Compare Stocks › COF vs MA
Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA)
COF
Capital One Financial Corporation
$179.73
VS
MA
Mastercard Incorporated
$491.14
Rewards
COF
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 26.6% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $14.50 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
MA
- ★Mastercard Incorporated has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★Gross margin of 100.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Mastercard Incorporated scores 99/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
Risks
COF
- ⚠Gross margin of 0.0% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
- ⚠Share count has increased by 64% over the past 4 years, diluting existing shareholders.
- ⚠Buybacks have been poorly timed — 3 out of 4 years involved repurchases at relatively expensive valuations.
MA
- ⚠High leverage (2.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Insiders have sold $4.5M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →COF
MA
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$16.27B
N/A
FCF Yield
3.71%
53.49
Trailing P/E
29.77
7.31
Forward P/E
21.70
Quality & Moat
11.02%
ROIC
54.23%
N/A
ROE
193.24%
0.00%
Gross Margin
100.00%
2.41
PEG Ratio
1.23
Balance Sheet Safety
N/A
Debt / Equity
2.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.43
1.78%
Dividend Yield
0.71%
COF: 2Ties: 1MA: 4
COFMA
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →COF
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
MA
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →COF
$14.50
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$8.00B
Δ Market Cap
+$116.05B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MA
$5.62
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$31.68B
Δ Market Cap
+$177.96B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →COF
5.8% Margin of Safety
Price is 5.8% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $179.73
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $190.88
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MA
12.0% Margin of Safety
Price is 12.0% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $491.14
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $558.06
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →COF
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
MA
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $491?
+13.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +12.0%
The market implies +13.2% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.
Standard FCF implies +12.0%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →COF
30/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
No durable moat detected, though reinvestment efficiency shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
MA
99/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →COF
-2.27
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
MA
-2.53
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →COF
Insiders 1.9%Institutions 88.6%Retail & Other 9.6%
No. of Institutional Holders2,706
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
MA
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 91.1%Retail & Other 8.3%
No. of Institutional Holders4,864
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →COF
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $1,972
ZAMSKY MICHAEL
Officer
$1,972
@ $197.20 · 2025-05-16
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MA
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →COF
12
Sells (3M)
28
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $85.26M
DEAN LIA
Officer
$627,244
@ $191.00 · 2026-03-02
KARAM CELIA EDWARDS
Officer
$312,476
@ $191.00 · 2026-03-02
MOUADEB MARK DANIEL
Officer
$334,530
@ $210.00 · 2026-02-26
MOUADEB MARK DANIEL
Officer
$305,755
@ $202.62 · 2026-02-25
HANSON JASON P
Officer
$764,445
@ $205.00 · 2026-02-25
BLINDE NEAL A
Officer
$7.27M
@ $190.51 · 2026-02-24
DEAN LIA
Officer
$734,565
@ $223.68 · 2026-02-04
KARAM CELIA EDWARDS
Officer
$460,071
@ $218.25 · 2026-02-02
COOPER MATTHEW W.
General Counsel
$500,000
@ $250.00 · 2026-01-06
RAGHU RAVI
Officer
$3.36M
@ $250.00 · 2026-01-05
KARAM CELIA EDWARDS
Officer
$504,338
@ $244.35 · 2026-01-02
DEAN LIA
Officer
$772,879
@ $244.35 · 2026-01-02
COOPER MATTHEW W.
General Counsel
$443,080
@ $221.54 · 2025-12-02
KARAM CELIA EDWARDS
Officer
$640,488
@ $218.15 · 2025-12-01
DEAN LIA
Officer
$713,132
@ $218.15 · 2025-12-01
LAPRADE FRANK G. III
Officer
$3.96M
@ $222.03 · 2025-11-13
BLINDE NEAL A
Officer
$9.58M
@ $221.83 · 2025-11-06
COOPER MATTHEW W.
General Counsel
$438,820
@ $219.41 · 2025-11-04
FAIRBANK RICHARD D
Chief Executive Officer
$22.84M
@ $220.68 · 2025-11-04
FAIRBANK RICHARD D
Chief Executive Officer
$23.35M
@ $225.68 · 2025-10-27
COOPER MATTHEW W.
General Counsel
$423,980
@ $211.99 · 2025-10-02
COOPER MATTHEW W.
General Counsel
$446,800
@ $223.40 · 2025-09-02
GOLDEN TIMOTHY P.
Officer
$44,590
@ $215.41 · 2025-08-19
GOLDEN TIMOTHY P.
