Synchrony Reports First Quarter Net Earnings of $1.0 Billion or $1.73 Per Diluted Share

Rhea-AI Summary

Synchrony Financial (SYF) reported Q1 2021 earnings, netting $1.0 billion or $1.73 per diluted share. Loan receivables fell 7% to $76.9 billion, with interest and fees down 14% to $3.7 billion, while purchase volume rose 8% to $34.7 billion. The provision for credit losses dropped 80% to $334 million, indicating improved credit quality. Though average active accounts decreased by 8% to 66.3 million, the company renewed 10 programs and added 10 new ones. Despite challenges from the pandemic, Synchrony aims for recovery driven by enhanced digital capabilities and operational efficiency.

Positive

• Net earnings increased by $739 million to $1.0 billion.
• Provision for credit losses decreased by 80%, indicating improved credit quality.
• Increased purchase volume by 8% to $34.7 billion.
• Strengthened capital ratios: Common Equity Tier 1 at 17.4%.

Negative

• Loan receivables decreased by 7% to $76.9 billion.
• Interest and fees on loans decreased by 14% to $3.7 billion.
• Average active accounts decreased by 8% to 66.3 million.
• Deposits fell by $1.9 billion, or 3%, to $62.7 billion.

STAMFORD, Conn., April 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) today announced first quarter 2021 earnings results amid the continuing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Synchrony reported first quarter 2021 net earnings of $1.0 billion, or $1.73 per diluted share.

Key Highlights*:

• Loan receivables decreased 7% to $76.9 billion
• Interest and fees on loans decreased 14% to $3.7 billion
• Purchase volume increased 8% to $34.7 billion
• Average active accounts decreased 8% to 66.3 million
• Deposits decreased $1.9 billion, or 3%, to $62.7 billion
• Renewed 10 programs including American Eagle, Ashley HomeStores LTD, CITGO, and Phillips 66
• Added 10 new programs including Prime Healthcare, Mercyhealth, Emory Healthcare, and Southern Veterinary Partners in the CareCredit network
• Gap Inc. program agreement will not be renewed and will expire in April 2022; expect strategic options will be accretive to diluted earnings per share relative to renewal terms and if the portfolio is sold we expect to redeploy approximately $1 billion of capital
• Returned $328 million in capital through share repurchases of $200 million and common stock dividends

"As we begin to emerge from the pandemic, Synchrony is well positioned for a strong recovery and bright future. We're driving growth for Synchrony and our partners by investing in enhanced digital and data capabilities, seamless customer experiences, new products and capabilities, and expanding our networks.  As we navigated the challenges of the past year, we further strengthened our competitive position and accelerated initiatives to help our partners compete and win in this dynamic environment," said Brian Doubles, President and Chief Executive Officer, Synchrony. "Though first quarter results continued to be impacted by the pandemic with slower loan growth, lower net interest income and resultant lower margins, credit continues to perform exceedingly well and we are driving operational efficiency.  I am confident in our success as we accelerate our strategy and position the company for long-term growth."

Business and Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2021*

Earnings

• Net interest income decreased $451 million, or 12%, to $3.4 billion, mainly due to lower finance charges and late fees.
• Retailer share arrangements increased $63 million, or 7%, to $1.0 billion, reflecting the improvement in net charge-offs.
• Provision for credit losses decreased $1.3 billion, or 80%, to $334 million, driven by lower reserves and net charge-offs.
• Other income increased $34 million, or 35%, to $131 million, largely driven by investment income.
• Other expense decreased $70 million, or 7%, to $932 million, mainly driven by lower operational losses and lower marketing and business development costs, partially offset by an increase in employee costs.
• Net earnings increased $739 million to $1.0 billion.

Balance Sheet

• Period-end loan receivables decreased 7%; purchase volume increased 8%; and average active accounts decreased 8%.
• Deposits decreased $1.9 billion, or 3%, to $62.7 billion and comprised 81% of funding.
• The Company's balance sheet remained strong with total liquidity (liquid assets and undrawn credit facilities) of $28.0 billion, or 29.2% of total assets.
• The Company has elected to defer the regulatory capital effects of CECL for two years; the estimated Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 17.4% compared to 14.3%, and the estimated Tier 1 Capital ratio was 18.3% compared to 15.2%, reflecting the Company's strong capital generation capabilities.

Key Financial Metrics

• Return on assets was 4.3% and return on equity was 31.8%.
• Net interest margin was 13.98%.
• Efficiency ratio was 36.1%.

Credit Quality

• Loans 30+ days past due as a percentage of total period-end loan receivables were 2.83% compared to 4.24% last year.
• Net charge-offs as a percentage of total average loan receivables were 3.62% compared to 5.36% last year.
• The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total period-end loan receivables was 12.88%.

Sales Platforms

• Impacts from 2020 shutdowns and higher payment rates affecting platforms' receivables growth to varying degrees in the first quarter.
• Retail Card period-end loan receivables decreased 9%. Interest and fees on loans decreased 16%, driven primarily by the decline in loan receivables and lower yield. Purchase volume increased 11% and average active accounts decreased 7%.
• Payment Solutions period-end loan receivables decreased 1%, with continued strength in Power Sports and Home Specialty. Interest and fees on loans decreased 11%, driven primarily by lower late fees, finance charges, and merchant discount. Purchase volume increased 3% and average active accounts decreased 9%.
• CareCredit period-end loan receivables decreased 8%. Interest and fees on loans decreased 7%, driven primarily by lower late fees and merchant discount. Purchase volume was flat and average active accounts decreased 11%.

* All comparisons are for the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020, unless otherwise noted.

Corresponding Financial Tables and Information

No representation is made that the information in this news release is complete.  Investors are encouraged to review the foregoing summary and discussion of Synchrony Financial's earnings and financial condition in conjunction with the detailed financial tables and information that follow and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as filed February 11, 2021, and the Company's forthcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021.  The detailed financial tables and other information are also available on the Investor Relations page of the Company's website at www.investors.synchronyfinancial.com. This information is also furnished in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC today.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

On Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Brian Doubles, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Brian Wenzel Sr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to review the financial results and outlook for certain business drivers. The conference call can be accessed via an audio webcast through the Investor Relations page on the Synchrony Financial corporate website, www.investors.synchronyfinancial.com, under Events and Presentations. A replay will also be available on the website.

About Synchrony Financial

Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) is a premier consumer financial services company. We deliver a wide range of specialized financing programs, as well as innovative consumer banking products, across key industries including digital, retail, home, auto, travel, health and pet. Synchrony enables our partners to grow sales and loyalty with consumers. We are one of the largest issuers of private label credit cards in the United States; we also offer co-branded products, installment loans and consumer financing products for small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as healthcare providers.

Synchrony is changing what's possible through our digital capabilities, deep industry expertise, actionable data insights, frictionless customer experience and customized financing solutions.

For more information, visit www.synchrony.com and Twitter: @Synchrony.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "targets," "outlook," "estimates," "will," "should," "may" or words of similar meaning, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions, and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, actual results could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include global political, economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors and risks, such as: the impact of macroeconomic conditions and whether industry trends we have identified develop as anticipated, including the future impacts of the novel coronavirus disease ("COVID-19") outbreak and measures taken in response thereto for which future developments are highly uncertain and difficult to predict; retaining existing partners and attracting new partners, concentration of our revenue in a small number of Retail Card partners, and promotion and support of our products by our partners; cyber-attacks or other security breaches; disruptions in the operations of our and our outsourced partners' computer systems and data centers; the financial performance of our partners; the sufficiency of our allowance for credit losses and the accuracy of the assumptions or estimates used in preparing our financial statements, including those related to the CECL accounting guidance; higher borrowing costs and adverse financial market conditions impacting our funding and liquidity, and any reduction in our credit ratings; our ability to grow our deposits in the future; damage to our reputation; our ability to securitize our loan receivables, occurrence of an early amortization of our securitization facilities, loss of the right to service or subservice our securitized loan receivables, and lower payment rates on our securitized loan receivables; changes in market interest rates and the impact of any margin compression; effectiveness of our risk management processes and procedures, reliance on models which may be inaccurate or misinterpreted, our ability to manage our credit risk; our ability to offset increases in our costs in retailer share arrangements; competition in the consumer finance industry; our concentration in the U.S. consumer credit market; our ability to successfully develop and commercialize new or enhanced products and services; our ability to realize the value of acquisitions and strategic investments; reductions in interchange fees; fraudulent activity; failure of third parties to provide various services that are important to our operations; international risks and compliance and regulatory risks and costs associated with international operations; alleged infringement of intellectual property rights of others and our ability to protect our intellectual property; litigation and regulatory actions; our ability to attract, retain and motivate key officers and employees; tax legislation initiatives or challenges to our tax positions and/or interpretations, and state sales tax rules and regulations; regulation, supervision, examination and enforcement of our business by governmental authorities, the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and other legislative and regulatory developments and the impact of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's regulation of our business; impact of capital adequacy rules and liquidity requirements; restrictions that limit our ability to pay dividends and repurchase our common stock, and restrictions that limit the Synchrony Bank's ability to pay dividends to us; regulations relating to privacy, information security and data protection; use of third-party vendors and ongoing third-party business relationships; and failure to comply with anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing laws.

