Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF) Hits New 52-Week High Following Analyst Upgrade

Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday after Barclays raised their price target on the stock from $271.00 to $294.00. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Capital One Financial traded as high as $252.08 and last traded at $252.9560, with a volume of 616337 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $247.93.

COF has been the topic of a number of other research reports. TD Cowen upped their target price on Capital One Financial from $258.00 to $261.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of Capital One Financial from $240.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of Capital One Financial from $266.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Capital One Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Finally, BTIG Research upped their price target on shares of Capital One Financial from $264.00 to $308.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 26th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Capital One Financial currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $274.80.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Lia Dean sold 3,269 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $218.15, for a total value of $713,132.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 69,855 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,238,868.25. This represents a 4.47% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Frank G. LapradeIii sold 17,840 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.03, for a total value of $3,961,015.20. Following the transaction, the insider owned 48,315 shares in the company, valued at $10,727,379.45. This represents a 26.97% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 296,895 shares of company stock valued at $66,611,541. Insiders own 1.26% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Capital One Financial

Here are the key news stories impacting Capital One Financial this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo reiterated a Buy on COF, supporting demand by reinforcing analyst confidence in the bank’s outlook and franchise strength. Wells Fargo Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on Capital One Financial (COF)
• Positive Sentiment: Analysis highlights Capital One’s recent strong growth and market-share gains, which could strengthen its negotiating position or strategic rationale in any potential Discover-related or other partnership transactions — a positive catalyst for valuation expectations. How Strong Recent Growth and Market Share Gains Could Shape Capital One Financial’s (COF) Discover Deal Narrative
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage of retailers adding branded cafes notes Capital One as an example of banks/brands using in-person experiences to drive customer engagement. This is a brand/experience tailwind but likely a modest, longer-term influence on revenue. Uniqlo and Coach are opening cafes — joining longtime coffee players Ralph Lauren and Capital One. Here’s why it’s become a retail trend
• Negative Sentiment: Insider sale — Celia Karam sold 2,064 shares at ~$244.35 (reducing her stake ~3.25%), a disclosure that can be perceived negatively by some investors. Celia Karam Form 4
• Negative Sentiment: Insider sale — Lia Dean sold 3,163 shares at ~$244.35 (a ~4.53% reduction), another disposal that may weigh on sentiment. Lia Dean Form 4
• Negative Sentiment: Large insider sale — Ravi Raghu sold 13,450 shares at ~$250.00, cutting his holding by ~30.7%; this larger reduction is the most notable insider trade and could raise questions about near-term insider conviction. Ravi Raghu Form 4

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Capital One Financial

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Mather Group LLC. lifted its holdings in Capital One Financial by 1.0% during the third quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 4,540 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $965,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of Capital One Financial by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 7,047 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,506,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Capital One Financial by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 1,407 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $299,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Optas LLC boosted its holdings in Capital One Financial by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Optas LLC now owns 3,484 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $741,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV boosted its holdings in Capital One Financial by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 4,450 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $946,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.84% of the company’s stock.

Capital One Financial Trading Up 2.9%

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $228.44 and a 200 day simple moving average of $221.26. The company has a market capitalization of $163.84 billion, a PE ratio of 108.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.57 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03.

Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF) last issued 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 return on equity of 10.94% and a net margin of 2.24%.The firm had revenue of $15.46 billion for the quarter. Analysts anticipate that Capital One Financial Corporation will post 15.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Capital One Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th were given a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.2%. This is a positive change from Capital One Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. Capital One Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 135.02%.

Capital One Financial Company Profile

Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) is a diversified bank holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia. The company’s core businesses include credit card lending, consumer and commercial banking, and auto finance. Capital One issues a wide range of credit card products for consumers and small businesses, and it operates deposit and digital banking services aimed at retail customers and small to midsize enterprises.

Products and services include credit and charge cards, checking and savings accounts (including the online-focused Capital One 360 platform), auto loans, and commercial lending solutions.