Investors Buy High Volume of Call Options on Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF)

Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Monday. Stock investors acquired 63,136 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 368% compared to the average daily volume of 13,482 call options.

Insider Transactions at Capital One Financial

In related news, insider Frank G. LapradeIii sold 17,840 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.03, for a total value of $3,961,015.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 48,315 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,727,379.45. The trade was a 26.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Ravi Raghu sold 13,450 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $3,362,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 30,337 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,584,250. This trade represents a 30.72% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 298,895 shares of company stock worth $67,111,541. Company insiders own 1.26% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Capital One Financial

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Tompkins Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Capital One Financial by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 977 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $237,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Focus Financial Network Inc. increased its holdings in Capital One Financial by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 1,570 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $380,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. raised its position in Capital One Financial by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 4,540 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $965,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Capital One Financial by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 7,047 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,506,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the period. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Capital One Financial by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 1,407 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $299,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. 89.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

More Capital One Financial News

Here are the key news stories impacting Capital One Financial this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Large bullish options flow — investors bought ~63,136 call options Monday (≈+368% vs. typical call volume), signaling short‑term bullish positioning or hedging interest that can lift the stock if sentiment stays positive.
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst lift — JPMorgan raised its price target on COF from $237 to $256 (maintaining a “neutral” rating), implying near‑term upside vs. where the stock traded. JPMorgan raises price target
• Positive Sentiment: Media endorsement — Jim Cramer publicly called Capital One “absolutely terrific,” which can support retail buying and sentiment. Cramer praises Capital One
• Neutral Sentiment: Minor insider sale — the company’s general counsel sold $500k of stock; size is modest relative to market cap and could be routine diversification rather than a red flag. Insider selling report
• Negative Sentiment: $425M depositor settlement — Capital One agreed to pay $425 million over claims about its 360 Savings program; a federal judge granted preliminary approval to a revised settlement, keeping legal cash outflows and reputational risk top of mind. Settlement wins preliminary approval
• Negative Sentiment: Policy risk — renewed calls from political figures to cap credit‑card interest rates (e.g., a proposed 10% cap) have pressured card issuers’ stocks because such a cap would directly hit profit margins and card yields. Market headlines linking COF to this proposal drove selling pressure earlier in the session. WSJ coverage of proposed rate cap

Capital One Financial Price Performance

COF stock traded down $16.00 during trading on Monday, reaching $233.21. 15,052,226 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,451,966. The company has a market capitalization of $148.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 98.40, a P/E/G ratio of 0.57 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The company has a 50-day moving average of $230.47 and a two-hundred day moving average of $222.26. Capital One Financial has a twelve month low of $143.22 and a twelve month high of $259.64.

Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The financial services provider reported $5.95 earnings per share for the quarter. Capital One Financial had a net margin of 2.24% and a return on equity of 10.94%. The firm had revenue of $15.46 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities analysts predict that Capital One Financial will post 15.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Capital One Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 17th were issued a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 17th. This is a boost from Capital One Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. Capital One Financial’s payout ratio is currently 135.02%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on COF shares. Truist Financial raised their price target on Capital One Financial from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Evercore ISI reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $290.00 target price on shares of Capital One Financial in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of Capital One Financial from $260.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Capital One Financial from $265.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating and set a $280.00 target price on shares of Capital One Financial in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $278.20.

Capital One Financial Company Profile

Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) is a diversified bank holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia. The company’s core businesses include credit card lending, consumer and commercial banking, and auto finance. Capital One issues a wide range of credit card products for consumers and small businesses, and it operates deposit and digital banking services aimed at retail customers and small to midsize enterprises.

Products and services include credit and charge cards, checking and savings accounts (including the online-focused Capital One 360 platform), auto loans, and commercial lending solutions.