Capital One (COF): analysis in plain words
Is Capital One cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Capital One (COF) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in financial services and payments. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Capital One according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Capital One (COF) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $206.31 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.6x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +6.2% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 22.2% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | N/A | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 1.53% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $126.6 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Capital One figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any COF figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Capital One makes money
Capital One makes most of its money from interest and fees on credit cards, its largest segment, which grew with the acquisition of Discover and its payment network. It also reports Consumer Banking, mainly auto loans and retail deposits, and Commercial Banking, which lends to U.S. businesses.
Over the last 12 months, Capital One brought in revenue of $48.9 billion. Its operating margin, what Capital One keeps from every 100 of sales after running costs, is 37.8%.
Capital One against its sector
To know whether a Capital One figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Capital One with the median of the 21 financial services and payments companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Capital One | financial services and payments median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 12.6x | 27.9x (21) |
| Revenue growth | +6.2% | +12.4% (24) |
| Net margin | 22.2% | 25.8% (24) |
| Dividend yield | 1.53% | 0.81% (24) |
In short, against the typical financial services and payments company, Capital One trades on a lower P/E, grows more slowly and pays a higher dividend yield. By size, Capital One ranks number 8 of 22 financial services and payments companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Capital One
What works in favour of Capital One, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- On a P/E basis Capital One trades cheaper than its sector: 12.6x its annual earnings, against 27.9x for the financial services and payments median (21 companies with data).
- Analysts expect Capital One earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 8.6x, below the current 12.6x.
The main risk for Capital One
The Capital One figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: a drop in the payment, investment or trading volumes it earns fees on, plus regulation.
Frequently asked questions about Capital One
Is it a good time to buy Capital One stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Capital One, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Capital One stock trades at $206.31, 21% below its 52-week high ($259.64) and 18% above its low ($174.24). Its P/E is 12.6x against a financial services and payments median of 27.9x, and 8.6x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Capital One, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Capital One pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Capital One pays $3.20 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 1.53%. It uses 20% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips.
Is Capital One stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Capital One trades at 12.6x its last 12 months of earnings: cheaper than the financial services and payments median (27.9x). A high P/E alone does not make Capital One expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Capital One's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Capital One with Charles Schwab, S&P Global and KKR, which are also in financial services and payments. As of November 4, 2026, Charles Schwab is worth $161.5 billion and trades on a P/E of 16.0; S&P Global is worth $139.6 billion and trades on a P/E of 28.8; KKR is worth $93.6 billion and trades on a P/E of 32.4. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Capital One below.
Capital One competitors
- Charles Schwab (SCHW) analysis · Capital One vs Charles Schwab comparison
- S&P Global (SPGI) analysis · Capital One vs S&P Global comparison
- KKR (KKR) analysis · Capital One vs KKR comparison
To understand Capital One better
- Economic Moats Explained: From Warren Buffett to AI
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Capital One: financial services and payments stocks, S&P 500 companies and S&P 100 companies. Open the full COF analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Capital One, not investment advice.