US Card Loan Stocks Plunge 6% Post Earnings Report, 2 Trillion Won Vanishes in a Day

On January 27, Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) tumbled 5.85% on the New York Stock Exchange, closing at $73.01. The one-day sell-off wiped out about $1.45 billion (approximately ₩1.9 trillion) of its market capitalization, which now stands at roughly $26.2 billion (about ₩34 trillion).

In its Q4 2025 earnings release, the company reported revenue of $3.79 billion, slightly below the $3.85 billion consensus, while earnings per share of $2.04 were in line with expectations—a combination described by analysts as “blocked on the upside but open on the downside.” Although Synchrony delivered solid net interest margin and capital ratios, its efficiency ratio came in at 36.9%, well above forecasts, highlighting rising cost pressures. Against a backdrop of stagnant growth, even the guidance provided for 2026 failed to prevent short-term disappointment, triggering the recent sell-off.

As the largest U.S. issuer of private-label and co-branded credit cards, Synchrony partners with major retailers to offer store-branded cards, installment financing, and healthcare and auto loans, making its performance highly sensitive to economic and consumer cycles. Earlier this month, its shares plunged over 8% after former President Trump proposed capping credit card interest rates at 10%, underscoring the stock’s heightened volatility in response to regulatory risk.