Capital One Just Flashed a Buy Signal—New Highs Could Be Next

Core Viewpoint - Capital One Financial Corp. has delivered a strong earnings report, indicating a favorable time for investors to consider buying the stock [3][4]. Financial Performance - The company reported revenue of $15.36 billion, exceeding expectations of $15.06 billion and representing a 23% increase from the previous quarter [5]. - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $5.95, surpassing estimates of $4.25 and showing an 8.5% increase from the prior quarter [5]. - The net interest margin increased to 8.36%, up approximately 75 basis points, with about 45 basis points attributed to the merger with Discover [5]. Shareholder Returns - Capital One announced a new $16 billion share repurchase program, which is nearly 12% of the company's current market cap, replacing the previous program from April 2022 [6]. - The quarterly dividend was increased by 33%, from $0.60 to $0.80 per share, effective with the next distribution [7]. Credit Loss Provisions - The provision for credit losses was reported at $2.71 billion, higher than the $2.48 billion from the same quarter last year, but still smaller than expected [9]. - The net charge-off ratio decreased to 3.16%, down from 3.27% in the same quarter last year [9]. Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - COF stock rose by 3.39% during midday trading following the earnings news, nearing its all-time high [4]. - The stock is currently trading near the top of its Bollinger band with a relative strength index (RSI) of approximately 58, indicating a mildly bullish setup [8]. - The 12-month stock price forecast is set at $260.00, suggesting a 17.39% upside based on 24 analyst ratings [12]. Market Sentiment - Analysts have raised their price targets for Capital One, with most targets above the consensus price of $258.89 [14]. - Despite a Moderate Buy rating, some top-rated analysts believe there are better investment opportunities available [15].