Q: Capital One just announced that it will acquire the fintech company Brex for $5.15 billion. My understanding is that this price is significantly lower than Brex’s valuation about a year ago.
1. Does this acquisition make COF shares more or less attractive as a buy right now?
2. How would you rate COF following this announcement and after it missed expectations in its January 23 earnings report?
3. What do you see as the key risks to the stock beyond political noise?
4. If you would rate COF a buy after all the recent updates, your rationale please?
5. How do you view COF’s business model and competitive moat relative to peers, such as American Express (AXP)?
6. What do you have for *current* (post earnings. release today) for forward P/E and PEG? Debt levesl if acquisition goes through ?

Your thoughts on COF in light of the latest news would be much appreciated, thank you. :ao: .

Q: Visa’s business model has come under attack this year by alternate digital payment systems, including coins. And this morning KLARNA which goes public, and its Swedish CEO confidently asserted it will take business away from credit card companies. Swedes are not given to bragging so I take KLAR seriously. I am tempted to sell Visa and invest the proceeds in COF or AXP, whom I see as credit card companies that do more than collect tolls.

Am I wrong in thinking this? Is Visa management’s past record such that they are nimble enough , tech-savvy enough to deal with recent challenges?

Q: Good afternoon 5i,

I looked back and the last question on this company was late May. As we come to the close of July, the "noise" on this company seems to be picking up, with a fair number of "experts" in the various media suggesting it is one to hold onto as the purchase of Discover evolves and Capital One starts taking advantage of the synergies. The noise being generated is enough to get me curious.

I would appreciate your opinion on this company as a buy at current prices, with the idea of holding in an RRSP and switching out of one of my Canadian Financials in an effort to diversify. If not a buy now, is there a price where it is, or is this company one to stay back from?

Thanks for your insights.

Dave