Capital One exceeds forecasts thanks to lower provisions Capital One exceeds forecasts thanks to lower provisions and maintains a favorable technical outlook
Ion Jauregui – ActivTrades Analyst
Capital One Financial presented quarterly results above market expectations, driven by a lower allocation for credit losses, at a time when doubts remain about the evolution of consumer credit in the United States.
The company obtained net income of $3.02 billion, or $4.73 per share, while adjusted earnings reached $5.81 per share, above the $4.68 expected by the Bloomberg consensus. Provisions for potential defaults stood at $2.99 billion, compared with the $3.99 billion expected by analysts. In contrast, net interest income grew 2%, to $12.4 billion, slightly below forecasts. CEO Richard Fairbank stated that the integration of Discover Financial Services, acquired for around $50 billion, is progressing as expected.
The results suggest that the deterioration in credit quality is being more moderate than expected, reinforcing the entity’s ability to generate profits while advancing one of the largest transactions in the U.S. financial sector.
From a technical point of view, the stock maintains a constructive bias after forming a floor at $174.22 in March, a level that acted again as support on July 8. This move pushed the price to test the resistance at $213.20, while the stock is currently trading at $206.12.
A break of $213.20 could favor an advance towards $232.25 and, subsequently, towards the high reached in January at $259.59. The RSI, at 56.6, reflects positive momentum without being in overbought territory, while the MACD remains in positive territory, although with a declining histogram that points to a moderation of bullish momentum.
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In-depth trading ideas
Capital One Financial (COF): A Cheap Bank or a Future Payments NExecutive Summary:
Margin-of-safety verdict: At roughly 8 to 10 times forward earnings, Capital One appears statistically cheap, but the investment case depends heavily on the uncertain success of the Discover integration and normalization of credit losses. The margin of safety is therefore moderate rather than compelling.
Capital One finds itself at a strategic crossroads. For decades it has been one of the largest credit card lenders in the United States, making money primarily through interest spreads and a sophisticated approach to consumer credit analytics. Now the company is attempting something more ambitious: vertically integrating the credit card ecosystem through its acquisition of Discover Financial Services. If that effort works, the combined company could capture a portion of the transaction economics that usually go to Visa or Mastercard. If it does not, investors are essentially left holding a highly cyclical consumer credit lender that may currently be earning near the top of the cycle.
The question is whether today’s valuation provides enough protection if the more optimistic version of the story fails to play out.
One Stock, Dozens of Voices:
This is not one analyst's opinion. CrowdWisdom aggregated 23 independent sources for COF (18 financial research articles (web); 1 live market intelligence feeds; 3 prior CrowdWisdom analysis snapshots (internal archive); 1 verified financial data checks (Yahoo Finance)) and synthesized the shared thesis: where traders, investors, and researchers broadly agree, where their views diverge, and what the market might be overlooking.
Those perspectives were then tested against each other through opposing frameworks: a bull case, a bear case challenging the consensus, and an examination of what expectations already appear embedded in the current price. All financial metrics were cross‑checked against live market data.
The result highlights where opinion clusters, where it fractures, and whether the current price leaves any meaningful margin of safety.
Business Quality and Moat Durability:
Capital One operates through three main segments: credit cards, consumer banking, and commercial banking. The credit card business is the economic core and the area where the company historically differentiated itself.
From the beginning, Capital One leaned heavily on data science. Over many years of issuing cards and analyzing repayment patterns, the firm accumulated one of the largest proprietary consumer credit datasets in the industry. That information feeds risk models that guide pricing, underwriting, and customer segmentation. In practical terms, it allows the bank to serve borrower segments that other lenders either avoid or price incorrectly.
A second structural advantage is funding. Many fintech lenders rely on wholesale markets for funding, which can become expensive or unstable during periods of stress. Capital One, by contrast, operates a large digital bank that gathers consumer deposits. Those deposits provide a relatively stable and low‑cost source of capital for credit card lending.
The third potential advantage comes from the Discover acquisition. Discover owns a payment network, meaning it processes transactions in addition to issuing cards. If Capital One can route a significant share of its card transactions through that network, it would internalize economics that currently flow to Visa or Mastercard.
For now, however, that moat remains more theoretical than proven. Discover’s network is much smaller than the dominant global networks and merchant acceptance is inconsistent in some markets. Until transaction volume meaningfully shifts, the competitive position is better described as stable with optional upside rather than clearly expanding.
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC):
One of the more concerning aspects of Capital One’s recent financial profile is the gap between strong cash generation and weak economic returns.
Recent figures show return on equity around 3.3 percent and return on assets around 0.5 percent. Both sit well below the typical cost of equity for banks, which generally falls between 9 and 11 percent. On that basis, the company is currently destroying economic value even though it remains profitable on an accounting basis.
Several factors explain the weak profitability. Loan‑loss provisions remain elevated as consumer credit conditions normalize, acquisition accounting related to Discover creates temporary distortions, and the credit card business itself is highly cyclical.
Historically, Capital One generated incremental returns by deploying capital into new credit card loans. If underwriting models were accurate, those loans produced attractive spreads with relatively little incremental capital investment.
Operating a payment network changes that equation. Networks require technology infrastructure, compliance frameworks, and ongoing investments in merchant acceptance. If those investments eventually produce strong marginal economics on each transaction, ROIC could improve substantially. If not, the company risks evolving into a more capital‑intensive business without correspondingly higher returns.
At the moment, the evidence leaves that outcome unresolved.
Quality of Earnings:
Recent financial data shows extremely strong free cash flow metrics. Operating cash flow approached 27.7 billion dollars while capital expenditures were only about 1.6 billion dollars, leaving roughly 26.1 billion dollars in free cash flow.
For banks, however, free cash flow can be a misleading metric. Unlike industrial companies, lending institutions must continuously retain capital to support loan growth and maintain regulatory capital ratios.
In a manufacturing business, free cash flow typically represents cash remaining after maintaining productive assets. In a bank, capital tied to loans and regulatory buffers functions as an additional constraint. Credit provisions can also swing significantly depending on the economic cycle.
The contrast between strong free cash flow and weak ROE suggests that reported cash generation may overstate the sustainable earnings that can ultimately be distributed to shareholders.
Capital Allocation Scorecard:
Management’s capital allocation in recent years shows a mix of discipline and calculated risk.
Share repurchases totaled approximately 4.1 billion dollars in the most recent fiscal year. Because the stock has traded near book value, those buybacks likely added incremental per‑share value.
The dividend remains modest at roughly 1.44 dollars annually per share, yielding roughly 3 percent depending on the share price. The payout ratio remains conservative, which preserves flexibility for additional buybacks.
The defining capital allocation decision is the Discover acquisition. Management projects approximately 2.5 billion dollars in annual synergies by the middle of 2027 through cost reductions, network optimization, and revenue opportunities.
Large financial services integrations rarely proceed without friction. Technology integration problems, regulatory complications, or operational mismatches could erode much of the expected value.
Taken together, management’s record earns a mixed but reasonable assessment. Share repurchases appear rational. Whether the broader strategy proves visionary or overly ambitious will largely depend on how the Discover transaction unfolds.
Customer and Revenue Concentration:
Capital One does not face traditional customer concentration risk. Its customer base consists of millions of individual consumers spread across the United States.
However, the business does carry a different type of concentration. A significant share of revenue comes from credit card interest income, particularly from near‑prime and subprime borrowers.
These segments typically pay higher interest rates but also show higher default rates when economic conditions weaken. As a result, Capital One’s earnings are tightly linked to unemployment levels and overall consumer financial health.
In other words, the lack of customer concentration hides a deeper dependence on consumer credit performance.
Management Alignment:
Founder and CEO Richard Fairbank remains a central figure in the company and still holds meaningful ownership. Insider activity over the past year shows modest net buying by senior leadership, which suggests some confidence in the long‑term strategy.
Institutional ownership is also significant, with more than one hundred hedge funds holding positions. Institutional participation alone does not guarantee success, but it does indicate that professional investors consider the franchise credible.
Overall, management alignment appears satisfactory.
10-Year Durability Test:
Projecting the competitive landscape of consumer finance a decade ahead is possible, but far from simple.
Regulation remains the most unpredictable variable. Governments periodically attempt to cap credit card interest rates or regulate interchange fees. Any large policy intervention could materially reduce industry profitability.
Technological change is another variable. Real‑time bank transfer systems and digital payment platforms could gradually reduce reliance on traditional credit card networks.
That said, the credit card ecosystem has historically proven resilient. Consumers value the combination of credit access, fraud protection, and rewards programs - features that are not easily replicated by alternative payment rails.
The Discover integration introduces another strategic dimension. If Capital One successfully operates a scaled payment network, its competitive position could strengthen. If that effort falls short, the company remains primarily a cyclical consumer lender.
The business is understandable over a ten‑year horizon, but the outcome of the network strategy introduces meaningful uncertainty.
Multi-Year Thesis (3 to 7 years):
Base Case Scenario (Probability 50 percent):
Assumptions: Credit losses normalize gradually, Discover integration achieves partial synergies, and transaction routing increases modestly.
Estimated normalized earnings: approximately 17 dollars per share.
Applying a 10 times earnings multiple produces an intrinsic value estimate near 170 dollars.
Bull Case Scenario (Probability 30 percent):
Assumptions: Discover network integration succeeds, transaction volumes shift meaningfully to the proprietary network, and normalized ROE returns to double digits.
Estimated earnings: roughly 22 dollars per share.
Applying a 14 times earnings multiple consistent with payments platforms yields intrinsic value around 308 dollars.
Bear Case Scenario (Probability 20 percent):
Assumptions: recession drives significant credit losses, integration costs escalate, and synergies fail to materialize.
Normalized earnings: roughly 12 dollars per share.
Applying a 9 times multiple yields intrinsic value near 108 dollars.
Probability-weighted intrinsic value from these scenarios approximates 195 to 205 dollars per share.
Margin of Safety Verdict:
The current price of roughly 190 dollars places the stock close to the probability-weighted intrinsic value derived above.
That leaves limited margin of safety. The upside scenario depends heavily on successful integration of Discover and improved profitability metrics. The downside case, meanwhile, could result in substantial losses if the credit cycle weakens.
For value investors who typically require a clear 20 percent discount to conservative intrinsic value estimates, Capital One may still fall short of the threshold for a compelling entry point.
Peak Margin Stress Test:
Credit card lenders have historically experienced sharp earnings swings during recessions. Charge‑off rates can double or even triple when unemployment rises quickly.
If Capital One’s earnings declined by approximately 35 percent in a downturn, EPS could drop to roughly 12 to 13 dollars.
Applying the current market multiple of around 10 times earnings would imply a valuation between 120 and 130 dollars per share.
That scenario suggests potential downside of roughly 30 to 40 percent during a severe credit cycle.
Valuation Framing:
Different valuation approaches offer slightly different perspectives.
Forward earnings multiple: around 8 to 10 times expected earnings based on approximately 19 dollars in projected EPS.
Price to book: roughly 1.1 times book value.
Discounted cash flow analysis from some research sources produces intrinsic values around 300 dollars per share. Those estimates, however, depend heavily on optimistic assumptions about long‑term earnings growth and stable credit conditions.
Relative to traditional consumer finance peers, the stock appears reasonably valued but not dramatically cheap. The market is effectively pricing Capital One as a cyclical lender while leaving room for strategic upside if the business evolves.
Perception vs Reality:
The market generally views Capital One as a consumer credit lender whose results rise and fall with the economic cycle.
The underlying reality may be slightly more complex. If the Discover acquisition ultimately creates a vertically integrated payments platform, the business could begin to resemble American Express more than a conventional bank.
That possibility explains why some analysts believe valuation multiples could expand over time.
Why This May Be Misunderstood:
Much of the misunderstanding centers on the timeline and credibility of the payments platform transition.
Owning a payment network does not automatically produce high margins. Network economics depend heavily on scale and merchant acceptance.
Discover’s network remains significantly smaller than Visa or Mastercard. Expanding it to carry a meaningful portion of Capital One’s transaction volume may take years.
Until that shift becomes visible in transaction data, the transformation narrative will remain somewhat speculative.
Three Measurable Things to Watch Next Quarter:
Credit card charge-off rates and delinquency trends.
Progress toward Discover integration milestones and cost synergies.
Return on equity trajectory relative to historical levels.
Historical Conviction Drift:
Earlier investment discussions around Capital One focused largely on its underwriting analytics and digital banking platform.
More recent analysis increasingly centers on the Discover acquisition and the possibility that it reshapes the company’s economics. In effect, the strategic narrative has moved from lender to hybrid payments platform.
Disconfirming Evidence:
The most straightforward argument against owning Capital One is that the business currently fails to earn its cost of capital.
With ROE near 3 percent and ROIC around 0.5 percent, the company generates returns well below what shareholders typically expect.
If those returns remain weak even after the Discover integration, the stock’s low valuation may simply reflect structurally mediocre economics rather than an overlooked opportunity.
Risks:
Consumer credit deterioration during economic downturns.
Failure to realize expected Discover integration synergies.
Regulatory intervention targeting credit card interest rates or interchange fees.
Technology disruption from alternative payment rails.
Funding cost increases due to deposit competition.
Execution risk associated with operating a global payment network.
Summary:
Capital One represents a significant strategic pivot. At its core, the company remains a credit card lender whose earnings move with the health of the consumer economy. The Discover acquisition introduces the possibility of transforming that model into a vertically integrated payments platform with stronger margins and competitive positioning.
Today’s valuation reflects skepticism about that transformation while assuming relatively stable credit conditions.
Investors comfortable underwriting both credit cycle volatility and integration risk may see reasonable long‑term upside. Investors who require a clear margin of safety and more predictable economics may prefer to keep the stock on a watchlist rather than in the portfolio.
Data Snapshot:
Company: Capital One Financial Corp
Metric: Value
Current Price (COF): $192.10
Market Capitalization: $121.83 billion
Shares Outstanding: 634,195,906
Trailing P/E: 59.11x
Forward P/E: 8.04x
Enterprise Value (EV): $99.12 billion
EV/EBITDA: N/A
Revenue (TTM): $36.31 billion
Gross Margin: 0.00%
Operating Margin: 28.59%
Free Cash Flow (FCF): N/A
FCF Yield: N/A
52-Week Range: $174.72 to $259.64
Sector: Financial Services
Industry: Credit Services
References:
This analysis reviewed approximately 1388 article sources and 8 video transcripts.
1. Yahoo Finance. Capital One Financial Corporation (COF): A Bull Case Theory. finance.yahoo.com
2. Yahoo Finance. Assessing Capital One (COF) Valuation As A High P/E Multiple Meets DCF Upside Potential. finance.yahoo.com
3. Forbes. When Everything Feels Out Of Control, Value Investing Doesn’t. www.forbes.com
4. Investopedia. Essential Metrics for Value Investors: Discover Undervalued Stocks. www.investopedia.com
5. Investopedia. Understanding Investment Thesis: Strategic Decisions Backed by Research. www.investopedia.com
6. Investopedia. Value Investing Definition, How It Works, Strategies, and Risks. www.investopedia.com
7. Investopedia. Warren Buffett's Value Investing Strategy Explained. www.investopedia.com
8. YouTube. CryptoTips channel video. www.youtube.com
9. YouTube. CommonSenseCryptoYT channel video. www.youtube.com
10. YouTube. DividendDiplomats channel video. www.youtube.com
11. YouTube. JayelJL channel video. www.youtube.com
12. YouTube. Crypto Jon channel video. www.youtube.com
13. YouTube. OneOption channel video. www.youtube.com
14. YouTube. libraryofwealth channel video. www.youtube.com
15. YouTube. AreteTrading channel video. www.youtube.com
Disclaimer:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consider their financial circumstances before making investment decisions.
Capital One selloff signals more downside after earnings shock:Current Price: 217.30 (Analysis was generated on Monday Morning)
Direction: SHORT
Confidence level: 45%(Based on weak but clearly bearish professional trader tone, sharp downside price reaction, and lack of strong social pushback)
Targets
Target 1: 210.00
Target 2: 205.00
Stop Levels
Stop 1: 222.00
Stop 2: 228.00
Key Insights:
Here’s what’s driving this setup. Multiple professional traders highlighted that financials were among the worst-performing sectors, with Capital One specifically called out for earnings that were poorly received. That wording matters. Traders weren’t talking about a mild pullback or consolidation — they framed it as clear underperformance relative to the broader market.
What stands out is the context. While other sectors like semiconductors held up reasonably well, Capital One moved in the opposite direction. That relative weakness tells me institutions are rotating away rather than buying the dip aggressively. When traders consistently frame a stock as a drag on sector performance, downside follow-through often shows up over the next few sessions.
Recent Performance:
You can see this trader view reflected directly in the tape. Capital One dropped about 7.5% in a single session, closing near $217 after trading much higher earlier in the week. Volume surged to more than three times the recent average, which tells me this wasn’t just light profit-taking — sellers showed real conviction.
Expert Analysis:
Traders are taking notice of how decisively price broke lower. Several professional traders pointed out that the post-earnings reaction wasn’t quickly bought, which is usually a warning sign. When earnings are shrugged off, price snaps back fast. That didn’t happen here. Instead, selling pressure persisted through the session, reinforcing the bearish short-term bias.
From a tactical standpoint, I’m treating this as a momentum continuation setup rather than a valuation debate. The professional trading crowd is focused on price behavior, not long-term upside stories, and right now the behavior favors sellers.
News Impact:
The earnings miss and the market’s reaction to the Brex acquisition clearly rattled confidence. Add ongoing regulatory noise around credit card rate caps, and you get a news backdrop that doesn’t inspire aggressive buying. Even bullish longer-term analyst notes didn’t stop the selloff, which is telling for this week’s direction.
Trading Recommendation:
Putting it all together, I’m favoring a SHORT position in Capital One for the next 5–7 trading days. I’d look for downside toward $210 first, with $205 as an extension if selling pressure continues. Risk is clearly defined above $222, with a hard stop near $228 if the stock snaps back unexpectedly. This is a lower-confidence trade due to limited multi-source confirmation, so position sizing should stay conservative and disciplined.
Capital One Financial (COF) - Financial Services Stock Standout**Capital One Financial (COF) - Financial Services Stock Standout** 💳
Credit powerhouse overlooked in rate volatility, mirroring Buffett's "Warren Buffett tips" on banking bets with deep moats—think his Goldman Sachs rescue turning turmoil into triumphs.
- **Key Metrics Showing Why It's Undervalued 💹**: Price at **$223.27**, trailing P/E a high **620.19** (due to recent earnings dip), but forward P/E drops to **11.35** (bargain vs. sector ~15), P/B **1.29** (assets undervalued), dividend yield **1.07%**. Market cap: **$142.79B**, with low debt signaling safety.
