Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF) Hits New 12-Month High Following Analyst Upgrade

Shares of Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday after Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on the stock from $265.00 to $275.00. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a buy rating on the stock. Capital One Financial traded as high as $238.47 and last traded at $237.57, with a volume of 4141079 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $230.81.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Capital One Financial from $267.00 to $272.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. HSBC lifted their target price on Capital One Financial from $218.00 to $234.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Capital One Financial from $235.00 to $237.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Capital One Financial in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Capital One Financial from $275.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $262.70.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Frank G. LapradeIii sold 17,840 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.03, for a total value of $3,961,015.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 48,315 shares in the company, valued at $10,727,379.45. This trade represents a 26.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Neal Blinde sold 43,200 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $221.83, for a total transaction of $9,583,056.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 73,020 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,198,026.60. This represents a 37.17% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 280,218 shares of company stock worth $62,395,804. Insiders own 1.26% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Capital One Financial

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of COF. WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Capital One Financial during the first quarter worth $25,000. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC raised its stake in shares of Capital One Financial by 103.3% during the 2nd quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC now owns 122 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Olistico Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Capital One Financial by 439.1% in the 2nd quarter. Olistico Wealth LLC now owns 124 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Saudi Central Bank acquired a new stake in Capital One Financial in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, RMG Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Capital One Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. 89.84% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Capital One Financial Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $151.03 billion, a PE ratio of 100.24, a P/E/G ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.16. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $216.81 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $214.39.

Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The financial services provider reported $5.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Capital One Financial had a net margin of 2.24% and a return on equity of 10.94%. The company had revenue of $15.46 billion for the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Capital One Financial Corporation will post 15.65 EPS for the current year.

Capital One Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 17th were issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. This is a boost from Capital One Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. Capital One Financial’s payout ratio is currently 135.02%.

About Capital One Financial

Capital One Financial Corporation operates as the financial services holding company for the Capital One, National Association, which engages in the provision of various financial products and services in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Credit Card, Consumer Banking, and Commercial Banking.