Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM) vs Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | JSM | 229.5% revenue growth vs COF's 9.0% |
| Value | COF | Lower P/E (9.7x vs 16.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | COF | 8.8% net margin vs JSM's 3.4% |
| Stability / Safety | JSM | Beta 0.20 vs COF's 1.53 |
| Dividends | JSM | 3.3% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs COF's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | JSM | +7.7% vs COF's -1.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COF | 0.2% ROA vs JSM's -0.1%, ROIC 4.1% 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
Navient is a financial services company that manages and services education loans and provides business processing solutions. It makes money primarily through interest income from its portfolio of federal and private student loans — roughly 80% from federal loans and 20% from private loans — supplemented by servicing fees and business processing revenue. Its key advantage is its scale as one of the largest student loan servicers with deep expertise in the complex federal loan system and established government contracts.
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
JSM leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). COF leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Total Returns).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
COF is the larger business by revenue, generating $53.9B annually — 14.2x JSM's $3.8B. COF is the more profitable business, keeping 8.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to JSM's 3.4%.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.8B | $53.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.9B | $6.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$50M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $275M | $20.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +91.7% | +50.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +73.9% | +11.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | +8.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +31.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -46.0% | +9.5% |
Valuation Metrics
At 16.1x trailing earnings, JSM trades at a 4% valuation discount to COF's 16.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, COF's 13.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than JSM's 21.3x.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.3B | $124.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $46.4B | $126.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.14x | 16.88x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 9.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 10.08x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 21.29x | 13.85x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.39x | 2.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.80x | 1.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.57x | 7.34x |
Profitability & Efficiency
COF delivers a 1.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $1 in annual profit, vs $-2 for JSM. COF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.75x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to JSM's 16.35x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), JSM scores 8/9 vs COF's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.1% | +1.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.1% | +0.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.1% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.4% | +4.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 16.35x | 0.75x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.0B | $2.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.1B | $43.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $43.2B | $45.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.17x | 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 $11,072 for JSM. Over the past 12 months, JSM leads with a +7.7% total return vs COF's -1.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COF at 23.1% vs JSM's 6.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -3.8% | -20.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +7.7% | -1.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +22.0% | +86.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +10.7% | +68.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +96.6% | +228.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.8% | +23.1% |
Risk & Volatility
JSM is the less volatile stock with a 0.20 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. JSM currently trades 93.8% from its 52-week high vs COF's 75.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.20x | 1.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $20.65 | $259.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $16.51 | $143.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.8% | +75.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.8 | 45.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 19K | 4.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates JSM as "Hold" and COF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.9% upside for COF (target: $274) vs -9.7% for JSM (target: $18). For income investors, JSM offers the higher dividend yield at 3.32% vs COF's 1.24%.
| Metric | JSMNavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $17.50 | $273.62 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 56 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.3% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.64 | $2.43 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.4% | +0.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navient Corporation… (JSM) | 100 | 85.89 | -14.1% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 100 | 244.54 | +144.5% |
Capital One Financi… (COF) returned +68% over 5 years vs Navient Corporation… (JSM)'s +11%. A $10,000 investment in COF 5 years ago would be worth $16,819 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navient Corporation… (JSM) | $4.3B | $3.8B | -11.3% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | $25.0B | $53.9B | +115.4% |
Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543's revenue grew from $4.3B (2015) to $3.8B (2024) — a -1.3% CAGR. Capital One Financial Corporation's revenue grew from $25.0B (2015) to $53.9B (2024) — a 8.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navient Corporation… (JSM) | 22.9% | 3.4% | -85.0% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 16.2% | 8.8% | -45.6% |
Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543's net margin went from 23% (2015) to 3% (2024). Capital One Financial Corporation's net margin went from 16% (2015) to 9% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navient Corporation… (JSM) | 22.9 | 14.8 | -35.4% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 28.5 | 15.4 | -46.0% |
Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 has traded in a 4x–23x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~16x. 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 | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navient Corporation… (JSM) | 2.57 | 1.2 | -53.3% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 7.07 | 11.59 | +63.9% |
Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543's EPS grew from $2.57 (2015) to $1.20 (2024) — a -8% CAGR. Capital One Financial Corporation's EPS grew from $7.07 (2015) to $11.59 (2024) — a 6% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 generated $459M FCF in 2024 (-35% vs 2021). Capital One Financial Corporation generated $17B FCF in 2024 (+46% vs 2021).
JSM vs COF: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is JSM or COF a better buy right now?
Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM) offers the better valuation at 16.1x trailing P/E, 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 — JSM or COF?
On trailing P/E, Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM) is the cheapest at 16.1x versus Capital One Financial Corporation at 16.9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — JSM or COF?
Over the past 5 years, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) delivered a total return of +68.2%, compared to +10.7% for Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM). 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 JSM's +96.6%. 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 — JSM or COF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.20β versus Capital One Financial Corporation's 1.53β — meaning COF is approximately 647% more volatile than JSM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 75% versus 16% for Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — JSM or COF?
Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) is the more profitable company, earning 8.8% net margin versus 3.4% for Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 — meaning it keeps 8.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JSM leads at 73.9% versus 11.0% for COF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JSM leads at 91.7%, 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 JSM or COF more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COF: 39.9% to $273.62.
07Which pays a better dividend — JSM or COF?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM) offers the highest yield at 3.3%, versus 1.2% for Capital One Financial Corporation (COF).
08Is JSM or COF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Navient Corporation SR NT 6% 121543 (JSM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.20), 3.3% 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 (JSM: +96.6%, 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 JSM 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.