COF Stock Tanks 5.9% Post Discover Merger: A Good Buying Opportunity?

Core Viewpoint - The acquisition of Discover Financial Services by Capital One Financial Corporation is expected to reshape the credit card industry, despite a recent decline in Capital One's stock price since the deal's completion [1][31]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition deal, valued at $35 billion, allows Discover Financial shareholders to receive 1.0192 Capital One shares for each Discover share, positioning Capital One to capture a larger market share in card spending and control Discover's payments network [2][3]. - The merger is projected to deliver significant financial benefits, including $1.5 billion in expense synergies and $1.2 billion in network synergies by 2027, leading to over 15% accretion to adjusted non-GAAP EPS by that year [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Capital One has demonstrated a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% in net interest income (NII) over the past five years, with NIM expanding to 6.88% in 2024 from 6.63% in 2023 [6]. - Despite a slight revenue decline in 2020, the company has achieved a five-year CAGR of 6.5% in revenues and 4.3% in net loans held for investment [7]. Group 3: Market Position and Strategy - The rising demand for credit card loans and online banking is expected to support both NII and NIM, with Capital One continuing to offer Discover-branded credit card products [10][11]. - The "Digital First" banking model of Capital One, enhanced by Discover's national direct savings bank, will strengthen its competitive position against larger banks [12]. Group 4: Balance Sheet and Capital Management - As of March 31, 2025, Capital One reported total debt of $41.8 billion and cash and cash equivalents of $48.6 billion, maintaining investment-grade long-term senior debt ratings [15][16]. - The company has a common equity tier 1 ratio of 13.6% and a total capital ratio of 17%, both exceeding regulatory requirements, indicating a strong capital position [17]. Group 5: Dividend and Share Repurchase - Capital One has maintained a dividend of 60 cents per share since a 50% increase in July 2021, with a dividend payout ratio of 16% [19]. - The company has approximately $3.88 billion available for share repurchase as of March 31, 2025 [22]. Group 6: Analyst Sentiment and Stock Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has decreased by 3.1% to $14.77, while the estimate for 2026 has increased by 1.4% to $18.49 per share [24]. - Capital One's stock has outperformed peers and the broader market, rising 35.5% over the past year [27][31].