Capital One Financial Corporation (COF)vsHCA Holdings Inc (HCA)
COF
Capital One Financial Corporation
$185.23
+0.32%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $112.86B
HCA
HCA Holdings Inc
$484.02
-0.35%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $108.62B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
HCA Holdings Inc generates 131% more annual revenue ($75.60B vs $32.78B). HCA leads profitability with a 9.0% profit margin vs 7.5%. COF appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.19. COF earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 75/100 (B+).
COF
Strong Buy75
out of 100
Grade: B+
HCA
Strong Buy69
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-50.8%
Fair Value
$142.20
Current Price
$185.23
$43.03 premium
Margin of Safety
+59.9%
Fair Value
$1326.31
Current Price
$484.02
$842.29 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Growing faster than its price suggests
Reasonable price relative to book value
Revenue surging 51.6% year-over-year
Large-cap with strong market position
Strong operational efficiency at 22.9%
Earnings expanding 22.2% YoY
Every $100 of equity generates 136 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Large-cap with strong market position
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Earnings expanding 44.5% YoY
Areas to Watch
ROE of 2.4% — below average capital efficiency
7.5% margin — thin
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Distress zone — elevated risk
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : COF
The strongest argument for COF centers on PEG Ratio, Price/Book, Revenue Growth. Revenue growth of 51.6% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 0.19 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : HCA
The strongest argument for HCA centers on Return on Equity, Debt/Equity, Market Cap. PEG of 1.35 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : COF
The primary concerns for COF are Return on Equity, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 54.0x leaves little room for execution misses.
Bear Case : HCA
The primary concerns for HCA are Altman Z-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COF profiles as a hypergrowth stock while HCA is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
HCA carries more volatility with a beta of 1.34 — expect wider price swings.
COF is growing revenue faster at 51.6% — sustainability is the question.
COF generates stronger free cash flow (6.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COF scores higher overall (75/100 vs 69/100) and 51.6% revenue growth. HCA offers better value entry with a 59.9% margin of safety. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Strong 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.
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.
HCA Holdings Inc
HEALTHCARE · MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES · USA
HCA Healthcare is an American for-profit operator of health care facilities that was founded in 1968. It is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and, as of May 2020, owns and operates 186 hospitals and approximately 2,000 sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician clinics in 21 states and the United Kingdom.
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