- **Potential Upside 🚀**: Targets average **$252.76** for ~13% lift, plus 20-30% growth if rates stabilize and consumer spending rebounds—moat from data-driven lending shines long-term.
- **How dcalpha.net Strategies Help 📈**: Our "value investing strategies" use forward P/E screens and moat analysis to add COF to diversified financial buckets, timing entries with Graham's safety margins for steady compounding like Buffett's winners.
Capital One May Be Entering Price DiscoveryCapital One has spent months near late-winter highs, and some traders may think it’s ready for the wild blue yonder.
The first pattern on today’s chart is the jump to new record highs on July 23 after quarterly results beat estimates. Prices got sucked lower because momentum (as measured by MACD) was bearish at the time. However the oscillator is now turning higher.
Second, the financial stock has cleared a falling trendline and now seems to be bouncing at it.
Third, prices have tracked the rising 50-day simple moving average. That may be consistent with an intermediate-term uptrend.
Next, the 8-day exponential moving average (EMA) is also above the 21-day EMA. That may be consistent with a short-term uptrend.
Finally, COF made a weekly closing high of $203.71 on January 31. It stalled at that level in mid-May and mid-June. Prices then pulled back to hold that level at the beginning of this month. Has old resistance become new support?
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COF – Capital One Financial WaverVanir Long-Term Vault Protocol🔐 Posted by: WaverVanir_International_LLC
🗓 June 22, 2025 | Chart:
“We don’t trade the chart. We activate the timeline.” – VolanX
This post isn’t just a technical read — it’s a capital alignment broadcast. WaverVanir has identified Capital One Financial (NYSE: COF) as a long-term macro asset embedded within the upcoming credit-tech realignment cycle.
🧠 THE BIG IDEA:
Capital One is not just a credit card company — it's evolving into a data-native, AI-compatible financial infrastructure layer. The rise of virtual cards, adaptive underwriting, and embedded B2B lending platforms puts COF at the center of modern financial sovereignty.
📊 CHART INSIGHT – SMART MONEY DIMENSION SHIFT
✅ Break of Structure (BOS) above $196 confirms demand-based control
🎯 Fibonacci Expansion Target Zones:
$226.27 = baseline activation
$264.27 = valuation unlock
$312.62 = timeline merge
$365.99–$400.59 = VolanX node fulfillment
📌 Premium zone reaccumulation is underway. Weak hands may exit. Strong systems enter.
📰 RECENT CATALYSTS:
🔒 Capital One x Discover merger announcement in Q2 sparked consolidation speculation
🌐 AI-native underwriting models launched for small business + retail
💳 Record digital payment volume via virtual cards (like the one WaverVanir currently deploys)
💼 Capital One Labs expanding banking-as-a-service offerings to developers and fintech partners
💼 WAVERVANIR STRATEGIC DISCLOSURE:
WaverVanir International LLC is opening an institutional trustline with Capital One.
We are preparing to absorb and deploy up to $100M in structured credit toward a next-generation AI trading and intelligence ecosystem — VolanX.
📣 This chart is not financial advice. It's a signal:
COF is not a bank stock. It's a capital lattice.
📌 TAGS / SIGNALS:
#COF #CapitalOne #WaverVanir #VolanX #SmartMoneyConcepts #InstitutionalCredit #MacroBreakout #VirtualCards #Fintech #Fibonacci #AIFinance #CreditExpansion #TradingView #DSS #TimelineActivation #FinancialSovereignty
🧬 If you're building something real — this is the asset to align with.
Capital One isn’t just where money flows. It’s where systems plug in.
Capital One Weekly Outlook: Bullish Rebound Toward $210–$219Forecast Overview
The Forecast Line (Blue Line) indicates the expected direction of price movement.
The Upper Band (Green Line) and the Lower Band (Red Line) act as forecast range limits or volatility envelopes.
Linear Regression Line (Orange Line) shows the trend direction based on historical price.
📈 Bullish or Bearish ?
The chart currently suggests a bullish bias, supported by:
Recent price bounce from the lower region and moving back above the linear regression line.
Candles are trying to re-enter the forecast channel, which implies a recovery attempt.
The last candle is a strong green bar showing +11.49% weekly gain, suggesting renewed bullish momentum.
However, caution is warranted :
Price is still below the forecast blue line and upper green band, which means a full bullish confirmation hasn't occurred yet.
🎯 Forecast Price Targets
Upper Forecast Price (Green Band): around $219.59
→ This is the highest level reached, and the green upper band may suggest the potential upside limit.
Forecast Line (Blue Line): around $210.67
→ This is the central bullish forecast, where price is expected to head if momentum continues.
Lower Forecast Price (Red Band): around $186.89
→ This is the bearish boundary, and price bouncing off it may confirm bullish defense.
✅ Summary
Bias: Mildly Bullish with recovery potential.
