COF
Capital One Financial Corporation
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$117.42B
5Y Perf.+184.2%
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Stock Comparison
COF vs SYF
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SYF
Synchrony Financial
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$25.65B
5Y Perf.+268.9%
COF vs SYF — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | COF | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Credit Services | Financial - Credit Services |
| Market Cap | $117.42B | $25.65B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $69.25B | $19.12B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.45B | $3.60B |
| Gross Margin | 47.3% | 51.0% |
| Operating Margin | 3.3% | 24.2% |
| Forward P/E | 9.6x | 8.0x |
| Total Debt | $51.00B | $15.18B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $57.43B | $14.97B |
COF vs SYF — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
COF
SYF
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Financi… (COF) | 100 | 284.2 | +184.2% |
| Synchrony Financial (SYF) | 100 | 368.9 | +268.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: COF vs SYF
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SYF leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Capital One Financial Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
COF
Capital One Financial Corporation
The Banking Pick
COF is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 28.4%, EPS growth -65.2%
- 203.6% 10Y total return vs SYF's 176.7%
- 28.4% NII/revenue growth vs SYF's -7.9%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
SYF
Synchrony Financial
The Banking Pick
SYF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.52, yield 1.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.52, Low D/E 90.6%, current ratio 0.21x
- Beta 1.52, yield 1.6%, current ratio 0.21x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COF | 28.4% NII/revenue growth vs SYF's -7.9% |
| Value | SYF | Lower P/E (8.0x vs 9.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | SYF | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs COF's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | SYF | Beta 1.52 vs COF's 1.58 |
| Dividends | COF | 1.7% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs SYF's 1.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SYF | +38.9% vs COF's +2.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SYF | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs COF's 0.4% |
COF vs SYF — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
Segment breakdown not available.
COF vs SYF — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSYFLAGGINGCOF
COFCapital One Financial…
0leads
SYFSynchrony Financial
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs COFMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SYF4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SYF5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SYF7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SYF5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SYF2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SYF leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
COF is the larger business by revenue, generating $69.3B annually — 3.6x SYF's $19.1B. SYF is the more profitable business, keeping 18.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to COF's 3.5%.
| Metric | COFCapital One Finan… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $69.3B | $19.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $7.5B | $4.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.5B | $3.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $27.7B | $9.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.3% | +51.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.3% | +24.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.5% | +18.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +37.7% | +51.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +22.1% | +20.1% |
SYF leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SYF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.9x trailing earnings, SYF trades at a 83% valuation discount to COF's 47.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SYF's 5.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than COF's 14.7x.
| Metric | COFCapital One Finan… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $117.4B | $25.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $111.0B | $25.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 47.07x | 7.94x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.61x | 7.96x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.24x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.72x | 5.04x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.70x | 1.34x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.90x | 1.57x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.49x | 2.60x |
SYF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SYF leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SYF delivers a 21.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $2 for COF. COF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.45x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SYF's 0.91x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SYF scores 7/9 vs COF's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | COFCapital One Finan… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.4% | +21.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.3% | +10.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.4% | +12.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.45x | 0.91x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$6.4B | $209M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $57.4B | $15.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $51.0B | $15.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.14x | 1.13x |
SYF leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SYF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SYF five years ago would be worth $17,600 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,182 for COF. Over the past 12 months, SYF leads with a +38.9% total return vs COF's +2.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SYF at 41.2% vs COF's 30.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | COFCapital One Finan… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -23.2% | -12.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +2.4% | +38.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +124.2% | +181.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +31.8% | +76.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +203.6% | +176.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +30.9% | +41.2% |
SYF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SYF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SYF is the less volatile stock with a 1.52 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than COF's 1.58 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SYF currently trades 83.1% from its 52-week high vs COF's 73.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | COFCapital One Finan… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.58x | 1.52x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $259.64 | $88.77 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $174.98 | $52.99 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +73.1% | +83.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.0 | 51.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.7M | 3.6M |
SYF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — COF and SYF each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates COF as "Buy" and SYF as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 40.9% upside for COF (target: $267) vs 22.7% for SYF (target: $91). For income investors, COF offers the higher dividend yield at 1.72% vs SYF's 1.62%.
| Metric | COFCapital One Finan… | SYFSynchrony Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $267.18 | $90.55 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 56 | 41 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.7% | +1.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.27 | $1.19 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.5% | +11.5% |
Evenly matched — COF and SYF each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
SYF leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallSynchrony Financial (SYF)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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COF vs SYF: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is COF or SYF a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) is the stronger pick with 28.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 9% for Synchrony Financial (SYF). Synchrony Financial (SYF) offers the better valuation at 7. 9x trailing P/E (8. 0x 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 — COF or SYF?
On trailing P/E, Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the cheapest at 7.
9x versus Capital One Financial Corporation at 47. 1x. On forward P/E, Synchrony Financial is actually cheaper at 8. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — COF or SYF?
Over the past 5 years, Synchrony Financial (SYF) delivered a total return of +76.
0%, compared to +31. 8% for Capital One Financial Corporation (COF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COF returned +203. 6% versus SYF's +176. 7%. 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 — COF or SYF?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
52β versus Capital One Financial Corporation's 1. 58β — meaning COF is approximately 4% more volatile than SYF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 45% versus 91% for Synchrony Financial — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — COF or SYF?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) is pulling ahead at 28.
4% versus -7. 9% for Synchrony Financial (SYF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Synchrony Financial grew EPS 8. 7% year-over-year, compared to -65. 2% for Capital One Financial Corporation. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — COF or SYF?
Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the more profitable company, earning 18.
6% net margin versus 3. 5% for Capital One Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 18. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SYF leads at 24. 2% versus 3. 3% for COF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SYF leads at 51. 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.
07Is COF or SYF more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Synchrony Financial (SYF) trades at 8.
0x forward P/E versus 9. 6x for Capital One Financial Corporation — 1. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COF: 40. 9% to $267. 18.
08Which pays a better dividend — COF or SYF?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) offers the highest yield at 1. 7%, versus 1. 6% for Synchrony Financial (SYF).
09Is COF or SYF better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Synchrony Financial (SYF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1.
6% yield, +176. 7% 10Y return). Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) carries a higher beta of 1. 58 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SYF: +176. 7%, COF: +203. 6%), 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.
10What are the main differences between COF and SYF?
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: COF is a mid-cap high-growth stock; SYF is a mid-cap deep-value stock. 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(COF: 28.4% · SYF: -7.9%)Net Margin>
%
(COF: 3.5% · SYF: 18.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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