Synchrony Beats Q3 EPS Estimates With $2.68 a Share

Synchrony Financial beat third-quarter earnings expectations with diluted earnings of $2.68 per share and put its 2026 outlook at about $9.50 a share, the top of its earlier range.

The per-share result exceeded the $2.48 analyst consensus by 20 cents. In July, Synchrony had projected 2026 earnings of $9.25 to $9.50 per share.

Net earnings for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026, were $892 million, down from $1.1 billion a year earlier. Purchase volume increased 8% to $49.7 billion, and loan receivables rose 3% to $103.3 billion.

“Spend reached a record third quarter level,” Synchrony President and CEO Brian Doubles said.

The net charge-off rate, which measures loans written off against average loan receivables, declined to 4.79% from 5.16% a year earlier. The provision for credit losses nevertheless rose 10% to $1.3 billion. That figure included a $30 million reserve build; the year-earlier quarter included a $152 million reserve release.

For the full year, Synchrony expects ending loan receivables to grow at a mid-single-digit rate. It also expects a net charge-off rate below 5.5%.