SCHW vs. SYF: Charles Schwab vs. Synchrony Financial Stock Comparison
How do Charles Schwab (SCHW) 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
Charles Schwab (SCHW) and Synchrony Financial (SYF) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but SCHW is classified in Capital Markets while SYF is classified in Consumer Finance.
| Profile Item | SCHW | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Charles Schwab 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 | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Consumer Finance |
| Market Capitalization | 158.22 billion USD | 23.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 22, 1987 | July 31, 2014 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SCHW | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -0.80% | 2.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 21.35% | 39.02% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 4.31% | 10.89% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SCHW | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.01% | 31.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.74 | 1.40 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -49.70% | -44.60% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.22M | 3.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SCHW | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.20 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.26 | -0.06 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 21.12% 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.
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
21.12%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- SCHW
- 21.12%
- 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)
For every dollar of sales, both Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 39.33% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 34.07% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
39.33%
- Max
- 62.84%
- SCHW
- 39.33%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 52.67% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 49.84% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
52.67%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- SCHW
- 52.67%
- 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 | SCHW | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 21.12% | 19.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.16% | 2.78% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 39.33% | 34.07% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 52.67% | 49.84% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 22.01% 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
Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 55.52% 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 SCHW.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SCHW | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 22.01% | -0.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.83% | 8.67% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 55.52% | 8.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.93% | 14.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Charles Schwab (SCHW) 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: Charles Schwab (SCHW) 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 | SCHW | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 1.33% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.67% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
1.33%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- SCHW
- 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 Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 21.03% 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.
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
21.03%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- SCHW
- 21.03%
- 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 | SCHW | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.33% | 1.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 21.03% | 12.94% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 7.70 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 15.64 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SYF, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
15.64
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- SCHW
- 15.64
- 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 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 5.85 sits in the pricier quartile — SCHW costs more per dollar of sales.
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
5.85
- Max
- 9.23
- SCHW
- 5.85
- 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)
On P/B ratio, both Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 3.08 and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.55 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
3.08
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- SCHW
- 3.08
- 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 | SCHW | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.64 | 7.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.85 | 2.45 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.08 | 1.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |