** Citi Research raises its PT on consumer lender Capital One Financial COF.N to $225 from $190, a 24.5% upside to stock's last close
** Brokerage says it continues to view COF's $35.3 bln acquisition of credit card issuer Discover Financial Services DFS.N as a way to unlock the long-awaited payoff, following years of significant investment spend
** Citi believes the market is underestimating COF's earnings potential after deal close
** COF core trends are strong in terms of well-positioned balance sheet for lower rate, strong fee growth and deceleration of growth in delinquencies
** As of last close, COF shares up 37.8% YTD
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))
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