NTRS vs. SYF: Northern Trust vs. Synchrony Financial Stock Comparison
How do Northern Trust (NTRS) 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
Northern Trust (NTRS) and Synchrony Financial (SYF) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but NTRS is classified in Capital Markets while SYF is classified in Consumer Finance.
| Profile Item | NTRS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Northern Trust Corporation | 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 | Asset Management & Custody Banks | Consumer Finance |
| Market Capitalization | 31.29 billion USD | 23.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | July 31, 2014 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | NTRS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 39.45% | 2.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.68% | 39.02% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 11.05% | 10.89% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | NTRS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.90% | 31.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.18 | 1.40 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -50.03% | -44.60% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.11M | 3.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | NTRS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.41 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.17 | -0.06 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Northern Trust (NTRS) at 18.44% 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.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
18.44%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- NTRS
- 18.44%
- 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 Northern Trust (NTRS) at 26.00%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
26.00%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- NTRS
- 26.00%
- 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 Northern Trust (NTRS) at 34.80% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 49.84% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
34.80%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- NTRS
- 34.80%
- 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 | NTRS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.44% | 19.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.44% | 2.78% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 26.00% | 34.07% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 34.80% | 49.84% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Northern Trust (NTRS) at -2.46% 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 Northern Trust (NTRS) at -10.54% 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 | NTRS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -2.46% | -0.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.15% | 8.67% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -10.54% | 8.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.49% | 14.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Northern Trust (NTRS) 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: Northern Trust (NTRS) 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 | NTRS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Northern Trust (NTRS) at 1.91% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.67% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
1.91%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- NTRS
- 1.91%
- 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 Northern Trust (NTRS) at 25.73% 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.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
25.73%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- NTRS
- 25.73%
- 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 | NTRS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.91% | 1.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.73% | 12.94% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 7.70 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Northern Trust (NTRS) at 13.55 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SYF, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
13.55
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- NTRS
- 13.55
- 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 Northern Trust (NTRS) at 3.35 and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 2.45 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
3.35
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- NTRS
- 3.35
- 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)
On P/B ratio, both Northern Trust (NTRS) at 2.51 and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.55 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
2.51
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- NTRS
- 2.51
- 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 | NTRS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.55 | 7.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.35 | 2.45 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.51 | 1.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |