Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) vs Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COF | 9.0% revenue growth vs FCFS's 8.0% |
| Value | FCFS | PEG 0.79 vs 10.08 |
| Quality / Margins | FCFS | 9.0% net margin vs COF's 8.8% |
| Stability / Safety | FCFS | Beta 0.31 vs COF's 1.53, lower leverage |
| Dividends | COF | 1.2% yield; 2-year raise streak; FCFS pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | FCFS | +73.2% vs COF's -1.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | FCFS | 6.0% ROA vs COF's 0.2%, ROIC 12.7% vs 4.1% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
FirstCash Holdings operates a large network of pawn shops across the Americas that provide short-term collateralized loans and sell forfeited merchandise. It generates revenue primarily from pawn loan interest and fees (roughly 70% of total) and retail sales of forfeited collateral and purchased goods (about 30%). The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive physical footprint—over 2,800 stores—and operational expertise in managing the pawn lending cycle across diverse markets.
Capital One is a diversified financial services company that operates primarily as a credit card issuer and consumer bank. It generates revenue through three main segments: credit card interest and fees (its largest segment), consumer banking services, and commercial banking operations. The company's key advantage lies in its sophisticated data analytics and technology platform—which enables targeted marketing and risk assessment—coupled with its direct banking model that reduces physical branch costs.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
FCFS leads in 5 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). COF leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
COF is the larger business by revenue, generating $53.9B annually — 14.7x FCFS's $3.7B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 9.0% (FCFS) to 8.8% (COF).
| Metric | FCFSFirstCash Holding… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.7B | $53.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $897M | $6.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $310M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $528M | $20.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +100.0% | +50.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.4% | +11.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | +8.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +31.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +29.2% | +9.5% |
Valuation Metrics
At 16.9x trailing earnings, COF trades at a 35% valuation discount to FCFS's 26.0x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), FCFS offers better value at 1.10x vs COF's 10.08x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | FCFSFirstCash Holding… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $8.5B | $124.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.6B | $126.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 25.98x | 16.88x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.64x | 9.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.10x | 10.08x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.66x | 13.85x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.32x | 2.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.77x | 1.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 7.34x |
Profitability & Efficiency
FCFS delivers a 14.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $1 for COF. FCFS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.11x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to COF's 0.75x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FCFS scores 6/9 vs COF's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FCFSFirstCash Holding… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.1% | +1.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.0% | +0.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.7% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.5% | +4.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.11x | 0.75x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $124M | $2.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $125M | $43.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $249M | $45.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.66x | 0.11x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in FCFS five years ago would be worth $30,784 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,819 for COF. Over the past 12 months, FCFS leads with a +73.2% total return vs COF's -1.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors FCFS at 30.8% vs COF's 23.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FCFSFirstCash Holding… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +23.2% | -20.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +73.2% | -1.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +123.6% | +86.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +207.8% | +68.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +384.4% | +228.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +30.8% | +23.1% |
Risk & Volatility
FCFS is the less volatile stock with a 0.31 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than COF's 1.53 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. FCFS currently trades 99.4% from its 52-week high vs COF's 75.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FCFSFirstCash Holding… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.31x | 1.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $193.96 | $259.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $109.51 | $143.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.4% | +75.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 74.6 | 45.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 212K | 4.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FCFS as "Hold" and COF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.9% upside for COF (target: $274) vs 12.6% for FCFS (target: $217). COF is the only dividend payer here at 1.24% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | FCFSFirstCash Holding… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $217.00 | $273.62 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 56 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 9 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.43 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) | 100 | 223.21 | +123.2% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 100 | 253.43 | +153.4% |
FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) returned +208% over 5 years vs Capital One Financi… (COF)'s +68%. A $10,000 investment in FCFS 5 years ago would be worth $30,784 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) | $1.1B | $3.7B | +236.4% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | $27.5B | $53.9B | +96.0% |
FirstCash Holdings, Inc's revenue grew from $1.1B (2016) to $3.7B (2025) — a 14.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) | 5.5% | 9.0% | +63.3% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 13.6% | 8.8% | -35.4% |
FirstCash Holdings, Inc's net margin went from 6% (2016) to 9% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) | 22.5 | 21.5 | -4.4% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 28.5 | 15.4 | -46.0% |
FirstCash Holdings, Inc has traded in a 16x–27x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~26x. Capital One Financial Corporation has traded in a 5x–29x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~17x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstCash Holdings,… (FCFS) | 1.72 | 7.42 | +331.4% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 6.89 | 11.59 | +68.2% |
FirstCash Holdings, Inc's EPS grew from $1.72 (2016) to $7.42 (2025) — a 18% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
FirstCash Holdings, Inc generated $0M FCF in 2025 (-100% vs 2021). Capital One Financial Corporation generated $17B FCF in 2024 (+46% vs 2021).
FCFS vs COF: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FCFS or COF a better buy right now?
Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) offers the better valuation at 16.9x trailing P/E (9.7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) a "Buy" — based on 56 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — FCFS or COF?
On trailing P/E, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) is the cheapest at 16.9x versus FirstCash Holdings, Inc at 26.0x. On forward P/E, Capital One Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 9.7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: FirstCash Holdings, Inc wins at 0.79x versus Capital One Financial Corporation's 10.08x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FCFS or COF?
Over the past 5 years, FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) delivered a total return of +207.8%, compared to +68.2% for Capital One Financial Corporation (COF). A $10,000 investment in FCFS five years ago would be worth approximately $31K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FCFS returned +384.4% versus COF's +228.4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — FCFS or COF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.31β versus Capital One Financial Corporation's 1.53β — meaning COF is approximately 390% more volatile than FCFS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 75% for Capital One Financial Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — FCFS or COF?
FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) is the more profitable company, earning 9.0% net margin versus 8.8% for Capital One Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 9.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FCFS leads at 15.4% versus 11.0% for COF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FCFS leads at 100.0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is FCFS or COF more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.79x versus Capital One Financial Corporation's 10.08x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) trades at 9.7x forward P/E versus 18.6x for FirstCash Holdings, Inc — 9.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COF: 39.9% to $273.62.
07Which pays a better dividend — FCFS or COF?
In this comparison, COF (1.2% yield) pays a dividend. FCFS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is FCFS or COF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, FirstCash Holdings, Inc (FCFS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.31), +384.4% 10Y return). Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) carries a higher beta of 1.53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FCFS: +384.4%, COF: +228.4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between FCFS and COF?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: FCFS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; COF is a mid-cap deep-value stock. COF pays a dividend while FCFS does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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