Compare Stocks › COF vs MS
Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)
COF
Capital One Financial Corporation
$179.73
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55
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.
MS
- ★Gross margin of 87.1% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $6.65 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
- ★PEG ratio of 0.75 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.
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.
MS
- ⚠High leverage (4.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.29 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
- ⚠7 insider sales totaling $25.2M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →COF
MS
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
N/A
N/A
FCF Yield
N/A
53.49
Trailing P/E
15.53
7.31
Forward P/E
12.89
Quality & Moat
11.02%
ROIC
3.43%
N/A
ROE
14.42%
0.00%
Gross Margin
87.06%
2.41
PEG Ratio
0.75
Balance Sheet Safety
N/A
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
1.78%
Dividend Yield
2.52%
COF: 2Ties: 1MS: 4
COFMS
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.
MS
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
MS
$6.65
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$20.84B
Δ Market Cap
+$138.59B
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
MS
45.5% Margin of Safety
Price is 45.5% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $158.55
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $290.92
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →COF
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
MS
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
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.
MS
32/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
No durable moat detected, though revenue predictability 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.
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.
MS
-2.09
Possible 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.
MS
Insiders 24.0%Institutions 62.7%Retail & Other 13.3%
No. of Institutional Holders3,182
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
MS
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $5,630
PETERSON DOUGLAS L
Director
$5,630
@ $156.39 · 2025-10-17
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
MS
7
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $62.45M
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$6.02M
@ $182.61 · 2026-01-30
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$3.97M
@ $184.00 · 2026-01-20
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.44M
@ $183.45 · 2026-01-20
YESHAYA SHARON
Chief Financial Officer
$2.94M
@ $185.77 · 2026-01-20
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.55M
@ $182.08 · 2026-01-20
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$3.69M
@ $184.55 · 2026-01-20
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$5.57M
@ $183.62 · 2026-01-20
PICK EDWARD N.
Chief Executive Officer
$16.43M
@ $164.34 · 2025-10-31
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.69M
@ $141.12 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.09M
@ $141.13 · 2025-07-17
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$2.81M
@ $140.30 · 2025-07-17
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.53M
@ $140.62 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$3.70M
@ $127.37 · 2025-05-12
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$95,459
@ $119.32 · 2025-05-02
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.80M
@ $120.00 · 2025-05-02
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.12M
@ $111.65 · 2025-04-15
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.15M
@ $138.06 · 2025-01-22
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.78M
@ $136.20 · 2025-01-21
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$5.00M
@ $136.61 · 2025-01-21
AKRAM RAJA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.38M
@ $136.01 · 2025-01-21
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.52M
@ $136.92 · 2025-01-21
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.20M
@ $136.43 · 2025-01-21
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$368,375
@ $105.25 · 2024-07-26
AKRAM RAJA
Officer
$797,764
@ $106.37 · 2024-07-18
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.26M
@ $106.54 · 2024-07-17
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$106,621
@ $106.62 · 2024-07-17
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$692,663
@ $99.61 · 2024-05-14
GORMAN JAMES P
Officer and Director
$9.02M
@ $90.21 · 2024-04-18
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.01M
@ $90.09 · 2024-04-17
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.
MS
😐Neutral(48/100)
"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)
MS
⚪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 (48)