Capital One vs. Synchrony: Which Credit Card Lender Reigns Supreme?

Capital One and Synchrony Financial are major consumer lenders focusing on credit cards and related financing. Capital One acquired Discover Financial, expanding its payments network and reducing reliance on Visa and Mastercard. Synchrony Financial leverages retail and affinity partnerships. Both companies generate significant revenue from interest income, transaction fees, and customer spending. Capital One's revenue has declined marginally in 2020 but has a five-year CAGR of 6.5%, while net loans held for investment have a CAGR of 4.3%. Synchrony Financial offers a broad range of products through its strong distribution channel.