EQH vs. SYF: Equitable vs. Synchrony Financial Stock Comparison
How do Equitable (EQH) and Synchrony Financial (SYF) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Equitable (EQH) and Synchrony Financial (SYF) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but EQH is classified in Financial Services while SYF is classified in Consumer Finance.
| Profile Item | EQH | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Equitable Holdings Inc. | Synchrony Financial |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Financial Services | Consumer Finance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Financial Services | Consumer Finance |
| Market Capitalization | 14.04 billion USD | 23.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 10, 2018 | July 31, 2014 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | EQH | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 26.35% | 2.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 32.07% | 39.02% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.88% | 10.89% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | EQH | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 33.44% | 31.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.04 | 1.40 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.85% | -44.60% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.71M | 3.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | EQH | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.66 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.94 | -0.06 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Equitable (EQH) at 171.08% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 19.83%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
171.08%
- EQH
- 171.08%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
19.83%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- SYF
- 19.83%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 34.07% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Equitable (EQH) at 11.52%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
11.52%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- EQH
- 11.52%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
34.07%
- Max
- 62.84%
- SYF
- 34.07%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 37.18% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 49.84% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
37.18%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- EQH
- 37.18%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
49.84%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- SYF
- 49.84%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | EQH | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 171.08% | 19.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.45% | 2.78% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.52% | 34.07% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 37.18% | 49.84% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Equitable (EQH) at -6.12% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at -0.50% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 8.54% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Equitable (EQH) at -227.78% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | EQH | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -6.12% | -0.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.65% | 8.67% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -227.78% | 8.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 14.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Equitable (EQH) in Financial Services and Synchrony Financial (SYF) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Equitable (EQH) in Financial Services and Synchrony Financial (SYF) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | EQH | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 0.51% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.67% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
0.51%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- EQH
- 0.51%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
1.67%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- SYF
- 1.67%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 22.49% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 12.94% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
22.49%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- EQH
- 22.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
12.94%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- SYF
- 12.94%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | EQH | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.51% | 1.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 22.49% | 12.94% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 7.70 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Equitable (EQH) at 10.39 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SYF, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
10.39
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- EQH
- 10.39
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
SYF
Financial Services industry group
7.70
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- SYF
- 7.70
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Equitable (EQH) at 1.08 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 2.45 prices around its industry’s middle — EQH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
1.08
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- EQH
- 1.08
- Min
- -0.55
SYF
Financial Services industry group
2.45
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- SYF
- 2.45
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Equitable (EQH) reports a negative P/B ratio of -4.92, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Synchrony Financial (SYF) reports 1.55, ranking against industry peers normally.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
-4.92
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
- EQH
- -4.92
SYF
Financial Services industry group
1.55
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- SYF
- 1.55
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | EQH | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 10.39 | 7.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.08 | 2.45 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -4.92 | 1.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |