GPN vs. SYF: Global Payments vs. Synchrony Financial Stock Comparison
How do Global Payments (GPN) 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
Global Payments (GPN) and Synchrony Financial (SYF) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but GPN is classified in Financial Services while SYF is classified in Consumer Finance.
| Profile Item | GPN | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Global Payments 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 | Transaction & Payment Processing Services | Consumer Finance |
| Market Capitalization | 25.78 billion USD | 23.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 16, 2001 | July 31, 2014 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GPN | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 31.53% | 2.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -1.66% | 39.02% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -4.82% | 10.89% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GPN | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 42.00% | 31.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.80 | 1.40 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -57.06% | -44.60% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.69M | 3.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GPN | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.65 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.10 | -0.06 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 19.83% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Global Payments (GPN) at 0.84% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.
GPN
Financial Services industry group
0.84%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- GPN
- 0.84%
- 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)
Global Payments (GPN) reports a negative net margin of -11.21%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Synchrony Financial (SYF) reports 34.07%, ranking against industry peers normally.
GPN
Financial Services industry group
-11.21%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- GPN
- -11.21%
- 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 Global Payments (GPN) at 15.73% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 49.84% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
GPN
Financial Services industry group
15.73%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- GPN
- 15.73%
- 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 | GPN | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 0.84% | 19.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.24% | 2.78% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -11.21% | 34.07% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 15.73% | 49.84% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Global Payments (GPN) at -0.39% 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
Both Global Payments (GPN) at -6.17% 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 | GPN | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.39% | -0.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -4.96% | 8.67% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -6.17% | 8.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 143.57% | 14.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Global Payments (GPN) 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: Global Payments (GPN) 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 | GPN | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Global Payments (GPN) at 1.05% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.67% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
GPN
Financial Services industry group
1.05%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- GPN
- 1.05%
- 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)
Global Payments (GPN) reports payout ratio above 100% at 178.57%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Synchrony Financial (SYF) reports 12.94%, ranking against industry peers normally.
GPN
Financial Services industry group
178.57%
- Max
- 241.07%
- GPN
- 178.57%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- 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 | GPN | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.05% | 1.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 178.57% | 12.94% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 7.70 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Global Payments (GPN) at 173.93 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.
GPN
Financial Services industry group
173.93
- GPN
- 173.93
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- 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)
On P/S ratio, both Global Payments (GPN) at 2.24 and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 2.45 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
GPN
Financial Services industry group
2.24
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- GPN
- 2.24
- 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)
On P/B ratio, both Global Payments (GPN) at 1.11 and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.55 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
GPN
Financial Services industry group
1.11
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- GPN
- 1.11
- 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 | GPN | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 173.93 | 7.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.24 | 2.45 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.11 | 1.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |