Capital One Trading Volume Plummets 46.97% to 135th Position Amid Regulatory Scrutiny of Discover Acquisition

On April 1, 2025, Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) experienced a significant decline in trading volume, with a total of 5.77 billion shares traded, marking a 46.97% decrease from the previous day. This placed Capital One at the 135th position in terms of trading volume among all stocks listed on the market. The stock price of Capital One Financial Corporation (COF) decreased by 0.60%.

The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly leaning toward approving Capital One's $35.3 billion acquisition of Discover, despite initial antitrust concerns. The DOJ has shifted its focus to how the merger would potentially harm consumers with no credit history but may lack a strong case to challenge the deal in court on these grounds. Capital One announced the merger in February 2024, aiming to create a global payments platform. Shareholders overwhelmingly approved the deal, which still requires regulatory clearance from the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

However, state-level opposition remains. New York Attorney General Letitia James has raised concerns about market concentration, particularly in the subprime sector, where the combined company would hold a 30 percent share. This regulatory scrutiny and potential opposition could impact the timeline and outcome of the merger, adding uncertainty to Capital One's strategic plans. Investors are closely monitoring these developments, as the successful completion of the acquisition could significantly enhance Capital One's market position and financial performance.