Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) 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 | JCAP | 34.1% revenue growth vs COF's 9.0% |
| Value | JCAP | Lower P/E (7.3x vs 9.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | JCAP | 24.3% net margin vs COF's 8.8% |
| Stability / Safety | JCAP | Beta 1.36 vs COF's 1.53 |
| Dividends | JCAP | 3.0% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs COF's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | JCAP | +13.9% vs COF's -1.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | JCAP | 7.8% ROA vs COF's 0.2%, ROIC 12.6% vs 4.1% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Jefferson Capital is a debt recovery company that purchases charged-off consumer receivables at deep discounts and works with individuals to collect repayments. It makes money primarily by buying distressed debt portfolios—including credit card, auto, telecom, and utility receivables—at steep discounts and collecting on them, supplemented by debt servicing fees for managing nonperforming loans for credit originators. The company's moat lies in its specialized expertise in valuing and collecting on distressed debt, its established relationships with credit originators, and its operational scale in managing large portfolios of charged-off receivables.
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
JCAP leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). COF leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
COF is the larger business by revenue, generating $53.9B annually — 124.5x JCAP's $433M. JCAP is the more profitable business, keeping 24.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to COF's 8.8%.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $433M | $53.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $137M | $6.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $140M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $265M | $20.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +71.2% | +50.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +50.8% | +11.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +24.3% | +8.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +37.4% | +31.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +9.5% |
Valuation Metrics
At 11.4x trailing earnings, JCAP trades at a 32% valuation discount to COF's 16.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, JCAP's 10.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than COF's 13.9x.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $124.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.4B | $126.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.40x | 16.88x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.29x | 9.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 10.08x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.40x | 13.85x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.78x | 2.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.14x | 1.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.42x | 7.34x |
Profitability & Efficiency
JCAP delivers a 32.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $32 in annual profit, vs $1 for COF. COF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.75x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to JCAP's 3.12x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), COF scores 5/9 vs JCAP's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +32.0% | +1.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.8% | +0.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.6% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.6% | +4.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.12x | 0.75x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.2B | $2.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $36M | $43.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.2B | $45.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.00x | 0.11x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in COF five years ago would be worth $16,819 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,386 for JCAP. Over the past 12 months, JCAP leads with a +13.9% total return vs COF's -1.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COF at 23.1% vs JCAP's 4.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.7% | -20.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +13.9% | -1.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.9% | +86.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.9% | +68.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.9% | +228.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.4% | +23.1% |
Risk & Volatility
JCAP is the less volatile stock with a 1.36 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. JCAP currently trades 86.7% from its 52-week high vs COF's 75.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.36x | 1.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $23.80 | $259.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.98 | $143.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.7% | +75.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.2 | 45.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 301K | 4.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates JCAP as "Buy" and COF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.9% upside for COF (target: $274) vs 27.6% for JCAP (target: $26). For income investors, JCAP offers the higher dividend yield at 2.99% vs COF's 1.24%.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $26.33 | $273.62 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 56 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.62 | $2.43 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Capital, … (JCAP) | $2M | $433M | +24759.4% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | $25.0B | $53.9B | +115.4% |
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock's revenue grew from $2M (2015) to $433M (2024) — a 84.6% CAGR. Capital One Financial Corporation's revenue grew from $25.0B (2015) to $53.9B (2024) — a 8.9% CAGR.
Chart 2Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Capital, … (JCAP) | -168.8% | 24.3% | +114.4% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 16.2% | 8.8% | -45.6% |
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock's net margin went from -169% (2015) to 24% (2024). Capital One Financial Corporation's net margin went from 16% (2015) to 9% (2024).
Chart 3P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 28.5 | 15.4 | -46.0% |
Capital One Financial Corporation has traded in a 5x–29x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~17x.
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Capital, … (JCAP) | -0.65 | 1.81 | +378.5% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 7.07 | 11.59 | +63.9% |
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock's EPS grew from $-0.65 (2015) to $1.81 (2024). Capital One Financial Corporation's EPS grew from $7.07 (2015) to $11.59 (2024) — a 6% CAGR.
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock generated $162M FCF in 2024 (+36% vs 2023). Capital One Financial Corporation generated $17B FCF in 2024 (+46% vs 2021).
JCAP vs COF: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is JCAP or COF a better buy right now?
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) offers the better valuation at 11.4x trailing P/E (7.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 — JCAP or COF?
On trailing P/E, Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) is the cheapest at 11.4x versus Capital One Financial Corporation at 16.9x. On forward P/E, Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock is actually cheaper at 7.3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — JCAP or COF?
Over the past 5 years, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) delivered a total return of +68.2%, compared to +13.9% for Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP). A $10,000 investment in COF five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COF returned +228.4% versus JCAP's +13.9%. 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 — JCAP or COF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) is the lower-risk stock at 1.36β versus Capital One Financial Corporation's 1.53β — meaning COF is approximately 13% more volatile than JCAP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 75% versus 3% for Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — JCAP or COF?
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) is the more profitable company, earning 24.3% net margin versus 8.8% for Capital One Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 24.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JCAP leads at 50.8% versus 11.0% for COF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JCAP leads at 71.2%, 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 JCAP or COF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) trades at 7.3x forward P/E versus 9.7x for Capital One Financial Corporation — 2.4x 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 — JCAP or COF?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) offers the highest yield at 3.0%, versus 1.2% for Capital One Financial Corporation (COF).
08Is JCAP or COF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (3.0% yield). 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 (JCAP: +13.9%, 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 JCAP 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. 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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