Forecast High: ~$219.59
Forecast Low: ~$186.89
A weekly close above $210.67 (blue line) would confirm a strong bullish breakout.
"Capital One (COF) 15-Min Breakout Watch: Bullish Continuation📌 Market Idea : Bullish Continuation or Range Breakout Setup on 15-Minute Chart
The chart displays a strong bullish rally from April 22 to April 26, with the price climbing from around $165 to over $185. Following this uptrend, the market has consolidated, forming a sideways range between $182 and $186.
This pattern suggests the stock is either :
Accumulating strength for another breakout to the upside, or
Losing momentum, potentially preparing for a pullback if support is broken.
💡 Trade Concept Summary
Trend Bias : Bullish (but ranging short-term)
Setup Type : Range Breakout
Bullish Scenario : Break above $186.89 → target $188–$190
Bearish Scenario : Break below $182.00 → target $179–$177
Timeframe Focus : Intraday (15-minute sessions)
This momentum squeeze setup is ideal for options traders or intraday scalpers waiting for direction confirmation.
COF - How we spotted and prepared for this breakoutCOF was lagging behind a bit, still building liquidity to break into fresh ATH's. But even though it took an extra few weeks, I was prepared and building my position. The more proof I saw of tapering white in control, the more confident I was in the eventual breakout.
This is something that can be demonstrated on all charts and just outlines the visual aspect of the liquidity building process which every chart must go through in order to see sustained breakouts.
Happy Trading :)
COF - Proceed... but with caution. From the general outlook, we see a beautiful bullish flag forming on the HTF and price respecting our tapered controlled selling white algorithm. However, what I did not mention in the video is that we have a very large HTF demand zone at the $165 level - price is definitely going to be attracted to it like a magnet - so unless we see real support up here at these levels and strong buying pouring it, I have an expectation that we attempt a deeper liquidity build to those levels.
Happy Trading :)
Capital One Could Be Breaking OutCapital One has been stuck in a range most of the year, but some traders may think a breakout has begun.
The first pattern on today’s chart is the falling trendline along the highs of April and early July. COF surged through the resistance last week and remained above it this week.
Second, the financial stock has turned positive on the week after making a higher low and lower high. Such an inside week is a potentially bullish signal.
Third, the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) is near the 100-day SMA. That highlights the tight price action during its recent basing. Will expansion follow the narrow movement?
Next, MACD is rising and the 8-day exponential moving average (EMA) is above the 21-day EMA. Those patterns could indicate that short-term trends are getting more bullish.
Finally, COF bounced this week near the July 1 high. That may suggest that old resistance has become new support.
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Past performance, whether actual or indicated by historical tests of strategies, is no guarantee of future performance or success. There is a possibility that you may sustain a loss equal to or greater than your entire investment regardless of which asset class you trade (equities, options or futures); therefore, you should not invest or risk money that you cannot afford to lose. Online trading is not suitable for all investors. View the document titled Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options at www.TradeStation.com . Before trading any asset class, customers must read the relevant risk disclosure statements on www.TradeStation.com . System access and trade placement and execution may be delayed or fail due to market volatility and volume, quote delays, system and software errors, Internet traffic, outages and other factors.
Securities and futures trading is offered to self-directed customers by TradeStation Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a futures commission merchant licensed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission). TradeStation Securities is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the National Futures Association, and a number of exchanges.
TradeStation Securities, Inc. and TradeStation Technologies, Inc. are each wholly owned subsidiaries of TradeStation Group, Inc., both operating, and providing products and services, under the TradeStation brand and trademark. When applying for, or purchasing, accounts, subscriptions, products and services, it is important that you know which company you will be dealing with. Visit www.TradeStation.com for further important information explaining what this means.
COF - Capital One Drop and Pop LONGCOF is shown on 1 15 minute chart. The trade idea is to play the drop in a bank stock as a
reaction to the sticky inflation report and the idea that a rate cut already baked into stock
price is about to come off the table. This is a risky reversal trade. However, with risk comes
reward. The idea is on the chart. I will take a long trade here anticipating a return of 2%
and about seven times risk. A call option for an expiration of 4/19 will also be in the position,
striking 141. See also
Continuation Pattern in Capital One?Capital One Financial rallied to a 21-month high in late January and paused during February. Now some traders may see upside potential in March.
The first pattern on today’s chart is the series of higher lows with prices remaining below its January 26 close. That ascending triangle is a potentially bullish continuation pattern.
Second, the 8-day exponential moving average (EMA) has remained above the 21-day EMA during the sideways movement. That may reflect a positive short-term trend.
Third, COF completed a bullish inside week between February 26 and March 1: another potentially bullish continuation pattern.
Finally, traders may look for a close above roughly $139 to confirm buyers are back in charge.
