Capital One Financial Corporation (COF)
Capital One is a major American bank that uses data and technology to provide credit cards, loans, and savings accounts to millions of customers.
Is Capital One Financial Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Capital One is a major American bank that uses data and technology to provide credit cards, loans, and savings accounts to millions of customers.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Technology investments lead to market-leading efficiency.
Increased competition from digital-only banks and fintechs.
What does Capital One Financial Corporation do?
Capital One makes its money primarily by lending money through credit cards and loans, earning interest from customers who carry a balance. They are well-known for their heavy investment in technology to help them decide who to lend to and how to manage risk. What to follow is how they balance rapid growth against the risk of customers struggling to repay their debts in a tougher economy.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on growth and value, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.5% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 1111% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 22% of sales into profit
- ·Low P/E of 12 vs last year's earnings
- Value screens high (85/100)
- Growth screens high (99/100)
- Income screens high (73/100)
- Strong brand recognition in the US credit card market
- Significant investment in data and technology
- Rising levels of bad debt if customers cannot pay back loans
- Increased regulation on credit card fees and interest rates
- Intense competition from both traditional banks and new tech-focused lenders
What do Capital One Financial Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does Capital One Financial Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Capital One Financial Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes - Capital One Financial Corporation currently pays a dividend of about 1.5% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Capital One Financial Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Capital One Financial Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-20 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-21 | $4.69 | $5.81 | Beat +24% |
| 2026-04-21 | $4.57 | $4.42 | Missed -3% |
| 2026-01-22 | $4.14 | $3.86 | Missed -7% |
| 2025-10-21 | $4.36 | $5.95 | Beat +36% |
| 2025-07-22 | $3.72 | $5.48 | Beat +47% |
| 2025-04-22 | $3.65 | $4.06 | Beat +11% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Capital One Financial Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 4 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Financial Services
What are the scenarios for Capital One Financial Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Capital One Financial Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong brand recognition in the US credit card market
- Significant investment in data and technology
- High revenue growth indicates strong customer acquisition
- Earnings have recently dipped despite revenue growth
- Low return on equity suggests inefficient use of capital
- High sensitivity to the overall health of the economy
- Rising levels of bad debt if customers cannot pay back loans
- Increased regulation on credit card fees and interest rates
- Intense competition from both traditional banks and new tech-focused lenders
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained drop in consumer credit card usage
- A major change in banking regulations that limits lending profits
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.