Bank of America (BAC) vs Capital One Financial (COF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Bank of America (BAC) has outperformed Capital One Financial (COF) over the past year, gaining 6.4% versus a loss of 8.3%. Over five years, COF leads with a +16.3% price change compared with +15.4% for BAC. Bank of America is the larger company by market cap ($374.25 billion vs $120.19 billion), about 3.1 times the size, while Capital One Financial is growing revenue faster (+36.6% vs +6.8%).
On valuation, Capital One Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (8.2x vs 10.2x for Bank of America). Bank of America offers the higher dividend yield (2.09% vs 1.53%). Bank of America converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 27.0% versus 4.6%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BAC | COF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $53.52 | $195.91 |
| Market cap | $374.25B | $120.19B |
| 1-day change | -1.05% | +0.05% |
| YTD return | -2.69% | -19.17% |
| 1-year return | +6.42% | -8.32% |
| 5-year return | +15.42% | +16.35% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.36 | 12.58 |
| Forward P/E | 10.19 | 8.24 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.33 | $15.57 |
| Dividend yield | 2.09% | 1.53% |
| Annual dividend | $1.12 | $3.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $113.10B | $53.43B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.84% | +36.62% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $30.51B | $2.45B |
| Net margin | 26.98% | 4.59% |
| 52-week high | $65.23 | $259.64 |
| 52-week low | $46.12 | $174.24 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.95% | -24.55% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.80% | +31.28% |
| Average volume | 33.36M | 3.70M |
| Shares outstanding | 6.99B | 613.48M |
| Employees | 211,000 | 78,400 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Major Banks | Major Banks |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Bank of America is about 3.1 times larger than Capital One Financial by market value ($374.25B vs $120.19B).
- BAC has outperformed COF by 14.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Bank of America is more profitable, keeping 27.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 4.6 cents for Capital One Financial.
- Capital One Financial grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+36.62% vs +6.84%).
About Bank of America
BAC stock →Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets.
Finance · Major Banks · 211,000 employees
About Capital One Financial
COF stock →Capital One Financial Corporation operates as the financial services holding company for the Capital One, National Association, which engages in the provision of various financial products and services in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Credit Card, Consumer Banking, and Commercial Banking.
Finance · Major Banks · 78,400 employees
BAC vs COF FAQ
Which is bigger, Bank of America or Capital One Financial?
Bank of America (BAC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $374.25B compared with $120.19B for Capital One Financial (COF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BAC or COF?
BAC returned +6.42% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.32% for COF (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BAC or COF?
BAC has the lower trailing P/E at 12.4, versus 12.6 for COF. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Bank of America or Capital One Financial?
Bank of America has the higher yield at 2.09%, compared with 1.53% for Capital One Financial.
Are Bank of America and Capital One Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.