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Capital One to Buy Discover for $35 BillionThe country’s ninth-largest bank, Capital One (NYSE: COF), shocked the finance world when it announced that it will buy Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) for a staggering $35 billion. This all-stock deal is set to be one of the biggest M&A deals of 2024, bringing together two of the nation’s credit card giants to create a true global payments powerhouse.
But, what drove Capital One to make this move? It’s clear as day that the Berkshire Hathaway-backed (NYSE: BRK.B) Capital One has finally had enough of the sky-high fees associated with Visa (NYSE: V) and Mastercard (NYSE: MA).
By snatching up Discover, Capital One won’t just compete with these industry titans, but it could break free from their clutches altogether. After the news, DFS stock rose 15.6% in premarket trading, while COF stock fell by 3.5%. But there’s just one problem: The rise in DFS stock doesn’t reflect the nearly 27% premium Capital One valued Discover at, which could suggest that investors aren’t entirely convinced that this deal will come to fruition.
The Deal
Under the terms of the all-stock deal, if you’re a Discover shareholder, you’ll receive 1.0192 shares of COF stock for each DFS stock you own. And what’s really interesting about this is that Discover has a market cap of $27.6 billion, and the deal is valued at $35 billion, which means it’s a 26.6% premium over its closing price on the 16th of February. Moreover, after the deal closes, Capital One shareholders will hold roughly 60% of the combined company, while Discover shareholders will own the remaining 40%.
What is Capital One Getting?
For starters, now is a good time for credit card companies to make big moves like this one. There’s a boom in the credit card sector because more and more customers are switching from paying with cash to cards. This is largely thanks to generous rewards programs and the strong rise in e-commerce, which started to take off during the pandemic. Additionally, card issuers are getting a boost from increasing credit card debt, which continued to increase last year amid rising prices and declining savings.
As for what it’s getting from the deal, buying Discover would give Capital One a large card network, greatly increasing its power in the payments ecosystem. And this is important because card networks are essential for making transactions happen, as well as setting the fees that sellers pay when customers shop with their credit cards.
This would allow Capital One to negotiate interchange fees and other terms directly with merchants, making Capital One more of a competitor to companies like Visa and Mastercard. Notably, shares of Visa were down 1.8% in premarket trading after the news, while Mastercard stock was down 3.2%.
The deal would also increase the number of cardholders Capital One counts as customers for its credit-card lending business. This deal doesn’t just give Capital One numbers, but quality too, since many Discover cardholders have high credit scores. The deal would also allow Capital One to get its hands on the consumer deposits in Discover’s savings accounts, an area where it already has a large presence but would like to continue growing.
When you compare Discover to competitors like Visa and Mastercard, you’d think that Discover is a very small company, but what makes it unique is that it’s one of the few U.S. card issuers that actually have payment networks. Which is the main reason why Capital One is buying it in the first place. Even though it uses Visa and Mastercard for most of the cards it issues, it will likely begin switching some of its cards to Discover after the deal closes.
Even after the deal closes, Capital One will continue using Visa and Mastercard thanks to its wider reach. For example, Discover currently has 70 million merchant acceptance, compared to Visa’s 130 million and Mastercard’s nearly 100 million.
Still, this could be a play from Capital One to reduce its dependence on Visa and Mastercard, as the pair have come under fire recently for their high fees they charge for processing payments. Some lawmakers have even accused them of forming a “duopoly”.
Discover’s Recent Troubles
For Discover, the deal couldn’t have come at a better time. The company was going through a tumultuous period with increased regulatory scrutiny and two changes in its leadership.
Discover’s troubles are a result of a statement issued last year, in which it stated that it had misclassified certain credit card accounts beginning in 2007 and had incorrectly placed them in the highest pricing tier. As a result, the company was forced to record a liability of $365 million in estimated compensation for everyone involved.
In addition to that, Discover received a consent order from the FDIC regarding consumer compliance, but Discover did not release many details about the matter. Discover escaped a fine from regulators after reaching an agreement with the FDIC to improve its compliance management system.
A Decade of Offers
Interestingly, this is not the first time Discover was approached by a large bank or even a tech company for an acquisition. In fact, the company has been receiving offers for the last decade, especially from tech companies. The reason Discover accepted this deal and not those from tech companies is likely because they were only interested in its payments and card network. For tech companies, Discover offered an opportunity to play a more central role in payments. But, Discover’s older management wasn’t interested in separating the company’s credit card lending side from the network, which is why many deals were rejected.
On the other hand, Capital One said that it’s planning to keep the Discover brand on the cards and network. If the deal happens, it will certainly rank among the biggest deals so far for 2024. After a slowdown in M&A activity in 2023 due to increased interest rates that reduced the appetite for massive deals, this deal between Capital One and Discover could reignite interest in this market.
The Combined Company
There’s an opportunity here to create a new credit card giant, but the main concern for shareholders of COF stock and DFS stock can be summed up in one question: Will the resulting company outperform the broader market in the long-term?
