Capital One Financial Corporation (COF)vsEssential Utilities Inc (WTRG)
COF
Capital One Financial Corporation
$193.40
+1.96%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $120.45B
WTRG
Essential Utilities Inc
$37.54
+0.13%
UTILITIES · Cap: $10.77B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Capital One Financial Corporation generates 1367% more annual revenue ($36.31B vs $2.47B). WTRG leads profitability with a 24.9% profit margin vs 8.9%. COF appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.21. COF earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 65/100 (C+).
COF
Buy65
out of 100
Grade: C+
WTRG
Buy60
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Intrinsic value data unavailable for COF.
Margin of Safety
+47.4%
Fair Value
$71.13
Current Price
$37.54
$33.59 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 46.3% year-over-year
Large-cap with strong market position
Strong operational efficiency at 28.6%
Generating 6.7B in free cash flow
Strong operational efficiency at 32.4%
Keeps 25 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
15.7% revenue growth
Areas to Watch
ROE of 3.3% — below average capital efficiency
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Earnings declined 4.3%
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Earnings declined 30.0%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
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 0.21 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : WTRG
The strongest argument for WTRG centers on Operating Margin, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. Profitability is solid with margins at 24.9% and operating margin at 32.4%. Revenue growth of 15.7% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : COF
The primary concerns for COF are Return on Equity, P/E Ratio, EPS Growth. A P/E of 59.2x leaves little room for execution misses.
Bear Case : WTRG
The primary concerns for WTRG are Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio, EPS Growth.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
COF profiles as a hypergrowth stock while WTRG is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
COF carries more volatility with a beta of 1.05 — expect wider price swings.
COF is growing revenue faster at 46.3% — sustainability is the question.
COF generates stronger free cash flow (6.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COF scores higher overall (65/100 vs 60/100) and 46.3% revenue growth. WTRG offers better value entry with a 47.4% margin of safety. 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.
Essential Utilities Inc
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER · USA
Essential Utilities, Inc. operates regulated utilities that provide water, wastewater, or natural gas services in the United States. The company is headquartered in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
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