For the reasons described above, we caution you against relying on any forward-looking statements, which should also be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included elsewhere in this news release and in our public filings, including under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as filed on February 11, 2021. You should not consider any list of such factors to be an exhaustive statement of all the risks, uncertainties, or potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause our current expectations or beliefs to change. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as otherwise may be required by law.

Non-GAAP Measures

The information provided herein includes measures we refer to as "tangible common equity", and certain "CECL fully phased-in" capital measures, which are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").  For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, please see the detailed financial tables and information that follow. For a statement regarding the usefulness of these measures to investors, please see the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC today.

Investor Relations
Jennifer Church 
(203) 585-6508                       

Media Relations
Sue Bishop
(203) 585-2802

 

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
(unaudited, in millions, except per share statistics)
	Quarter Ended
	Mar 31, 2021		Dec 31, 2020		Sep 30, 2020		Jun 30, 2020		Mar 31, 2020		1Q'21 vs. 1Q'20
EARNINGS
Net interest income	$3,439		$3,659		$3,457		$3,396		$3,890		$(451)	(11.6)%
Retailer share arrangements	(989)		(1,047)		(899)		(773)		(926)		(63)	6.8%
Provision for credit losses	334		750		1,210		1,673		1,677		(1,343)	(80.1)%
Net interest income, after retailer share arrangements and provision for credit losses	2,116		1,862		1,348		950		1,287		829	64.4%
Other income	131		82		131		95		97		34	35.1%
Other expense	932		1,000		1,067		986		1,002		(70)	(7.0)%
Earnings before provision for income taxes	1,315		944		412		59		382		933	244.2%
Provision for income taxes	290		206		99		11		96		194	202.1%
Net earnings	$1,025		$738		$313		$48		$286		$739	258.4%
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$1,014		$728		$303		$37		$275		$739	268.7%
COMMON SHARE STATISTICS
Basic EPS	$1.74		$1.25		$0.52		$0.06		$0.45		$1.29	286.7%
Diluted EPS	$1.73		$1.24		$0.52		$0.06		$0.45		$1.28	284.4%
Dividend declared per share	$0.22		$0.22		$0.22		$0.22		$0.22		$-	- %
Common stock price	$40.66		$34.71		$26.17		$22.16		$16.09		$24.57	152.7%
Book value per share	$21.86		$20.49		$19.47		$19.13		$19.27		$2.59	13.4%
Tangible common equity per share(1)	$17.95		$16.72		$15.75		$15.28		$15.35		$2.60	16.9%
Beginning common shares outstanding	584.0		583.8		583.7		583.2		615.9		(31.9)	(5.2)%
Issuance of common shares	-		-		-		-		-		-	- %
Stock-based compensation	2.2		0.2		0.1		0.5		0.9		1.3	144.4%
Shares repurchased	(5.1)		-		-		-		(33.6)		28.5	(84.8)%
Ending common shares outstanding	581.1		584.0		583.8		583.7		583.2		(2.1)	(0.4)%
Weighted average common shares outstanding	583.3		583.9		583.8		583.7		604.9		(21.6)	(3.6)%
Weighted average common shares outstanding (fully diluted)	587.5		586.6		584.8		584.4		607.4		(19.9)	(3.3)%

(1) Tangible Common Equity ("TCE") is a non-GAAP measure. For corresponding reconciliation of TCE to a GAAP financial measure, see Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures and Calculations of Regulatory Measures.

 

