Synchrony Financial Reports Q3 2026 Net Earnings of $892 Million
20 Oct 2026 · 1d ago, 3:37 pm
Summary
Synchrony Financial announced third quarter 2026 net earnings of $892 million, a decrease from the prior year's $1.1 billion, with diluted earnings per share at $2.68 compared to $2.86 in Q3 2025. The company saw strong purchase volume growth of 8% to $49.7 billion and a 3% increase in loan receivables to $103.3 billion. Despite a decrease in net interest margin to 15.50%, management highlighted disciplined execution and strong credit performance, with delinquency and net charge-off rates declining year-over-year.
Key Highlights
- 1
Synchrony Financial reported third quarter 2026 net earnings of $892 million, or $2.68 per diluted share, a decrease from $1.1 billion, or $2.86 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2025.
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Purchase volume increased by 8% to $49.7 billion in the third quarter of 2026.
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Loan receivables increased by 3% to $103.3 billion as of September 30, 2026.
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Net interest margin decreased 12 basis points to 15.50% in the third quarter of 2026.
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The company returned $1.2 billion in capital to shareholders in the third quarter, including $1.1 billion of share repurchases.
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The estimated Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 12.9% as of September 30, 2026.
Management Comments
Brian Doubles
Synchrony delivered another strong performance in the third quarter, highlighted by broad-based purchase volume growth across all five of our sales platforms. Spend reached a record third quarter level and increased across credit cohorts and generations, with the highest growth once again coming from our Generation Z and Millennial customers. In addition, both discretionary and non-discretionary out-of-partner spend increased by double-digits, led by momentum in electronics, entertainment, gas stations and discount stores. Synchrony’s products and experiences resonate because of the everyday utility and enduring value we provide, particularly in a dynamic environment. Investments in our multi-product suite, distribution network and digital capabilities are embedding our capabilities across the evolving frontier of commerce — from point of sale and digital wallets to payment processors and emerging agentic purchasing paths. By meeting people wherever they choose to transact, Synchrony is expanding our reach, deepening relationships, and enabling greater choice, trust, and scalability as a leader in a dynamic retail ecosystem. Synchrony is delivering outcomes that matter. We are empowering tens of millions of customers with financial flexibility, driving loyalty and sales for hundreds of thousands of merchants, partners and providers across the country, and generating attractive, risk-adjusted growth and significant long-term value for our stakeholders.
Brian Wenzel
Synchrony’s third quarter financial performance reflected disciplined execution across our strategic priorities. We delivered continued growth in both purchase volume and ending loan receivables, and Net interest income increased due to higher average loan receivables and lower funding costs. Credit performance remained strong during the quarter, with delinquency trends consistent with typical seasonality and net charge-offs declining to a seasonal low. The resulting improvement in program performance was shared through the RSA, reinforcing the economic alignment between Synchrony and our partners. Together, these results underscore the strength of our differentiated model, which has enabled us to consistently deliver returns on average assets above our long-term target, return substantial capital to shareholders, and invest in opportunities that drive long-term earnings power and intrinsic value.
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