Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Synchrony Financial (SYF) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA) 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 MA's 16.4% |
| Value | SYF | Lower P/E (7.5x vs 26.4x), PEG 0.83 vs 1.26 |
| Quality / Margins | MA | 45.6% net margin vs SYF's 16.9% |
| Stability / Safety | MA | Beta 0.78 vs SYF's 1.58 |
| Dividends | SYF | 1.4% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs MA's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SYF | +15.9% vs MA's -9.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MA | 27.6% ROA vs SYF's 3.1%, ROIC 56.5% vs 11.0% |
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
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.
Mastercard is a global payment technology company that operates a network connecting consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and governments. It generates revenue primarily from transaction processing fees—charging a small percentage of each payment volume—and from service fees for its data analytics, consulting, and security solutions. The company's moat lies in its massive two-sided network effect—the more merchants accept Mastercard, the more valuable it becomes to cardholders, and vice versa—creating a powerful ecosystem that's difficult to replicate.
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
MA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). SYF leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MA is the larger business by revenue, generating $32.8B annually — 1.6x SYF's $20.8B. MA is the more profitable business, keeping 45.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SYF's 16.9%.
| Metric | SYFSynchrony Financi… | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $20.8B | $32.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.1B | $20.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $3.6B | $15.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $9.8B | $17.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +45.2% | +83.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.9% | +59.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +16.9% | +45.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +47.4% | +52.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +47.4% | +24.2% |
Valuation Metrics
At 8.1x trailing earnings, SYF trades at a 74% valuation discount to MA's 31.3x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), SYF offers better value at 0.90x vs MA's 1.49x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | SYFSynchrony Financi… | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $24.9B | $457.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $25.6B | $465.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.08x | 31.31x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.48x | 26.43x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.90x | 1.49x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.09x | 22.67x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.20x | 13.96x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.67x | 59.96x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.53x | 26.68x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MA delivers a 193.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $193 in annual profit, vs $21 for SYF. SYF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.93x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MA's 2.45x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MA scores 9/9 vs SYF's 8/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SYFSynchrony Financi… | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.9% | +193.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.1% | +27.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.0% | +56.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.4% | +64.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.93x | 2.45x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $751M | $7.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $14.7B | $11.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $15.5B | $19.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.08x | 26.39x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SYF five years ago would be worth $18,520 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,586 for MA. Over the past 12 months, SYF leads with a +15.9% total return vs MA's -9.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SYF at 26.5% vs MA's 13.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SYFSynchrony Financi… | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.0% | -8.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.9% | -9.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +102.4% | +47.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +85.2% | +45.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +187.9% | +515.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +26.5% | +13.9% |
Risk & Volatility
MA is the less volatile stock with a 0.78 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. MA currently trades 85.9% from its 52-week high vs SYF's 77.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SYFSynchrony Financi… | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.58x | 0.78x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $88.77 | $601.77 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $40.55 | $465.59 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.9% | +85.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.5 | 42.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.8M | 3.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SYF as "Buy" and MA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.3% upside for SYF (target: $90) vs 29.0% for MA (target: $667). For income investors, SYF offers the higher dividend yield at 1.44% vs MA's 0.59%.
| Metric | SYFSynchrony Financi… | MAMastercard Incorp… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $90.08 | $667.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 41 | 63 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.4% | +0.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.99 | $3.07 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.0% | +2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | 100 | 241.92 | +141.9% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | 100 | 181.06 | +81.1% |
Synchrony Financial (SYF) returned +85% over 5 years vs Mastercard Incorpor… (MA)'s +46%. A $10,000 investment in SYF 5 years ago would be worth $18,520 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | $12.2B | $20.8B | +69.9% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | $10.8B | $32.8B | +204.3% |
Mastercard Incorporated's revenue grew from $10.8B (2016) to $32.8B (2025) — a 13.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | 18.4% | 16.9% | -8.5% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | 37.7% | 45.6% | +21.2% |
Mastercard Incorporated's net margin went from 38% (2016) to 46% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | 16 | 7.6 | -52.5% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | 41.5 | 34.6 | -16.6% |
Synchrony Financial has traded in a 5x–16x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~8x. Mastercard Incorporated has traded in a 34x–56x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~31x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | 2.71 | 8.55 | +215.5% |
| Mastercard Incorpor… (MA) | 3.69 | 16.52 | +347.7% |
Mastercard Incorporated's EPS grew from $3.69 (2016) to $16.52 (2025) — a 18% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Synchrony Financial generated $10B FCF in 2024 (+39% vs 2021). Mastercard Incorporated generated $17B FCF in 2025 (+98% vs 2021).
SYF vs MA: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SYF or MA 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 Synchrony Financial (SYF) a "Buy" — based on 41 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 — SYF or MA?
On trailing P/E, Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the cheapest at 8.1x versus Mastercard Incorporated at 31.3x. On forward P/E, Synchrony Financial is actually cheaper at 7.5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Synchrony Financial wins at 0.83x versus Mastercard Incorporated's 1.26x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SYF or MA?
Over the past 5 years, Synchrony Financial (SYF) delivered a total return of +85.2%, compared to +45.9% for Mastercard Incorporated (MA). A $10,000 investment in SYF five years ago would be worth approximately $19K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MA returned +515.7% 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 — SYF or MA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.78β versus Synchrony Financial's 1.58β — meaning SYF is approximately 104% more volatile than MA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Synchrony Financial (SYF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 93% versus 2% for Mastercard Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SYF or MA?
Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the more profitable company, earning 45.6% net margin versus 16.9% for Synchrony Financial — meaning it keeps 45.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MA leads at 59.2% versus 21.9% for SYF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MA leads at 83.4%, 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 SYF or MA 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, Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.83x versus Mastercard Incorporated's 1.26x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Synchrony Financial (SYF) trades at 7.5x forward P/E versus 26.4x for Mastercard Incorporated — 19.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SYF: 30.3% to $90.08.
07Which pays a better dividend — SYF or MA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Synchrony Financial (SYF) offers the highest yield at 1.4%, versus 0.6% for Mastercard Incorporated (MA).
08Is SYF or MA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.78), 0.6% yield, +515.7% 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 (MA: +515.7%, 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 SYF and MA?
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: SYF is a mid-cap deep-value stock; MA is a large-cap quality compounder stock. 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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