Banking, finance, and taxes

What to Expect From Synchrony Earnings

Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) will report its fourth-quarter results Friday before the market open. Thomson Reuters has consensus estimates of $0.60 in earnings per share and $2.83 billion in revenue. The highest estimates are $0.64 in earnings per share and $3.17 billion in revenue.

Synchrony is currently in the middle of a spin-off, forming a new company separate from General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE). The spin-off is expected to be completed this year.

A little background about the company: It has logged over 80 years of experience in consumer finance and is one of the largest providers of private label credit cards in the United States, based on purchase volume and receivables. The company provides a range of credit products with a diverse group of national and regional retailers.

As earnings approach, Synchrony renewed its installment lending program with Yamaha Motor. Ultimately it will provide consumer financing at 1,700 Yamaha dealers across the United States. Since the program was started in 2004, it has provided financing for over $2 billion in Yamaha products.

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Synchrony also is investing in GPShopper, which develops mobile apps focused on the retail industry. This will complement the company’s current mobile offerings of account acquisition, management and reward redemption. The end game for this investment is to align with the needs of retail partners and consumers by building on its mobile platform.

Two firms weighed in on Synchrony in January. BTIG Research reiterated a Neutral rating with a price target of $30. Evercore ISI initiated coverage of Synchrony with a $35 price target. This is currently the highest listed price target for the stock, implying an upside of 20% from Wednesday’s close.

The 50-day moving average is currently $29.27. Shares have only dipped below that average in the past week but they are currently testing it ahead of earnings. There is no 200-day moving average as the company has only been public since the end of July.

Shares of Synchrony were flat at $24.12 midday on Thursday. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $31.40 and a 52-week trading range of $22.60 to $30.64. Synchrony has a market cap of $24 billion.

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