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
SELECTED METRICS
(unaudited, $ in millions)
	Quarter Ended
	Mar 31, 2021		Dec 31, 2020		Sep 30, 2020		Jun 30, 2020		Mar 31, 2020		1Q'21 vs. 1Q'20
PERFORMANCE METRICS
Return on assets(1)	4.3%		3.1%		1.3%		0.2%		1.1%			3.2%
Return on equity(2)	31.8%		23.6%		10.3%		1.6%		9.1%			22.7%
Return on tangible common equity(3)	40.8%		30.4%		13.1%		1.6%		11.6%			29.2%
Net interest margin(4)	13.98%		14.64%		13.80%		13.53%		15.15%			(1.17)%
Efficiency ratio(5)	36.1%		37.1%		39.7%		36.3%		32.7%			3.4%
Other expense as a % of average loan receivables, including held for sale	4.82%		5.01%		5.44%		5.04%		4.77%			0.05%
Effective income tax rate	22.1%		21.8%		24.0%		18.6%		25.1%			(3.0)%
CREDIT QUALITY METRICS
Net charge-offs as a % of average loan receivables, including held for sale	3.62%		3.16%		4.42%		5.35%		5.36%			(1.74)%
30+ days past due as a % of period-end loan receivables(6)	2.83%		3.07%		2.67%		3.13%		4.24%			(1.41)%
90+ days past due as a % of period-end loan receivables(6)	1.52%		1.40%		1.24%		1.77%		2.10%			(0.58)%
Net charge-offs	$699		$631		$866		$1,046		$1,125		$(426)	(37.9)%
Loan receivables delinquent over 30 days(6)	$2,175		$2,514		$2,100		$2,453		$3,500		$(1,325)	(37.9)%
Loan receivables delinquent over 90 days(6)	$1,170		$1,143		$973		$1,384		$1,735		$(565)	(32.6)%
Allowance for credit losses (period-end)	$9,901		$10,265		$10,146		$9,802		$9,175		$726	7.9%
Allowance coverage ratio(7)	12.88%		12.54%		12.92%		12.52%		11.13%			1.75%
BUSINESS METRICS
Purchase volume(8)(9)	$34,749		$39,874		$36,013		$31,155		$32,042		$2,707	8.4%
Period-end loan receivables	$76,858		$81,867		$78,521		$78,313		$82,469		$(5,611)	(6.8)%
Credit cards	$73,244		$78,455		$75,204		$75,353		$79,832		$(6,588)	(8.3)%
Consumer installment loans	$2,319		$2,125		$1,987		$1,779		$1,390		$929	66.8%
Commercial credit products	$1,248		$1,250		$1,270		$1,140		$1,203		$45	3.7%
Other	$47		$37		$60		$41		$44		$3	6.8%
Average loan receivables, including held for sale	$78,358		$79,452		$78,005		$78,697		$84,428		$(6,070)	(7.2)%
Period-end active accounts (in thousands)(9)(10)	65,219		68,540		64,800		63,430		68,849		(3,630)	(5.3)%
Average active accounts (in thousands)(9)(10)	66,280		66,261		64,270		64,836		72,078		(5,798)	(8.0)%
LIQUIDITY
Liquid assets
Cash and equivalents	$16,620		$11,524		$13,552		$16,344		$13,704		$2,916	21.3%
Total liquid assets	$22,636		$18,321		$21,402		$22,352		$19,225		$3,411	17.7%
Undrawn credit facilities
Undrawn credit facilities	$5,400		$5,400		$5,400		$5,650		$5,600		$(200)	(3.6)%
Total liquid assets and undrawn credit facilities	$28,036		$23,721		$26,802		$28,002		$24,825		$3,211	12.9%
Liquid assets % of total assets	23.62%		19.09%		22.37%		23.15%		19.61%			4.01%
Liquid assets including undrawn credit facilities % of total assets	29.25%		24.72%		28.02%		29.00%		25.32%			3.93%

(1) Return on assets represents net earnings as a percentage of average total assets.

(2) Return on equity represents net earnings as a percentage of average total equity.

(3) Return on tangible common equity represents net earnings available to common stockholders as a percentage of average tangible common equity. Tangible common equity ("TCE") is a non-GAAP measure. For corresponding reconciliation of TCE to a GAAP financial measure, see Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures and Calculations of Regulatory Measures.

(4) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

(5) Efficiency ratio represents (i) other expense, divided by (ii) net interest income, plus other income, less retailer share arrangements.

(6) Based on customer statement-end balances extrapolated to the respective period-end date.

(7) Allowance coverage ratio represents allowance for credit losses divided by total period-end loan receivables.

(8) Purchase volume, or net credit sales, represents the aggregate amount of charges incurred on credit cards or other credit product accounts less returns during the period.

(9) Includes activity and accounts associated with loan receivables held for sale.

(10) Active accounts represent credit card or installment loan accounts on which there has been a purchase, payment or outstanding balance in the current month.

 