Officer
$727,989
@ $210.28 · 2025-08-12
ZAMSKY MICHAEL
Officer
$1.16M
@ $209.59 · 2025-08-04
ALEXANDER ROBERT M.
Chief Technology Officer
$2.30M
@ $227.86 · 2025-07-23
ZAMSKY MICHAEL
Officer
$1.91M
@ $199.40 · 2025-05-12
HACKETT ANN FRITZ
Director
$329,445
@ $198.70 · 2025-05-12
ZAMSKY MICHAEL
Officer
$2.01M
@ $190.26 · 2024-11-12
YOUNG ANDREW M
Chief Financial Officer
$1.08M
@ $183.51 · 2024-11-08
WEST KARA
Officer
$133,189
@ $184.73 · 2024-11-07
ALEXANDER ROBERT M.
Chief Technology Officer
$3.11M
@ $187.12 · 2024-11-07
RAGHU RAVI
Officer
$4.09M
@ $165.00 · 2024-11-05
MOUADEB MARK DANIEL
Officer
$323,766
@ $162.37 · 2024-11-05
LAPRADE FRANK G. III
Officer
$2.52M
@ $160.00 · 2024-10-17
BORGMANN KEVIN S
Officer
$8.18M
@ $132.86 · 2024-08-06
ALEXANDER ROBERT M.
Chief Technology Officer
$4.61M
@ $150.00 · 2024-07-17
KARAM CELIA EDWARDS
Officer
$2.42M
@ $142.88 · 2024-05-08
WEST KARA
Officer
$171,946
@ $141.87 · 2024-05-02
DEAN LIA
Officer
$2.21M
@ $143.00 · 2024-05-01
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MA
1
Sells (3M)
19
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $64.44M
LING HAI
Officer
$4.48M
@ $499.20 · 2026-02-24
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$10.20M
@ $591.00 · 2025-09-02
LING HAI
Officer
$2.69M
@ $600.00 · 2025-08-22
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$10.46M
@ $586.89 · 2025-08-19
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$3.83M
@ $566.46 · 2025-08-05
GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
Director
$178,049
@ $570.67 · 2025-07-07
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$536,480
@ $560.00 · 2025-06-30
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$601,447
@ $546.77 · 2025-06-27
GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
Director
$173,910
@ $561.00 · 2025-06-24
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$536,480
@ $560.00 · 2025-06-24
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$508,474
@ $535.80 · 2025-06-20
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$5.02M
@ $532.97 · 2025-06-20
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$1.76M
@ $561.78 · 2025-06-16
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$549,373
@ $572.86 · 2025-06-13
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$5.55M
@ $588.18 · 2025-06-12
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$8.22M
@ $585.05 · 2025-06-05
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$218,223
@ $577.31 · 2025-05-15
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$257,535
@ $572.30 · 2025-05-12
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$8.68M
@ $550.16 · 2025-03-26
MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
Officer
$3.81M
@ $534.68 · 2025-03-19
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$6.12M
@ $556.14 · 2025-03-05
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$9.78M
@ $553.76 · 2025-03-05
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$6.19M
@ $562.72 · 2025-02-26
MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
Officer
$6.18M
@ $564.99 · 2025-02-18
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$7.97M
@ $565.00 · 2025-02-18
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$10.17M
@ $564.95 · 2025-02-18
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.36M
@ $500.44 · 2024-11-01
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.30M
@ $491.03 · 2024-09-27
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.29M
@ $489.86 · 2024-09-20
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$550,000
@ $500.00 · 2024-09-17
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.31M
@ $493.10 · 2024-09-13
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$528,000
@ $480.00 · 2024-08-29
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$42.19M
@ $468.80 · 2024-08-22
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$42.03M
@ $467.02 · 2024-08-21
LING HAI
Officer
$1.36M
@ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$3.16M
@ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$6.11M
@ $455.00 · 2024-08-05
LING HAI
Officer
$1.35M
@ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$512,006
@ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$4.07M
@ $451.06 · 2024-06-20
MURPHY TIMOTHY H
Officer
$2.34M
@ $446.24 · 2024-06-17
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$47.72M
@ $445.98 · 2024-06-17
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$49.51M
@ $442.03 · 2024-06-13
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$3.11M
@ $449.66 · 2024-06-12
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$50.61M
@ $447.85 · 2024-06-10
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$3.71M
@ $443.93 · 2024-06-05
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$4.04M
@ $447.28 · 2024-06-05
MURPHY TIMOTHY H
Officer
$2.31M
@ $441.57 · 2024-06-03
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →COF
😨Fear(34/100)
"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
MA
😐Neutral(42/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →COF
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (34)
MA
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (42)