Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Navient Corporation (NAVI) 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 NAVI's -12.4% |
| Value | COF | Lower P/E (9.7x vs 12.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | COF | 8.8% net margin vs NAVI's 3.1% |
| Stability / Safety | NAVI | Beta 1.08 vs COF's 1.53 |
| Dividends | NAVI | 7.2% yield, vs COF's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | COF | -1.1% vs NAVI's -34.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COF | 0.2% ROA vs NAVI's -0.1%, ROIC 4.1% vs 0.2% |
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 education loans and provides business processing solutions for education, healthcare, and government clients. It makes money primarily through loan servicing fees and interest income from its education loan portfolio—including federally guaranteed FFELP loans and private student loans—along with business processing fees from healthcare and government clients. The company's key advantage is its specialized expertise in complex education loan servicing and its established relationships with federal and state government agencies.
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
COF leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). NAVI leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
COF is the larger business by revenue, generating $53.9B annually — 12.7x NAVI's $4.2B. COF is the more profitable business, keeping 8.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NAVI's 3.1%.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.2B | $53.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$77M | $6.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$50M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $275M | $20.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.0% | +50.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.1% | +11.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.1% | +8.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.8% | +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 7.4x trailing earnings, NAVI trades at a 56% valuation discount to COF's 16.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, COF's 13.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NAVI's 280.4x.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $841M | $124.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $48.8B | $126.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.45x | 16.88x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.67x | 9.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 10.08x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 280.37x | 13.85x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.20x | 2.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.37x | 1.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.83x | 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 NAVI. COF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.75x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NAVI's 18.43x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NAVI scores 6/9 vs COF's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NAVINavient 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 | +0.2% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.3% | +4.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 18.43x | 0.75x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $47.9B | $2.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $722M | $43.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $48.7B | $45.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.03x | 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 $9,202 for NAVI. Over the past 12 months, COF leads with a -1.1% total return vs NAVI's -34.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COF at 23.1% vs NAVI's -16.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -31.2% | -20.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -34.1% | -1.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -40.7% | +86.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -8.0% | +68.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.3% | +228.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -16.0% | +23.1% |
Risk & Volatility
NAVI is the less volatile stock with a 1.08 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. COF currently trades 75.4% from its 52-week high vs NAVI's 54.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.08x | 1.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $16.07 | $259.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $8.50 | $143.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +54.7% | +75.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 27.1 | 45.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 827K | 4.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NAVI as "Hold" and COF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.9% upside for COF (target: $274) vs 13.8% for NAVI (target: $10). For income investors, NAVI offers the higher dividend yield at 7.17% vs COF's 1.24%.
| Metric | NAVINavient Corporati… | COFCapital One Finan… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $10.00 | $273.62 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 56 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.2% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.63 | $2.43 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +21.3% | +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 (NAVI) | 100 | 86.18 | -13.8% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 100 | 244.54 | +144.5% |
Capital One Financi… (COF) returned +68% over 5 years vs Navient Corporation (NAVI)'s -8%. 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 (NAVI) | $5.2B | $4.2B | -18.2% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | $25.0B | $53.9B | +115.4% |
Navient Corporation's revenue grew from $5.2B (2015) to $4.2B (2024) — a -2.2% 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 (NAVI) | 19.0% | 3.1% | -83.7% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 16.2% | 8.8% | -45.6% |
Navient Corporation's net margin went from 19% (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 (NAVI) | 12.8 | 11.3 | -11.7% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 28.5 | 15.4 | -46.0% |
Navient Corporation has traded in a 4x–13x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~7x. 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 (NAVI) | 2.61 | 1.18 | -54.8% |
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 7.07 | 11.59 | +63.9% |
Navient Corporation's EPS grew from $2.61 (2015) to $1.18 (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 generated $459M FCF in 2024 (-35% vs 2021). Capital One Financial Corporation generated $17B FCF in 2024 (+46% vs 2021).
NAVI vs COF: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NAVI or COF a better buy right now?
Navient Corporation (NAVI) offers the better valuation at 7.4x trailing P/E (12.7x 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 — NAVI or COF?
On trailing P/E, Navient Corporation (NAVI) is the cheapest at 7.4x versus Capital One Financial Corporation at 16.9x. On forward P/E, Capital One Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 9.7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NAVI or COF?
Over the past 5 years, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) delivered a total return of +68.2%, compared to -8.0% for Navient Corporation (NAVI). 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 NAVI's +40.3%. 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 — NAVI or COF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Navient Corporation (NAVI) is the lower-risk stock at 1.08β versus Capital One Financial Corporation's 1.53β — meaning COF is approximately 42% more volatile than NAVI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 75% versus 18% for Navient Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — NAVI or COF?
Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) is the more profitable company, earning 8.8% net margin versus 3.1% for Navient Corporation — meaning it keeps 8.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: COF leads at 11.0% versus 4.1% for NAVI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — COF leads at 50.8%, 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 NAVI or COF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) trades at 9.7x forward P/E versus 12.7x for Navient Corporation — 3.0x 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 — NAVI or COF?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Navient Corporation (NAVI) offers the highest yield at 7.2%, versus 1.2% for Capital One Financial Corporation (COF).
08Is NAVI or COF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Navient Corporation (NAVI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.08), 7.2% 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 (NAVI: +40.3%, 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 NAVI 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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