Synchrony Financial (SYF)vsUpstart Holdings Inc (UPST)
SYF
Synchrony Financial
$75.88
-0.15%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $25.58B
UPST
Upstart Holdings Inc
$25.59
+1.95%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.52B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Synchrony Financial generates 671% more annual revenue ($9.91B vs $1.29B). SYF leads profitability with a 35.5% profit margin vs 4.7%. SYF trades at a lower P/E of 8.1x. SYF earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 75/100 (B).
SYF
Strong Buy75
out of 100
Grade: B
UPST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
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 50.2%
Every $100 of equity generates 21 in profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Revenue surging 42.3% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 211.2% YoY
Areas to Watch
0.6% revenue growth
3.6% earnings growth
Distress zone — elevated risk
ROE of 6.7% — below average capital efficiency
4.7% margin — thin
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
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 35.5% and operating margin at 50.2%. PEG of 0.99 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : UPST
The strongest argument for UPST centers on Revenue Growth, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 42.3% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : SYF
The primary concerns for SYF are Revenue Growth, EPS Growth, Altman Z-Score.
Bear Case : UPST
The primary concerns for UPST are Return on Equity, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 51.8x leaves little room for execution misses. Debt-to-equity of 2.54 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
SYF profiles as a value stock while UPST is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.
UPST carries more volatility with a beta of 2.17 — expect wider price swings.
UPST is growing revenue faster at 42.3% — sustainability is the question.
SYF generates stronger free cash flow (2.4B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
SYF scores higher overall (75/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 35.5% margins. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" 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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