Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF) Q4 2025 Earnings call January 27, 2026 08:00 AM ET Speaker3Good morning, and welcome to the Synchrony Financial fourth quarter 2025 earnings conference call. Please refer to the company's investor relations website for access to their earnings materials. Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. Currently, all callers have been placed in a listen-only mode. The call will be opened up for your questions following the conclusion of management's prepared remark ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Synchrony Financial reported net earnings of $1,100,000,000 or $2.86 per diluted share, with a return on average assets of 3.6% and return on tangible common equity of 30.6% [6][20] - The company generated $46,000,000,000 in purchase volume in Q3 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 2% [6][16] - Ending loan receivables decreased by 2% to $100,000,000,000, influenced by lower prior period purchase volume and higher payment rates [16][20] - Net revenue was flat at $3,800,000,000, with net interest income increasing by 2% to $4,700,000,000 [17][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Purchase volume in Health and Wellness grew by 3%, while Home and Auto was down by 1% and Lifestyle was down by 3% [7][16] - Dual and co-branded cards accounted for 46% of total purchase volume, increasing by 8% year-over-year [7][16] - Average transaction values were approximately 40 basis points higher than last year, with spend frequency up by 3.4% [8][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The 30-plus delinquency rate decreased to 4.39%, down 39 basis points from the prior year [20][21] - The net charge-off rate was 5.16%, a decrease of 90 basis points from the previous year [21][20] - The allowance for credit losses as a percent of loan receivables was 10.35%, down 24 basis points from the previous quarter [22][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is gradually reversing some credit tightening in areas with strong risk-adjusted growth opportunities [10][28] - Synchrony added or expanded partnerships with over 15 partners in Q3, including the Toro Company and Lowe's [11][12] - The acquisition of Versatile Credit is expected to enhance access to flexible financing and contribute to long-term growth [13][14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about consumer resilience and credit performance, noting improvements in spending trends [44][46] - The company expects flat ending receivables for the year, with a loss rate projected between 5.6% and 5.7% [25][26] - The outlook for 2025 includes expectations for net interest margin expansion and stronger delinquency formation [27][25] Other Important Information - Synchrony returned $971,000,000 to shareholders, including $861,000,000 in share repurchases [24][20] - The company has a CET1 ratio of 13.7%, indicating strong capital generation capacity [23][20] Q&A Session Summary Question: What led to the updated revenue guidance? - Management indicated that the guidance was influenced by improved delinquencies and elevated payment rates, which reduced late fee incidents [32][34] Question: Can you provide insights on the credit actions and potential rollbacks? - Management confirmed that any potential rollbacks would occur on a partner-by-partner basis, with no large-scale rollback plans in place [35][36] Question: What is the outlook for consumer behavior and credit performance? - Management noted that the consumer remains resilient, with positive trends in spending and credit performance expected to continue [44][46] Question: How do you view the potential for account growth? - Management highlighted that new accounts were up 10% sequentially and year-over-year, indicating a willingness among consumers to apply for credit [76][77] Question: What are the implications of the delinquency trends for future charge-offs? - Management acknowledged that while delinquency rates have improved, they expect to return to more seasonal trends moving forward [99][100]