Synchrony Financial Corporate Bonds and Leverage Analysis

SYF Stock  USD 65.99  0.85  1.30%   
Synchrony Financial has over 15.98 Billion in debt which may indicate that it relies heavily on debt financing. At this time, Synchrony Financial's Debt To Equity is most likely to drop slightly in the upcoming years. The Synchrony Financial's current Long Term Debt To Capitalization is estimated to increase to 0.69, while Long Term Debt is projected to decrease to roughly 13.9 B. . Synchrony Financial's financial risk is the risk to Synchrony Financial stockholders that is caused by an increase in debt.

Asset vs Debt

Equity vs Debt

Synchrony Financial's liquidity is one of the most fundamental aspects of both its future profitability and its ability to meet different types of ongoing financial obligations. Synchrony Financial's cash, liquid assets, total liabilities, and shareholder equity can be utilized to evaluate how much leverage the Company is using to sustain its current operations. For traders, higher-leverage indicators usually imply a higher risk to shareholders. In addition, it helps Synchrony Stock's retail investors understand whether an upcoming fall or rise in the market will negatively affect Synchrony Financial's stakeholders.
For most companies, including Synchrony Financial, marketable securities, inventories, and receivables are the most common assets that could be converted to cash. However, for Synchrony Financial, the most critical issue when managing liquidity is ensuring that current assets are properly aligned with current liabilities. If they are not, Synchrony Financial's management will need to obtain alternative financing to ensure there are always enough cash equivalents on the balance sheet to meet obligations.
Price Book
1.7409
Book Value
37.916
Operating Margin
0.4637
Profit Margin
0.3514
Return On Assets
0.0273
The Synchrony Financial's current Total Current Liabilities is estimated to increase to about 4.5 B, while Liabilities And Stockholders Equity is projected to decrease to roughly 99.3 B.
  
Check out the analysis of Synchrony Financial Fundamentals Over Time.
For more detail on how to invest in Synchrony Stock please use our How to Invest in Synchrony Financial guide.
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Given the importance of Synchrony Financial's capital structure, the first step in the capital decision process is for the management of Synchrony Financial to decide how much external capital it will need to raise to operate in a sustainable way. Once the amount of financing is determined, management needs to examine the financial markets to determine the terms in which the company can boost capital. This move is crucial to the process because the market environment may reduce the ability of Synchrony Financial to issue bonds at a reasonable cost.

Synchrony Financial Bond Ratings

Synchrony Financial financial ratings play a critical role in determining how much Synchrony Financial have to pay to access credit markets, i.e., the amount of interest on their issued debt. The threshold between investment-grade and speculative-grade ratings has important market implications for Synchrony Financial's borrowing costs.
Piotroski F Score
5
HealthyView
Beneish M Score
(3.07)
Unlikely ManipulatorView

Synchrony Financial Debt to Cash Allocation

Many companies such as Synchrony Financial, eventually find out that there is only so much market out there to be conquered, and adding the next product or service is only half as profitable per unit as their current endeavors. Eventually, the company will reach a point where cash flows are strong, and extra cash is available but not fully utilized. In this case, the company may start buying back its stock from the public or issue more dividends.
Synchrony Financial has 15.98 B in debt with debt to equity (D/E) ratio of 5.66, demonstrating that the company may be unable to create cash to meet all of its financial commitments. Note however, debt could still be an excellent tool for Synchrony to invest in growth at high rates of return.

Synchrony Financial Common Stock Shares Outstanding Over Time

Synchrony Financial Assets Financed by Debt

The debt-to-assets ratio shows the degree to which Synchrony Financial uses debt to finance its assets. It includes both long-term and short-term borrowings maturing within one year. It also includes both tangible and intangible assets, such as goodwill.

Synchrony Financial Debt Ratio

    
  13.0   
It seems as most of the Synchrony Financial's assets are financed through equity. Typically, companies with high debt-to-asset ratios are said to be highly leveraged. The higher the ratio, the greater risk will be associated with the Synchrony Financial's operation. In addition, a high debt-to-assets ratio may indicate a low borrowing capacity of Synchrony Financial, which in turn will lower the firm's financial flexibility.

Synchrony Financial Corporate Bonds Issued

Most Synchrony bonds can be classified according to their maturity, which is the date when Synchrony Financial has to pay back the principal to investors. Maturities can be short-term, medium-term, or long-term (more than ten years). Longer-term bonds usually offer higher interest rates but may entail additional risks.

Synchrony Short Long Term Debt Total

Short Long Term Debt Total

18.8 Billion

At this time, Synchrony Financial's Short and Long Term Debt Total is most likely to decrease significantly in the upcoming years.

