COMPARE · Data as of August 21, 2026
SYF vs WU
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. SYF scored 85.0, WU scored 76.0 — SYF leads.
Compare another set
SYF
Synchrony Financial
71.7Fin
$79.47 · $25.9B
fundamentals as of
Strength gap
7.4
SYF leads
WU
The Western Union Company
64.3Fin
$7.30 · $2.3B
fundamentals as of
At a glance · who leads each dimension, on the model's own rules
- CheapestWU5.9x
- Fastest growthSYF-0.5%
- Largest discount to fair valueWU-88%
Side by side · every name on one set of axes
Growth against the P/E multiple. Up and to the right is cheaper and faster — the quality-growth idea in one picture. Points beyond the axis are pinned to the edge and marked off-scale rather than allowed to compress everything else.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
SYF
WU
$9.7bB+
FCF
$565mC+
-0.5%D+
Rev
-1.4%D+
—
D/E
2.95C
8.2xA-
P/E
5.9xA
1.13B+
PEG
13.16D
Winner per row is the stronger grade; where grades tie, the better figure breaks it. A true tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
Valuation · DCF cross-check
SYF
WU
82% below
Price vs fair valuelower is cheaper
88% below
decline
Growth the price implies10-yr FCF · lower = less priced in
decline
+383%
1-yr DCF upside
+568%
+442%
5-yr DCF upside
+706%
+535%
10-yr DCF upside
+971%
The DCF is a cross-check on intrinsic value, separate from the quality-growth score above.
The companies
SYFSynchrony Financial
Why now
Credit Services · market cap $25.9b. 10% off the 52-week high of $88.77. 23 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $89.09 (implying +12% upside).
Moat
Net margin 36% is exceptional — pricing-power territory rare outside premium software, branded staples, and specialty pharma. ROE 21% sits above Buffett's preferred 15% threshold — the equity base is compounding at a rate the market struggles to discount accurately. Free cash flow runs well ahead of reported net income — non-cash charges (depreciation, intangible amortization) are holding down GAAP earnings while cash generation stays strong.
Risk
Balance-sheet financial — book value, net interest margin, and credit loss provisions are the lever points; a rates regime change or a deterioration in the loan book moves the stock more than EPS does.
WUThe Western Union Company
Why now
Credit Services · market cap $2.3b. Down 29% from 52-week high of $10.35 — deep drawdown territory. 14 sell-side analysts rate this an Underperform with a mean 1-yr target of $7.09 (implying -3% upside).
Moat
ROE 43% — top-decile capital efficiency. Either pricing leverage, low capital intensity, or aggressive buybacks; the durability story depends on which. FCF converts 143% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
D/E 2.95 is elevated — limits strategic flexibility and raises refinancing exposure if rates stay higher for longer. Dividend payout 76% of earnings on a 13.1% yield — distribution coverage is thin; one earnings stumble could force a dividend cut. Balance-sheet financial — book value, net interest margin, and credit loss provisions are the lever points; a rates regime change or a deterioration in the loan book moves the stock more than EPS does.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
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