Citigroup Inc. (C)vsCapital One Financial Corporation (COF)
C
Citigroup Inc.
$125.55
-2.74%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $225.82B
COF
Capital One Financial Corporation
$189.48
-1.61%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $122.14B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Citigroup Inc. generates 117% more annual revenue ($78.73B vs $36.31B). C leads profitability with a 20.4% profit margin vs 8.9%. COF appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.20. C earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 82/100 (A-).
C
Exceptional Buy82
out of 100
Grade: A-
COF
Buy65
out of 100
Grade: C+
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 34.1%
Earnings expanding 56.1% YoY
Keeps 20 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Revenue surging 46.3% year-over-year
Large-cap with strong market position
Strong operational efficiency at 28.6%
Generating 5.5B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
ROE of 7.7% — below average capital efficiency
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
ROE of 3.3% — below average capital efficiency
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Earnings declined 4.3%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : C
The strongest argument for C centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 20.4% and operating margin at 34.1%. Revenue growth of 16.9% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : COF
The strongest argument for COF centers on PEG Ratio, Price/Book, Revenue Growth. Revenue growth of 46.3% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 0.20 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : C
The primary concerns for C are Return on Equity, Free Cash Flow.
Bear Case : COF
The primary concerns for COF are Return on Equity, P/E Ratio, EPS Growth. A P/E of 59.3x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
C profiles as a growth stock while COF is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.
C carries more volatility with a beta of 1.12 — expect wider price swings.
COF is growing revenue faster at 46.3% — sustainability is the question.
COF generates stronger free cash flow (5.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
C scores higher overall (82/100 vs 65/100), backed by strong 20.4% margins and 16.9% revenue growth. Both earn "Exceptional Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Citigroup Inc.
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - DIVERSIFIED · USA
Citigroup Inc. is an American multinational investment bank and financial services corporation headquartered in New York City. The company was formed by the merger of banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate Travelers Group in 1998; Travelers was subsequently spun off from the company in 2002. Citigroup owns Citicorp, the holding company for Citibank, as well as several international subsidiaries. Citigroup is incorporated in Delaware.
Capital One Financial Corporation
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA
Capital One Financial Corporation is an American bank holding company specializing in credit cards, auto loans, banking, and savings accounts, headquartered in McLean, Virginia with operations primarily in the United States.
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