Understaning Synchrony Financial Use of Financial Leverage

Synchrony Financial's financial leverage ratio helps determine the effect of debt on the overall profitability of the company. It measures Synchrony Financial's total debt position, including all outstanding debt obligations, and compares it with Synchrony Financial's equity. Financial leverage can amplify the potential profits to Synchrony Financial's owners, but it also increases the potential losses and risk of financial distress, including bankruptcy, if Synchrony Financial is unable to cover its debt costs.
Last ReportedProjected for Next Year
Short and Long Term Debt Total16 B18.8 B
Net Debt1.7 B1.6 B
Long Term Debt16 B13.9 B
Long Term Debt Total16.3 B17.8 B
Short and Long Term Debt675 M641.2 M
Short Term Debt4.2 BB
Net Debt To EBITDA 0.42  0.40 
Debt To Equity 1.15  2.30 
Interest Debt Per Share 46.75  26.05 
Debt To Assets 0.14  0.13 
Long Term Debt To Capitalization 0.53  0.69 
Total Debt To Capitalization 0.53  0.69 
Debt Equity Ratio 1.15  2.30 
Debt Ratio 0.14  0.13 
Cash Flow To Debt Ratio 0.54  0.30 
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When determining whether Synchrony Financial is a strong investment it is important to analyze Synchrony Financial's competitive position within its industry, examining market share, product or service uniqueness, and competitive advantages. Beyond financials and market position, potential investors should also consider broader economic conditions, industry trends, and any regulatory or geopolitical factors that may impact Synchrony Financial's future performance. For an informed investment choice regarding Synchrony Stock, refer to the following important reports:
Check out the analysis of Synchrony Financial Fundamentals Over Time.
For more detail on how to invest in Synchrony Stock please use our How to Invest in Synchrony Financial guide.
You can also try the Portfolio Comparator module to compare the composition, asset allocations and performance of any two portfolios in your account.
Is Consumer Finance space expected to grow? Or is there an opportunity to expand the business' product line in the future? Factors like these will boost the valuation of Synchrony Financial. If investors know Synchrony will grow in the future, the company's valuation will be higher. The financial industry is built on trying to define current growth potential and future valuation accurately. All the valuation information about Synchrony Financial listed above have to be considered, but the key to understanding future value is determining which factors weigh more heavily than others.
Quarterly Earnings Growth
0.311
Dividend Share
1
Earnings Share
7.7
Revenue Per Share
22.405
Quarterly Revenue Growth
0.116
The market value of Synchrony Financial is measured differently than its book value, which is the value of Synchrony that is recorded on the company's balance sheet. Investors also form their own opinion of Synchrony Financial's value that differs from its market value or its book value, called intrinsic value, which is Synchrony Financial's true underlying value. Investors use various methods to calculate intrinsic value and buy a stock when its market value falls below its intrinsic value. Because Synchrony Financial's market value can be influenced by many factors that don't directly affect Synchrony Financial's underlying business (such as a pandemic or basic market pessimism), market value can vary widely from intrinsic value.
Please note, there is a significant difference between Synchrony Financial's value and its price as these two are different measures arrived at by different means. Investors typically determine if Synchrony Financial is a good investment by looking at such factors as earnings, sales, fundamental and technical indicators, competition as well as analyst projections. However, Synchrony Financial's price is the amount at which it trades on the open market and represents the number that a seller and buyer find agreeable to each party.

What is Financial Leverage?

Financial leverage is the use of borrowed money (debt) to finance the purchase of assets with the expectation that the income or capital gain from the new asset will exceed the cost of borrowing. In most cases, the debt provider will limit how much risk it is ready to take and indicate a limit on the extent of the leverage it will allow. In the case of asset-backed lending, the financial provider uses the assets as collateral until the borrower repays the loan. In the case of a cash flow loan, the general creditworthiness of the company is used to back the loan. The concept of leverage is common in the business world. It is mostly used to boost the returns on equity capital of a company, especially when the business is unable to increase its operating efficiency and returns on total investment. Because earnings on borrowing are higher than the interest payable on debt, the company's total earnings will increase, ultimately boosting stockholders' profits.

Leverage and Capital Costs

The debt to equity ratio plays a role in the working average cost of capital (WACC). The overall interest on debt represents the break-even point that must be obtained to profitability in a given venture. Thus, WACC is essentially the average interest an organization owes on the capital it has borrowed for leverage. Let's say equity represents 60% of borrowed capital, and debt is 40%. This results in a financial leverage calculation of 40/60, or 0.6667. The organization owes 10% on all equity and 5% on all debt. That means that the weighted average cost of capital is (.4)(5) + (.6)(10) - or 8%. For every $10,000 borrowed, this organization will owe $800 in interest. Profit must be higher than 8% on the project to offset the cost of interest and justify this leverage.

Benefits of Financial Leverage

Leverage provides the following benefits for companies:
  • Leverage is an essential tool a company's management can use to make the best financing and investment decisions.
  • It provides a variety of financing sources by which the firm can achieve its target earnings.
  • Leverage is also an essential technique in investing as it helps companies set a threshold for the expansion of business operations. For example, it can be used to recommend restrictions on business expansion once the projected return on additional investment is lower than the cost of debt.
By borrowing funds, the firm incurs a debt that must be paid. But, this debt is paid in small installments over a relatively long period of time. This frees funds for more immediate use in the stock market. For example, suppose a company can afford a new factory but will be left with negligible free cash. In that case, it may be better to finance the factory and spend the cash on hand on inputs, labor, or even hold a significant portion as a reserve against unforeseen circumstances.

The Risk of Financial Leverage

The most obvious and apparent risk of leverage is that if price changes unexpectedly, the leveraged position can lead to severe losses. For example, imagine a hedge fund seeded by $50 worth of investor money. The hedge fund borrows another $50 and buys an asset worth $100, leading to a leverage ratio of 2:1. For the investor, this is neither good nor bad -- until the asset price changes. If the asset price goes up 10 percent, the investor earns $10 on $50 of capital, a net gain of 20 percent, and is very pleased with the increased gains from the leverage. However, if the asset price crashes unexpectedly, say by 30 percent, the investor loses $30 on $50 of capital, suffering a 60 percent loss. In other words, the effect of leverage is to increase the volatility of returns and increase the effects of a price change on the asset to the bottom line while increasing the chance for profit as well.