Merger Approval - The merger between Capital One and Discover Financial Services has received regulatory approval, moving the $35 billion deal closer to completion [1][3] - The Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have signed off on the deal, which was initially announced in February 2024 [1][3] Regulatory Actions - The Federal Reserve imposed a $100 million fine on Discover for overcharging certain interchange fees from 2007 to 2023, which Discover has since terminated and is repaying affected customers [1][2] - Capital One has committed to comply with the Federal Reserve's actions against Discover as a condition of the merger approval [3] Industry Context - The merger combines two of the largest non-bank credit card companies, positioning them to compete more effectively against the Visa-Mastercard duopoly [4][6] - The deal will enhance Discover's payment network by providing a significant credit card partner, potentially revitalizing its competitive stance in the market [5][6] - Both companies primarily serve customers seeking cash back or modest travel rewards, indicating a similar target demographic [5][7]

The pending merger between Capital One and Discover Financial services received approval from several regulators on Friday, bringing the $35bn tie-up closer to completion.The Federal Reserve and the office of the comptroller of the currency (OCC) signed off on the deal, which was first announced in February 2024.The Federal Reserve Board said it entered into a consent order with Discover and assessed a fine of $100m for overcharging certain interchange fees from 2007 through 2023. Discover has since termina ...

Sign at the entrance to a Capital One bank branch in Manhattan.Capital One Financial's application to acquire Discover Financial Services in a $35.3 billion all-stock deal has officially been approved by the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the regulators announced on Friday."The Board evaluated the application under the statutory factors it is required to consider, including the financial and managerial resources of the companies, the convenience and needs of the communiti ...

In its upcoming report, Capital One (COF) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $3.75 per share, reflecting an increase of 16.8% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $10.03 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.7%.Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been adjusted downward by 1.7% to its current level. This demonstrates the covering analysts' collective reassessment of their initial projections durin ...

Capital One (COF) is slated to report first-quarter 2025 results on April 22, after market close. Its quarterly earnings and revenues are expected to have witnessed an increase on a year-over-year basis.In the last reported quarter, COF’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The results gained from higher net interest income (NII) and non-interest income, and a rise in loans and deposits. Also, provisions declined during the quarter. However, the increase in expenses was the undermining factor.C ...

The market expects Capital One (COF) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended March 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released o ...

Capital One (COF) shares ended the last trading session 14.8% higher at $174.91. The jump came on an impressive volume with a higher-than-average number of shares changing hands in the session. This compares to the stock's 7.9% loss over the past four weeks.Capital One stock rallied, driven by a massive jump in the broad markets. The jump was attributable to President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 90-day tariff pause for the non-retaliating nations. This cheered the investors, driving the COF stock highe ...

Capital One Financial (COF 14.94%) is down by 30% from its 2025 high, as of this writing, which it reached in mid-February. And the stock is down for some good reasons.While it might not seem like a victim of tariffs -- and it isn't, at least not directly -- the tariff plans could cause inflation and are making a recession far more likely. This could hurt consumer loan demand and lead to people having trouble paying their bills, which would create higher loan-loss rates for banks. With a high concentration ...

Core Viewpoint - A $35 billion merger between Capital One and Discover has cleared a significant regulatory hurdle, with the Justice Department indicating no reasons to block the deal, potentially reshaping the American credit card industry [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Approval - A memo from the Justice Department was sent to the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which will ultimately need to approve the acquisition [2]. - The merger would result in Capital One acquiring approximately 300 million credit card holders, adding to its existing base of over 100 million customers, making it the largest credit card issuer in the U.S. by balances [2]. Group 2: Market Impact - Approval of the merger could diminish the dominance of Visa and Mastercard in consumer credit card payments, potentially leading to a realignment in the credit card industry [3]. - Capital One may attract new customers by offering cash back debit cards that Discover currently provides, which appeal to lower-income consumers [4]. Group 3: Criticism and Concerns - Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, argue that the merger could lead to increased fees and credit costs for consumers, with concerns that it would enhance Capital One's share of the non-prime credit card market [5]. - The Biden administration's Justice Department had previously expressed skepticism about the merger, citing potential hindrances to competition and impacts on first-time credit card holders [7][8]. Group 4: Historical Context - The merger was initially announced as an all-stock transaction valued at $35.3 billion, and it may have faced more resistance under the Biden administration, which had a record of blocking mergers [9]. - The Justice Department's decision not to challenge the Capital One merger may suggest a shift towards a more lenient approach compared to the previous administration [9].

Core Viewpoint - The Justice Department has indicated it lacks sufficient evidence to block the merger between Capital One and Discover, allowing the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to proceed with their approval process [1][2]. Group 1: Merger Details - Capital One announced its planned acquisition of Discover in February 2024, aiming to create a global payments platform with 70 million merchant acceptance points across more than 200 countries and territories [4]. - The merger received approval from the Office of the Delaware State Bank Commissioner in December, marking a significant step toward completion [5]. - In February, over 99% of shareholders from both companies voted in favor of the merger, with expectations for the transaction to close early this year, pending regulatory approvals [6]. Group 2: Regulatory Considerations - The Justice Department's antitrust division, led by Gail Slater, determined there was insufficient evidence to challenge the merger, despite earlier concerns from Biden administration officials regarding potential competitive harm [2][3]. - The review process under the Biden administration considered various factors beyond typical competitive assessments, including impacts on customer segments, fees, interest rates, bank locations, product variety, network effects, interoperability, and customer service [3].