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(unaudited, $ in millions)
	Quarter Ended
	Mar 31, 2021		Dec 31, 2020		Sep 30, 2020		Jun 30, 2020		Mar 31, 2020		1Q'21 vs. 1Q'20
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans	$3,732		$3,981		$3,821		$3,808		$4,340		$(608)	(14.0)%
Interest on cash and debt securities	10		12		16		22		67		(57)	(85.1)%
Total interest income	3,742		3,993		3,837		3,830		4,407		(665)	(15.1)%
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits	170		200		245		293		356		(186)	(52.2)%
Interest on borrowings of consolidated securitization entities	51		52		53		59		73		(22)	(30.1)%
Interest on senior unsecured notes	82		82		82		82		88		(6)	(6.8)%
Total interest expense	303		334		380		434		517		(214)	(41.4)%
Net interest income	3,439		3,659		3,457		3,396		3,890		(451)	(11.6)%
Retailer share arrangements	(989)		(1,047)		(899)		(773)		(926)		(63)	6.8%
Provision for credit losses	334		750		1,210		1,673		1,677		(1,343)	(80.1)%
Net interest income, after retailer share arrangements and provision for credit losses	2,116		1,862		1,348		950		1,287		829	64.4%
Other income:
Interchange revenue	171		185		172		134		161		10	6.2%
Debt cancellation fees	69		72		68		69		69		-	- %
Loyalty programs	(179)		(202)		(155)		(134)		(158)		(21)	13.3%
Other	70		27		46		26		25		45	180.0%
Total other income	131		82		131		95		97		34	35.1%
Other expense:
Employee costs	364		347		382		327		324		40	12.3%
Professional fees	190		186		187		189		197		(7)	(3.6)%
Marketing and business development	95		139		107		91		111		(16)	(14.4)%
Information processing	131		128		125		116		123		8	6.5%
Other	152		200		266		263		247		(95)	(38.5)%
Total other expense	932		1,000		1,067		986		1,002		(70)	(7.0)%
Earnings before provision for income taxes	1,315		944		412		59		382		933	244.2%
Provision for income taxes	290		206		99		11		96		194	202.1%
Net earnings	$1,025		$738		$313		$48		$286		$739	258.4%
Net earnings available to common stockholders	$1,014		$728		$303		$37		$275		$739	268.7%

 

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(unaudited, $ in millions)
	Quarter Ended
	Mar 31, 2021		Dec 31, 2020		Sep 30, 2020		Jun 30, 2020		Mar 31, 2020		Mar 31, 2021 vs. Mar 31, 2020
Assets
Cash and equivalents	$16,620		$11,524		$13,552		$16,344		$13,704		$2,916	21.3%
Debt securities	6,550		7,469		8,432		6,623		6,146		404	6.6%
Loan receivables:
Unsecuritized loans held for investment	53,823		56,472		52,613		52,629		54,765		(942)	(1.7)%
Restricted loans of consolidated securitization entities	23,035		25,395		25,908		25,684		27,704		(4,669)	(16.9)%
Total loan receivables	76,858		81,867		78,521		78,313		82,469		(5,611)	(6.8)%
Less: Allowance for credit losses	(9,901)		(10,265)		(10,146)		(9,802)		(9,175)		(726)	7.9%
Loan receivables, net	66,957		71,602		68,375		68,511		73,294		(6,337)	(8.6)%
Loan receivables held for sale	23		5		4		4		5		18	NM
Goodwill	1,104		1,078		1,078		1,078		1,078		26	2.4%
Intangible assets, net	1,169		1,125		1,091		1,166		1,208		(39)	(3.2)%
Other assets	3,431		3,145		3,126		2,818		2,603		828	31.8%
Total assets	$95,854		$95,948		$95,658		$96,544		$98,038		$(2,184)	(2.2)%
Liabilities and Equity
Deposits:
Interest-bearing deposit accounts	$62,419		$62,469		$63,195		$63,857		$64,302		$(1,883)	(2.9)%
Non-interest-bearing deposit accounts	342		313		298		291		313		29	9.3%
Total deposits	62,761		62,782		63,493		64,148		64,615		(1,854)	(2.9)%
Borrowings:
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities	7,193		7,810		7,809		8,109		9,291		(2,098)	(22.6)%
Senior unsecured notes	7,967		7,965		7,962		7,960		7,957		10	0.1%
Total borrowings	15,160		15,775		15,771		16,069		17,248		(2,088)	(12.1)%
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	4,494		4,690		4,295		4,428		4,205		289	6.9%
Total liabilities	82,415		83,247		83,559		84,645		86,068		(3,653)	(4.2)%
Equity:
Preferred stock	734		734		734		734		734		-	- %
Common stock	1		1		1		1		1		-	- %
Additional paid-in capital	9,592		9,570		9,552		9,532		9,523		69	0.7%
Retained earnings	11,470		10,621		10,024		9,852		9,960		1,510	15.2%
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(56)		(51)		(31)		(37)		(49)		(7)	14.3%
Treasury stock	(8,302)		(8,174)		(8,181)		(8,183)		(8,199)		(103)	1.3%
Total equity	13,439		12,701		12,099		11,899		11,970		1,469	12.3%
Total liabilities and equity	$95,854		$95,948		$95,658		$96,544		$98,038		$(2,184)	(2.2)%

 

