FDS vs. SYF: FactSet Research Systems vs. Synchrony Financial Stock Comparison
How do FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) and Synchrony Financial (SYF) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but FDS is classified in Capital Markets while SYF is classified in Consumer Finance.
| Profile Item | FDS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | FactSet Research Systems Inc. | Synchrony Financial |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Consumer Finance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Financial Exchanges & Data | Consumer Finance |
| Market Capitalization | 11.56 billion USD | 23.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 28, 1996 | July 31, 2014 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FDS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 27.49% | 2.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -8.71% | 39.02% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -4.88% | 10.89% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Synchrony Financial (SYF) has an aggressive beta of 1.40, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while FactSet Research Systems (FDS) is defensive at 0.69 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | FDS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 48.03% | 31.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.69 | 1.40 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -61.13% | -44.60% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 803.71K | 3.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FDS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.48 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.71 | -0.06 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 25.48% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 19.83% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FDS.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
25.48%
- Max
- 44.78%
- FDS
- 25.48%
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 21.54%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
21.54%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- FDS
- 21.54%
- Median
- 15.36%
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.22% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 49.84% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
22.22%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- FDS
- 22.22%
- 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 | FDS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 25.48% | 19.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.65% | 2.78% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.54% | 34.07% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 22.22% | 49.84% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 6.65% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Synchrony Financial (SYF) at -0.50% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at -6.30% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 8.54% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | FDS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.65% | -0.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.89% | 8.67% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -6.30% | 8.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.59% | 14.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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 | FDS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 1.33% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.67% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
1.33%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- FDS
- 1.33%
- Median
- 1.09%
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 31.02% 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.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
31.02%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- FDS
- 31.02%
- Median
- 25.77%
- 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 | FDS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.33% | 1.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 31.02% | 12.94% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 7.70 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.50 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SYF, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
22.50
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- FDS
- 22.50
- Median
- 15.37
- 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)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 2.45 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 4.67 sits in the pricier quartile — FDS costs more per dollar of sales.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
4.67
- Max
- 9.23
- FDS
- 4.67
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- 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)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.55 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 5.77 carries an above-peer premium to book — FDS is pricier on assets.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
5.77
- Max
- 7.79
- FDS
- 5.77
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
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 | FDS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.50 | 7.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.67 | 2.45 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.77 | 1.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |