Banking, finance, and taxes

Synchrony Powers Through Earnings With New Partnerships

Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) reported its second-quarter financial results before the markets opened Friday. The company had $0.65 in earnings per share (EPS) on $2.7 billion in revenue, which compared to Thomson Reuters consensus estimates of $0.62 in EPS on $2.77 billion in revenue.

This past quarter, Synchrony had loan receivables growth of $7 billion, up 12% from the second quarter of 2014, to a total of $61 billion. Deposit growth continued up $7 billion, an increase of 24% to $38 billion from the same period last year. Purchase volume also increased by 11% year over year.

In terms of its partners, the company added Mattress Firm, Newegg and Stash Hotel Rewards to its list. At the same time, Synchrony extended Chevron a top 20 partnership, and it renewed a strategic CareCredit endorsement with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Perhaps the biggest news in terms of its partnerships is that Synchrony will be one of the first issuers to offer private label credit cards in Apple Pay.

The estimated Common Equity Tier 1 ratio under Basel III subject to transition provisions was 17.2%, and the estimated fully phased-in Common Equity Tier 1 ratio under Basel III was 16.4%.

Margaret Keane, president and CEO of Synchrony Financial, said:

We continue to grow our industry-leading consumer finance business on several fronts. We have signed new partners across our platforms, extended key contracts, and made technology investments which are yielding innovative, value added services for our partners and customers. We also continued to deliver strong receivables, deposit, and revenue growth. We are focused on driving growth, delivering value to our partners and customers, and remaining at the forefront of the emerging digital payments and data analytics landscape.

The balance sheet remained strong, with total liquidity at $20 billion, or 26% of total assets. At the end of the second quarter, cash and cash equivalents totaled $10.62 billion.

Friday morning, shares of Synchrony rose 4.7% to $35.37, a new post-spin-off high. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $34.70 and a post-spin-off low of $22.60.

ALSO READ: Credit Card Issuers Show Growing Appetite for New Fees

Essential Tips for Investing: Sponsored

A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.