Over the past 10 years, COF stock has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 8.39%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 12.62% annualized return. Compared to the XLF, COF stock has also underpeformed offering an annualized return of 8.39% over the last 10 years, while XLF has yielded 13.08% annualized return.
The same can be said for DFS stock which underperformed the XLF during this same period and compared to the SPY, achieved an annualized return of only 9.97% compared to the SPY’s 12.62% annualized return.
It’s possible that these two companies hope that combined, they will be able to outperform these benchmarks and take on industry giants. With this merger, the resulting company would create the largest card issuer in the US – immediately surpassing JPMorgan Chase.
While Jamie Dimon brushed it off saying “let them compete. Let them try”, the merging companies are likely hoping to capitalize on the credit card sector boom and use their advantages and synergies to generate higher profits and shareholder value than COF stock or DFS stock could achieve on their own.
COF Stock Forecast
If the deal is approved by regulators, the COF stock forecast looks notably bullish. In fact, Citi analysts stated that with Discover’s valuable payments network it will unlock value that neither company could achieve on its own. As a result, Citi increased its price target for COF stock to $152, offering 11% upside from its closing price on the 16th of February.
However, one glaring risk is the fact that M&As of large companies are super hard to pull off. Together, Capital One and Discover will become the sixth-largest bank in the US, with consolidated assets of almost $625 billion. A combination like this will undoubtedly come under intense antitrust scrutiny.
The deal is already seeing push back from Senator Warren and 12 congressional Democrats who wrote Acting Comptroller Michael Hsu and the Michael Barr, urging them to block the deal. This appeal is based on their belief that the deal would reduce competition and reduce card issuers’ incentives to offer customers favorable terms.
However, its possible that regulators will be more amenable to this deal, since Capital One is a well known company and considered to be a “good actor”. Not to mention, Discover previously pledged to invest $500 million to better its compliance operations after its troubles with the FDIC.
Setting aside these regulatory concerns, the two companies expect the deal to close late this year or in early 2025. There is a lot at stake for Capital One which stated that shifting away from Visa and Mastercard’s “duopoly” would help it generate an extra $1.2 billion in revenue in 2027.
While COF stock offers a tempting opportunity for long-term investors, veteran investors have seen time and again major deals fall through. Whether it was the collapse of Adobe’s acquisition of Figma or the UK’s decision to block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, its not unusual for these deals to fall through or at the very least face hurdles such as in Microsoft’s case.
BUY TODAY SELL TOMORROW for 5%DON’T HAVE TIME TO MANAGE YOUR TRADES?
- Take BTST trades at 3:25 pm every day
- Try to exit by taking 4-7% profit of each trade
- SL can also be maintained as closing below the low of the breakout candle
Now, why do I prefer BTST over swing trades? The primary reason is that I have observed that 90% of the stocks give most of the movement in just 1-2 days and the rest of the time they either consolidate or fall.
Trendline Breakout in COF
BUY TODAY SELL TOMORROW for 5%
A slight drop provided a opportunityAfter reporting earnings and being down about 2% post market 01/25. The price had recently hit a low on the RSI indicator at a price equivalent to 129.52 which was hit around 17:15 hrs. Viewed easier on the smaller timeframes on the 15min. observing the weekly timeframe there is a possible break as the resistance of 120 was easily broken compared to Jan 30/23. When the opportunity came buyers stepped in and deemed the price cheap and this uptrend may very well continue.
COF bullish prior to earningsAs we approach much awaited results for capital one stock, from a technical perspective although the price had failed to break its a high of 134.26 during the week of FRI 05 Jan 2024, As we observe current price action as comparable to the left chart using the weekly timeframe we are at a point in price were there has been a significant move within this equity around this price range. The fact the current weekly candle starting tues jan 16 2024 ended with a green long wick full bodied candle representing buying volume looks to have gained momentum holding price action at a halt furthering the chance of a drop in price to be unlikely as we approach Jan 25. Looking at the right chart on the price was support at a low of 123, if we look within the monthly candle on the daily even with the consecutive daily red bearish candles the fact that the green bearsh daily candle closed green well above the ichimoku cloud cover further supports the price. I have a 2024 price target of 160 but would look towards a high of 135 to retest that price range yet again in the near future as early as mid February if buyers step into this with positive earnings.
from a fundamental aspect the rise in credit card usage and loans being acquired is on the rise, and many people will go need credit to fund their ventures or any daily activities that can be in the form of a credit card.
Capital One $120 Price TargetCapital one NYSE:COF shares soared 3.3%
This is a credit card issuer.
Revenues for this company are up 4.6%
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ENVA
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Purchased Notes offerring around 11% interest
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Capital one according to Morgan Stanley has a hold analyst
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Holding to $120 price target
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