Synchrony Financial (SYF)vsUpstart Holdings Inc (UPST)
SYF
Synchrony Financial
$70.77
+1.70%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $24.68B
UPST
Upstart Holdings Inc
$29.74
-7.84%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.92B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Synchrony Financial generates 743% more annual revenue ($9.89B vs $1.17B). SYF leads profitability with a 36.4% profit margin vs 4.2%. SYF trades at a lower P/E of 7.6x. SYF earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 77/100 (B+).
SYF
Strong Buy77
out of 100
Grade: B+
UPST
Hold50
out of 100
Grade: D+
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Keeps 36 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 48.0%
Every $100 of equity generates 22 in profit
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 20.1% YoY
Revenue surging 44.6% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 209.1% YoY
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Distress zone — elevated risk
ROE of 6.7% — below average capital efficiency
4.2% margin — thin
Operating margin of 0.9%
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : SYF
The strongest argument for SYF centers on P/E Ratio, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 36.4% and operating margin at 48.0%.
Bull Case : UPST
The strongest argument for UPST centers on Revenue Growth, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 44.6% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : SYF
The primary concerns for SYF are PEG Ratio, Altman Z-Score.
Bear Case : UPST
The primary concerns for UPST are Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. A P/E of 74.4x leaves little room for execution misses. Debt-to-equity of 2.70 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
SYF profiles as a mature stock while UPST is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.
UPST carries more volatility with a beta of 2.28 — expect wider price swings.
UPST is growing revenue faster at 44.6% — sustainability is the question.
SYF generates stronger free cash flow (2.2B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
SYF scores higher overall (77/100 vs 50/100), backed by strong 36.4% margins. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Synchrony Financial
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA
Synchrony Financial is a consumer financial services company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, United States. The company offers consumer financing products, including credit, promotional financing and loyalty programs, installment lending to industries, and FDIC-insured consumer savings products through Synchrony Bank, its wholly owned online bank subsidiary.
Visit Website →Upstart Holdings Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA
Upstart Holdings, Inc. operates a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California.
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