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
AVERAGE BALANCES, NET INTEREST INCOME AND NET INTEREST MARGIN
(unaudited, $ in millions)
	Quarter Ended
	Mar 31, 2021						Dec 31, 2020						Sep 30, 2020						Jun 30, 2020						Mar 31, 2020
			Interest		Average				Interest		Average				Interest		Average				Interest		Average				Interest		Average
	Average		Income/		Yield/		Average		Income/		Yield/		Average		Income/		Yield/		Average		Income/		Yield/		Average		Income/		Yield/
	Balance		Expense		Rate		Balance		Expense		Rate		Balance		Expense		Rate		Balance		Expense		Rate		Balance		Expense		Rate
Assets
Interest-earning assets:
Interest-earning cash and equivalents	$14,610		$4		0.11%		$11,244		$4		0.14%		$13,664		$4		0.12%		$15,413		$3		0.08%		$12,902		$42		1.31%
Securities available for sale	6,772		6		0.36%		8,706		8		0.37%		7,984		12		0.60%		6,804		19		1.12%		5,954		25		1.69%
Loan receivables, including held for sale:
Credit cards	74,865		3,657		19.81%		76,039		3,908		20.45%		74,798		3,752		19.96%		75,942		3,740		19.81%		81,716		4,272		21.03%
Consumer installment loans	2,219		53		9.69%		2,057		50		9.67%		1,892		46		9.67%		1,546		37		9.63%		1,432		35		9.83%
Commercial credit products	1,231		21		6.92%		1,293		23		7.08%		1,238		22		7.07%		1,150		30		10.49%		1,243		33		10.68%
Other	43		1		NM		63		-		- %		77		1		NM		59		1		NM		37		-		- %
Total loan receivables, including held for sale	78,358		3,732		19.32%		79,452		3,981		19.93%		78,005		3,821		19.49%		78,697		3,808		19.46%		84,428		4,340		20.67%
Total interest-earning assets	99,740		3,742		15.22%		99,402		3,993		15.98%		99,653		3,837		15.32%		100,914		3,830		15.26%		103,284		4,407		17.16%
Non-interest-earning assets:
Cash and due from banks	1,635						1,525						1,489						1,486						1,450
Allowance for credit losses	(10,225)						(10,190)						(9,823)						(9,221)						(8,708)
Other assets	5,305						5,228						5,021						4,779						4,696
Total non-interest-earning assets	(3,285)						(3,437)						(3,313)						(2,956)						(2,562)
Total assets	$96,455						$95,965						$96,340						$97,958						$100,722
Liabilities
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest-bearing deposit accounts	$62,724		$170		1.10%		$62,800		$200		1.27%		$63,569		$245		1.53%		$64,298		$293		1.83%		$64,366		$356		2.22%
Borrowings of consolidated securitization entities	7,694		51		2.69%		7,809		52		2.65%		8,057		53		2.62%		8,863		59		2.68%		9,986		73		2.94%
Senior unsecured notes	7,965		82		4.18%		7,963		82		4.10%		7,960		82		4.10%		7,958		82		4.14%		8,807		88		4.02%
Total interest-bearing liabilities	78,383		303		1.57%		78,572		334		1.69%		79,586		380		1.90%		81,119		434		2.15%		83,159		517		2.50%
Non-interest-bearing liabilities
Non-interest-bearing deposit accounts	346						308						307						309						299
Other liabilities	4,655						4,663						4,308						4,349						4,672
Total non-interest-bearing liabilities	5,001						4,971						4,615						4,658						4,971
Total liabilities	83,384						83,543						84,201						85,777						88,130
Equity
Total equity	13,071						12,422						12,139						12,181						12,592
Total liabilities and equity	$96,455						$95,965						$96,340						$97,958						$100,722
Net interest income			$3,439						$3,659						$3,457						$3,396						$3,890
Interest rate spread(1)					13.65%						14.29%						13.42%						13.11%						14.66%
Net interest margin(2)					13.98%						14.64%						13.80%						13.53%						15.15%

(1) Interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on total interest-earning assets and the rate on total interest-bearing liabilities.

(2) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

 

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
BALANCE SHEET STATISTICS
(unaudited, $ in millions, except per share statistics)
	Quarter Ended
	Mar 31, 2021		Dec 31, 2020		Sep 30, 2020		Jun 30, 2020		Mar 31, 2020		Mar 31, 2021 vs. Mar 31, 2020
BALANCE SHEET STATISTICS
Total common equity	$12,705		$11,967		$11,365		$11,165		$11,236		$1,469	13.1%
Total common equity as a % of total assets	13.25%		12.47%		11.88%		11.56%		11.46%			1.79%
Tangible assets	$93,581		$93,745		$93,489		$94,300		$95,752		$(2,171)	(2.3)%
Tangible common equity(1)	$10,432		$9,764		$9,196		$8,921		$8,950		$1,482	16.6%
Tangible common equity as a % of tangible assets(1)	11.15%		10.42%		9.84%		9.46%		9.35%			1.80%
Tangible common equity per share(1)	$17.95		$16.72		$15.75		$15.28		$15.35		$2.60	16.9%
REGULATORY CAPITAL RATIOS(2)(3)
	Basel III - CECL Transition
Total risk-based capital ratio(4)	19.7%		18.1%		18.1%		17.6%		16.5%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio(5)	18.3%		16.8%		16.7%		16.3%		15.2%
Tier 1 leverage ratio(6)	14.5%		14.0%		13.3%		12.7%		12.3%
Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio	17.4%		15.9%		15.8%		15.3%		14.3%

(1) Tangible common equity ("TCE") is a non-GAAP measure. We believe TCE is a more meaningful measure of the net asset value of the Company to investors. For corresponding reconciliation of TCE to a GAAP financial measure, see Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures and Calculations of Regulatory Measures.

