Capital One Financial Corporation (COF)vsWaters Corporation (WAT)
COF
Capital One Financial Corporation
$189.48
-1.61%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $122.14B
WAT
Waters Corporation
$355.13
+1.32%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $34.41B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Capital One Financial Corporation generates 863% more annual revenue ($36.31B vs $3.77B). WAT leads profitability with a 11.9% profit margin vs 8.9%. COF appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.20. COF earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 65/100 (C+).
COF
Buy65
out of 100
Grade: C+
WAT
Buy52
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Intrinsic value data unavailable for COF.
Margin of Safety
-63.1%
Fair Value
$201.83
Current Price
$355.13
$153.30 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
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
Revenue surging 91.5% year-over-year
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Areas to Watch
ROE of 3.3% — below average capital efficiency
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Earnings declined 4.3%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Trading at 8.3x book value
ROE of 5.2% — below average capital efficiency
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull 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.
Bull Case : WAT
The strongest argument for WAT centers on Revenue Growth, Altman Z-Score. Revenue growth of 91.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
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.
Bear Case : WAT
The primary concerns for WAT are PEG Ratio, Price/Book, Return on Equity. A P/E of 44.6x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COF profiles as a hypergrowth stock while WAT is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
WAT carries more volatility with a beta of 1.14 — expect wider price swings.
WAT is growing revenue faster at 91.5% — sustainability is the question.
COF generates stronger free cash flow (5.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COF scores higher overall (65/100 vs 52/100) and 46.3% revenue growth. Both earn "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.
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.
Waters Corporation
HEALTHCARE · DIAGNOSTICS & RESEARCH · USA
Waters Corporation is a publicly traded Analytical Laboratory instrument and software company headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts.
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