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NLY vs. SYF: Annaly Capital Management vs. Synchrony Financial Stock Comparison

How do Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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

Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but NLY is classified in Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) while SYF is classified in Consumer Finance.

Synchrony Financial (SYF) is an ordinary operating company, while Annaly Capital Management (NLY) is a REIT — read its payout ratio and P/E alongside FFO (funds from operations) rather than comparing them directly to SYF’s multiples.

Company profile comparison for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF)
Profile ItemNLYSYF
NameAnnaly Capital Management, Inc.Synchrony Financial
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesFinancial Services
GICS IndustryMortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)Consumer Finance
GICS Sub-IndustryMortgage REITsConsumer Finance
Market Capitalization14.77 billion USD23.99 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 8, 1997July 31, 2014
Security TypeREITCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NLY
SYF
GSPC
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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF)
MetricNLYSYF
Total Return (1Y)-0.90%2.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.10%39.02%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.83%10.89%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NLY
SYF
GSPC
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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF)
MetricNLYSYF
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.57%31.32%
Beta (5Y)1.221.40
Max Drawdown (5Y)-49.57%-44.60%
Avg. Volume (3M)10.28M3.37M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NLY and SYF are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF)
MetricNLYSYF
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.25-0.05
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.36-0.06

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 7.35% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 19.83% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

NLY

Financial Services industry group

7.35%

Max
44.78%
Q3
21.85%
Median
12.91%
NLY
7.35%
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%
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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF): A comparison of their ROE against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 80.27% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 34.07% also retains a top-quartile share.

NLY

Financial Services industry group

80.27%

NLY
80.27%
Max
62.84%
Q3
28.05%
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%
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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF): A comparison of their net margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 107.33% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 49.84%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

NLY

Financial Services industry group

107.33%

NLY
107.33%
Max
107.33%
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%
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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF): A comparison of their operating margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF)
MetricNLYSYF
ROE (TTM)7.35%19.83%
ROA (TTM)0.84%2.78%
Net Margin (TTM)80.27%34.07%
Operating Margin (TTM)107.33%49.84%
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 87.29% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Synchrony Financial (SYF) at -0.50% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.

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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 80.25% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 8.54% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for NLY.

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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF)
MetricNLYSYF
Revenue Growth (YoY)87.29%-0.50%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.72%8.67%
EPS Growth (YoY)80.25%8.54%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-9.35%14.70%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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: Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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

Financial strength metrics for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF)
MetricNLYSYF
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.67% pays an industry-typical yield; Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 15.38% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

NLY

Financial Services industry group

15.38%

NLY
15.38%
Max
9.77%
Q3
3.92%
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%
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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Annaly Capital Management (NLY) reports payout ratio above 100% at 201.39%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Synchrony Financial (SYF) reports 12.94%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NLY

Financial Services industry group

201.39%

Max
241.07%
NLY
201.39%
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%
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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF)
MetricNLYSYF
Dividend Yield (TTM)15.38%1.67%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)201.39%12.94%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 7.70 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 13.02 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SYF, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

NLY

Financial Services industry group

13.02

Max
45.85
Q3
24.64
Median
15.37
NLY
13.02
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
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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 2.45 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 10.62 clears its benchmark range — NLY looks notably rich on sales.

NLY

Financial Services industry group

10.62

NLY
10.62
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
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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 1.05 and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.55 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

NLY

Financial Services industry group

1.05

Max
7.79
Q3
3.63
Median
1.57
NLY
1.05
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
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Annaly Capital Management (NLY) vs. Synchrony Financial (SYF): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Annaly Capital Management (NLY) and Synchrony Financial (SYF)
MetricNLYSYF
P/E Ratio (TTM)13.027.70
P/S Ratio (TTM)10.622.45
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.051.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----