(2) Regulatory capital ratios at March 31, 2021 are preliminary and therefore subject to change.

(3) Capital ratios starting March 31, 2020 reflect election to delay for two years an estimate of CECL's effect on regulatory capital in accordance with the interim final rule issued by U.S. banking agencies in March 2020.

(4) Total risk-based capital ratio is the ratio of total risk-based capital divided by risk-weighted assets.

(5) Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is the ratio of Tier 1 capital divided by risk-weighted assets.

(6) Tier 1 leverage ratio is the ratio of Tier 1 capital divided by total average assets, after certain adjustments. Tier 1 leverage ratios are based upon the use of daily averages for all periods presented.

 

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
PLATFORM RESULTS
(unaudited, $ in millions)
	Quarter Ended
	Mar 31, 2021		Dec 31, 2020		Sep 30, 2020		Jun 30, 2020		Mar 31, 2020		1Q'21 vs. 1Q'20
RETAIL CARD
Purchase volume(1)(2)	$26,540		$31,256		$27,374		$24,380		$24,008		$2,532	10.5%
Period-end loan receivables	$47,855		$52,130		$49,595		$49,967		$52,390		$(4,535)	(8.7)%
Average loan receivables, including held for sale	$49,044		$50,235		$49,503		$50,238		$53,820		$(4,776)	(8.9)%
Average active accounts (in thousands)(2)(3)	49,078		49,001		47,065		46,970		53,018		(3,940)	(7.4)%
Interest and fees on loans	$2,547		$2,719		$2,619		$2,640		$3,037		$(490)	(16.1)%
Other income	$66		$50		$84		$56		$59		$7	11.9%
Retailer share arrangements	$(970)		$(1,026)		$(877)		$(752)		$(904)		$(66)	7.3%
PAYMENT SOLUTIONS
Purchase volume(1)(2)	$5,561		$5,942		$5,901		$4,823		$5,375		$186	3.5%
Period-end loan receivables	$19,682		$20,153		$19,550		$19,119		$19,973		$(291)	(1.5)%
Average loan receivables, including held for sale	$19,867		$19,734		$19,247		$19,065		$20,344		$(477)	(2.3)%
Average active accounts (in thousands)(2)(3)	11,496		11,536		11,497		11,900		12,681		(1,185)	(9.3)%
Interest and fees on loans	$627		$673		$650		$632		$706		$(79)	(11.2)%
Other income	$19		$4		$13		$14		$13		$6	46.2%
Retailer share arrangements	$(15)		$(17)		$(20)		$(18)		$(18)		$3	(16.7)%
CARECREDIT
Purchase volume(1)	$2,648		$2,676		$2,738		$1,952		$2,659		$(11)	(0.4)%
Period-end loan receivables	$9,321		$9,584		$9,376		$9,227		$10,106		$(785)	(7.8)%
Average loan receivables, including held for sale	$9,447		$9,483		$9,255		$9,394		$10,264		$(817)	(8.0)%
Average active accounts (in thousands)(3)	5,706		5,724		5,708		5,966		6,379		(673)	(10.6)%
Interest and fees on loans	$558		$589		$552		$536		$597		$(39)	(6.5)%
Other income	$46		$28		$34		$25		$25		$21	84.0%
Retailer share arrangements	$(4)		$(4)		$(2)		$(3)		$(4)		$-	- %
TOTAL SYF
Purchase volume(1)(2)	$34,749		$39,874		$36,013		$31,155		$32,042		$2,707	8.4%
Period-end loan receivables	$76,858		$81,867		$78,521		$78,313		$82,469		$(5,611)	(6.8)%
Average loan receivables, including held for sale	$78,358		$79,452		$78,005		$78,697		$84,428		$(6,070)	(7.2)%
Average active accounts (in thousands)(2)(3)	66,280		66,261		64,270		64,836		72,078		(5,798)	(8.0)%
Interest and fees on loans	$3,732		$3,981		$3,821		$3,808		$4,340		$(608)	(14.0)%
Other income	$131		$82		$131		$95		$97		$34	35.1%
Retailer share arrangements	$(989)		$(1,047)		$(899)		$(773)		$(926)		$(63)	6.8%

(1) Purchase volume, or net credit sales, represents the aggregate amount of charges incurred on credit cards or other credit product accounts less returns during the period.

