago would be worth $19,303 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) | $160M | $1.3B | +719.6% |
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | $10.9B | $20.8B | +90.8% |
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation's revenue grew from $160M (2015) to $1.3B (2024) — a 26.3% CAGR. Synchrony Financial's revenue grew from $10.9B (2015) to $20.8B (2024) — a 7.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) | 1.1% | 8.5% | +692.7% |
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | 20.3% | 16.9% | -17.2% |
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation's net margin went from 1% (2015) to 8% (2024). Synchrony Financial's net margin went from 20% (2015) to 17% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) | 6.5 | 11.7 | +80.0% |
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | 16 | 7.6 | -52.5% |
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation has traded in a 5x–12x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~11x. Synchrony Financial has traded in a 5x–16x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~8x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) | 0.12 | 4.77 | +3875.0% |
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | 2.65 | 8.55 | +222.6% |
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation's EPS grew from $0.12 (2015) to $4.77 (2024) — a 51% CAGR. Synchrony Financial's EPS grew from $2.65 (2015) to $8.55 (2024) — a 14% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation generated $468M FCF in 2024 (+128% vs 2021). Synchrony Financial generated $10B FCF in 2024 (+39% vs 2021).
ATLC vs SYF: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ATLC or SYF a better buy right now?
Synchrony Financial (SYF) offers the better valuation at 8.1x trailing P/E (7.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) a "Buy" — based on 6 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 — ATLC or SYF?
On trailing P/E, Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the cheapest at 8.1x versus Atlanticus Holdings Corporation at 11.0x. On forward P/E, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 6.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Atlanticus Holdings Corporation wins at 0.25x versus Synchrony Financial's 0.83x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ATLC or SYF?
Over the past 5 years, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) delivered a total return of +93.0%, compared to +85.2% for Synchrony Financial (SYF). A $10,000 investment in ATLC five years ago would be worth approximately $19K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATLC returned +1587% versus SYF's +187.9%. 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 — ATLC or SYF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.55β versus Synchrony Financial's 1.58β — meaning SYF is approximately 2% more volatile than ATLC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Synchrony Financial (SYF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 93% versus 5% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ATLC or SYF?
Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the more profitable company, earning 16.9% net margin versus 8.5% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation — meaning it keeps 16.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SYF leads at 21.9% versus 10.6% for ATLC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SYF leads at 45.2%, 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.
06Is ATLC or SYF more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.25x versus Synchrony Financial's 0.83x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) trades at 6.0x forward P/E versus 7.5x for Synchrony Financial — 1.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATLC: 81.6% to $95.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — ATLC or SYF?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) offers the highest yield at 2.6%, versus 1.4% for Synchrony Financial (SYF).
08Is ATLC or SYF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2.6% yield, +1587% 10Y return). Synchrony Financial (SYF) carries a higher beta of 1.58 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATLC: +1587%, SYF: +187.9%), 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.
09What are the main differences between ATLC 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. 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.
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