IBKR vs. SYF: Interactive Brokers vs. Synchrony Financial Stock Comparison
How do Interactive Brokers (IBKR) 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
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and Synchrony Financial (SYF) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but IBKR is classified in Capital Markets while SYF is classified in Consumer Finance.
| Profile Item | IBKR | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. Class A Common Stock | 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 | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Consumer Finance |
| Market Capitalization | 129.19 billion USD | 23.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 4, 2007 | July 31, 2014 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | IBKR | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 11.53% | 2.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 57.15% | 39.02% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 34.54% | 10.89% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | IBKR | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 40.72% | 31.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.37 | 1.40 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -38.66% | -44.60% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.24M | 3.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | IBKR | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.18 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.26 | -0.06 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) at 23.67% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 19.83% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for IBKR.
IBKR
Financial Services industry group
23.67%
- Max
- 44.78%
- IBKR
- 23.67%
- 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 Interactive Brokers (IBKR) at 16.68%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
IBKR
Financial Services industry group
16.68%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- IBKR
- 16.68%
- 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)
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) at 77.70% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 49.84%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
IBKR
Financial Services industry group
77.70%
- Max
- 107.33%
- IBKR
- 77.70%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- 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 | IBKR | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 23.67% | 19.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.28% | 2.78% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.68% | 34.07% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 77.70% | 49.84% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) at 9.73% 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 Interactive Brokers (IBKR) at 28.14% 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 | IBKR | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.73% | -0.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 34.60% | 8.67% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 28.14% | 8.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 33.29% | 14.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) 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: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) 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 | IBKR | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Interactive Brokers (IBKR) at 0.46% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.67% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
IBKR
Financial Services industry group
0.46%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- IBKR
- 0.46%
- 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 Interactive Brokers (IBKR) at 12.79% 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.
IBKR
Financial Services industry group
12.79%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- IBKR
- 12.79%
- 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 | IBKR | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.46% | 1.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 12.79% | 12.94% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 7.70 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Interactive Brokers (IBKR) at 28.94 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
IBKR
Financial Services industry group
28.94
- Max
- 45.85
- IBKR
- 28.94
- 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)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 2.45 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Interactive Brokers (IBKR) at 18.30 clears its benchmark range — IBKR looks notably rich on sales.
IBKR
Financial Services industry group
18.30
- IBKR
- 18.30
- Max
- 9.23
- 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 Interactive Brokers (IBKR) at 5.53 carries an above-peer premium to book — IBKR is pricier on assets.
IBKR
Financial Services industry group
5.53
- Max
- 7.79
- IBKR
- 5.53
- 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 | IBKR | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 28.94 | 7.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 18.30 | 2.45 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.53 | 1.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |