Moody's (MCO) vs Synchrony Financial (SYF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Synchrony Financial (SYF) has outperformed Moody's (MCO) over the past year, gaining 1.5% versus a loss of 7.9%. Over five years, SYF leads with a +43.3% price change compared with +21.1% for MCO. Moody's is the larger company by market cap ($77.87 billion vs $23.40 billion), about 3.3 times the size.
On valuation, Synchrony Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (6.9x vs 23.8x for Moody's). Synchrony Financial offers the higher dividend yield (1.67% vs 0.88%). Moody's converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 31.9% versus 18.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | MCO | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $449.63 | $71.93 |
| Market cap | $77.87B | $23.40B |
| 1-day change | -0.59% | -0.32% |
| YTD return | -11.98% | -13.78% |
| 1-year return | -7.94% | +1.45% |
| 5-year return | +21.14% | +43.34% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 28.53 | 7.36 |
| Forward P/E | 23.75 | 6.87 |
| EPS (TTM) | $15.76 | $9.77 |
| Dividend yield | 0.88% | 1.67% |
| Annual dividend | $3.94 | $1.20 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $7.72B | $18.99B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.89% | -2.80% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.46B | $3.55B |
| Gross margin | 74.44% | — |
| Operating margin | 43.42% | — |
| Net margin | 31.86% | 18.71% |
| 52-week high | $546.88 | $88.77 |
| 52-week low | $402.28 | $63.08 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.78% | -18.97% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +24.52% | +23.01% |
| Average volume | 792.75K | 3.28M |
| Shares outstanding | 173.18M | 325.37M |
| Employees | 16,000 | 20,000 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Finance: Consumer Services | Finance: Consumer Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Moody's is about 3.3 times larger than Synchrony Financial by market value ($77.87B vs $23.40B).
- Moody's trades at a higher earnings multiple (28.5x vs 7.4x trailing P/E).
- Moody's is more profitable, keeping 31.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 18.7 cents for Synchrony Financial.
- Moody's grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+8.89% vs -2.80%).
About Moody's
MCO stock →Moody's Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated risk assessment firm in the United States, the rest of the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through two segments, Moody's Analytics (MA) and Moody's Investors Service (MIS).
Finance · Finance: Consumer Services · 16,000 employees
About Synchrony Financial
SYF stock →Synchrony Financial, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a consumer financial services company in the United States. The company provides credit products, such as credit cards, commercial credit products, and consumer installment loans.
Finance · Finance: Consumer Services · 20,000 employees
MCO vs SYF FAQ
Which is bigger, Moody's or Synchrony Financial?
Moody's (MCO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $77.87B compared with $23.40B for Synchrony Financial (SYF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MCO or SYF?
SYF returned +1.45% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.94% for MCO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MCO or SYF?
SYF has the lower trailing P/E at 7.4, versus 28.5 for MCO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Moody's or Synchrony Financial?
Synchrony Financial has the higher yield at 1.67%, compared with 0.88% for Moody's.
Are Moody's and Synchrony Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Finance: Consumer Services industry within the Finance sector.