(2) Includes activity and balances associated with loan receivables held for sale.

(3) Active accounts represent credit card or installment loan accounts on which there has been a purchase, payment or outstanding balance in the current month.

 

SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES AND CALCULATIONS OF REGULATORY MEASURES(1)
(unaudited, $ in millions, except per share statistics)
	Quarter Ended
	Mar 31, 2021		Dec 31, 2020		Sep 30, 2020		Jun 30, 2020		Mar 31, 2020
COMMON EQUITY AND REGULATORY CAPITAL MEASURES(2)
GAAP Total equity	$13,439		$12,701		$12,099		$11,899		$11,970
Less: Preferred stock	(734)		(734)		(734)		(734)		(734)
Less: Goodwill	(1,104)		(1,078)		(1,078)		(1,078)		(1,078)
Less: Intangible assets, net	(1,169)		(1,125)		(1,091)		(1,166)		(1,208)
Tangible common equity	$10,432		$9,764		$9,196		$8,921		$8,950
Add: CECL transition amount	2,595		2,686		2,656		2,570		2,417
Adjustments for certain deferred tax liabilities and certain items in accumulated comprehensive income (loss)	354		341		305		302		304
Common equity Tier 1	$13,381		$12,791		$12,157		$11,793		$11,671
Preferred  stock	734		734		734		734		734
Tier 1 capital	$14,115		$13,525		$12,891		$12,527		$12,405
Add: Allowance for credit losses includible in risk-based capital	1,031		1,079		1,034		1,031		1,082
Total Risk-based capital	$15,146		$14,604		$13,925		$13,558		$13,487
ASSET MEASURES(2)
Total average assets	$96,455		$95,965		$96,340		$97,958		$100,722
Adjustments for:
Add: CECL transition amount	2,595		2,686		2,656		2,570		2,417
Disallowed goodwill and other disallowed intangible assets (net of related deferred tax liabilities) and other	(1,987)		(1,924)		(1,906)		(1,980)		(2,010)
Total assets for leverage purposes	$97,063		$96,727		$97,090		$98,548		$101,129
Risk-weighted assets	$76,965		$80,561		$76,990		$77,048		$81,639
CECL FULLY PHASED-IN CAPITAL MEASURES
Tier 1 capital	$14,115		$13,525		$12,891		$12,527		$12,405
Less: CECL transition adjustment	(2,595)		(2,686)		(2,656)		(2,570)		(2,417)
Tier 1 capital (CECL fully phased-in)	$11,520		$10,839		$10,235		$9,957		$9,988
Add: Allowance for credit losses	9,901		10,265		10,146		9,802		9,175
Tier 1 capital (CECL fully phased-in) + Reserves for credit losses	$21,421		$21,104		$20,381		$19,759		$19,163
Risk-weighted assets	$76,965		$80,561		$76,990		$77,048		$81,639
Less: CECL transition adjustment	(2,386)		(2,477)		(2,447)		(2,361)		(2,204)
Risk-weighted assets (CECL fully phased-in)	$74,579		$78,084		$74,543		$74,687		$79,435
TANGIBLE COMMON EQUITY PER SHARE
GAAP book value per share	$21.86		$20.49		$19.47		$19.13		$19.27
Less: Goodwill	(1.90)		(1.85)		(1.85)		(1.85)		(1.85)
Less: Intangible assets, net	(2.01)		(1.92)		(1.87)		(2.00)		(2.07)
Tangible common equity per share	$17.95		$16.72		$15.75		$15.28		$15.35

(1) Regulatory measures at March 31, 2021 are presented on an estimated basis.

(2) Capital ratios starting March 31, 2020 reflect election to delay for two years an estimate of CECL's effect on regulatory capital in accordance with the interim final rule issued by U.S. banking agencies in March 2020.

 

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SOURCE Synchrony Financial

FAQ

What were Synchrony Financial's Q1 2021 earnings results?

Synchrony Financial reported net earnings of $1.0 billion, or $1.73 per diluted share for Q1 2021.

How did loan receivables perform in Q1 2021?

Loan receivables decreased by 7% to $76.9 billion in Q1 2021.

What was the provision for credit losses in Q1 2021 for SYF?

The provision for credit losses decreased by 80% to $334 million in Q1 2021.

How much did Synchrony Financial's purchase volume increase in Q1 2021?

Purchase volume increased by 8% to $34.7 billion in Q1 2021.

What challenges did Synchrony Financial face in Q1 2021?

Synchronization experienced slower loan growth and lower net interest income due to the pandemic.