Synchrony Financial vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Synchrony Financial trades at $77.5 (market cap $25.58B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $389.99 (market cap $110.23B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation is far larger — about 4.3× Synchrony Financial's market cap, and Synchrony Financial pays the higher dividend (1.73%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| SYF | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $25.58B | $110.23B |
Sector | Financials | Energy |
52-Week High | $88.47 | $388.95 |
52-Week Low | $63.78 | $156.39 |
Dividend Yield | 1.73% | 1.25% |
Enterprise Value | — | $113.71B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Synchrony Financial (SYF) trades at $78.62, down 1.63% on the day, with a neutral technical signal. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a low P/E of 8.06 and robust profitability, including a 23.4% net income margin and 22.23% ROE. Recent earnings beats and a strategic partnership with OpenAI for AI-driven commerce highlight growth initiatives. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $87.33 price target and no sell ratings.
The outlook remains positive given valuation appeal, consistent earnings performance, and AI partnership potential. Key risks include consumer credit deterioration amid economic uncertainty and increased investing cash outflows. Institutional ownership trends and strong buyback activity support the bullish case, but credit quality monitoring is essential.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $382.85, up 3.27% today, reflecting strong momentum amid favorable refining conditions. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend, with recent earnings beats and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) as of September 9, 2026. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a 29.31% ROE, though revenue has declined from $176.4B in 2022 to $122.7B in 2025. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $345.55 price target, and the company maintains a solid balance sheet with $4.66B in cash.
VLO's outlook is supported by tight fuel supplies and healthy demand, with projected 2026 net income of $7.2B. Key risks include volatile energy prices and potential regulatory pressures. The stock offers growth potential but faces headwinds from revenue declines and geopolitical factors affecting the energy sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Synchrony Financial is a premier consumer financial services company and the largest provider of private-label credit cards in the United States. Spun off from GE Capital in 2014, it operates through a unique B2B2C model, embedding its financing products within the ecosystems of major partners like Amazon, Lowe’s, and PayPal. Synchrony leverages deep data analytics and a diverse multi-platform strategy—spanning retail, health, and auto—to drive customer loyalty and provide specialized credit solutions at the point of sale.
Read more on SYF →Valero Energy is one of the largest independent refiners in the United States. It operates 14 refineries with a total throughput capacity of 3.2 million barrels a day in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Valero also owns 14 ethanol plants with capacity of 1.7 billion gallons of ethanol a year and holds a 50% stake in Diamond Green Diesel, which has capacity to produce 700 million gallons per year of renewable diesel.
Read more on VLO →