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6 Reasons to Add Cullen/Frost (CFR) to Your Portfolio Now
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With impressive revenue growth and growing deposit and loan balances, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR - Free Report) appears a promising buying opportunity now. Further, the recent interest rate hike is anticipated to bring further stability to top-line generation.
Though the U.S. banks have been battling with regulatory and litigation issues, leading to elevated legal and compliance costs; a sharper focus on reducing needless expenses by reorganizing business and improving revenues is boosting the bottom line. This also paves a steadier growth path for the banks.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to add stocks with robust fundamentals and long-term growth opportunities to your portfolio, at present.
6 Reasons Why Cullen/Frost is a Must Buy
Revenue Growth: Organic growth remains a key strength at Cullen/Frost, as reflected by its revenue growth story. Revenues grew at a CAGR of 5.1%, over the last five years, (2011–2015), with the trend continuing in the first nine months of 2016.
The company’s projected sales growth (F1/F0) of 11.5% (as against the nil industry average) indicates constant upward momentum in revenues.
Strong Leverage: Cullen/Frost’s debt/equity ratio is valued at 0.08 compared to the industry average of 0.63, indicating lower debt burden relative to the industry. It highlights the financial stability of the company even in an unstable economic environment.
Favorable Zacks Rank: Cullen/Frost currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This has been driven by the upward estimate revisions, for the last 30 days. For 2016, the Zacks Consensus Estimate moved up slightly to $4.64, while for 2017, it inched up 1.6% to $4.93.
Steady Capital Deployment: Cullen/Frost manages its capital levels efficiently. In Apr 2016, the company hiked its quarterly stock dividend by 1.9%. Notably, the company has raised dividends annually for 23 consecutive years. Additionally, in Oct 2016, its board of directors approved a $100-million common stock repurchase program. This reflects the company’s commitment to return value to its shareholders.
Stock is Undervalued: Cullen/Frost has a P/E ratio and P/B ratio of 17.9x and 1.84x, compared to the S&P 500 average of 18.69x and 3.07x, respectively. Based on these ratios, the stock seems undervalued.
Share Price Movement: Cullen/Frost’s shares gained 54.4% over the past one year, compared with the 48.2% growth in the Zacks categorized Southwest Banks industry.
Stocks to Consider
Other stocks in the finance space worth considering include The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS - Free Report) , Zions Bancorporation (ZION - Free Report) and Comerica Incorporated (CMA - Free Report) .
Goldman has witnessed an upward earnings estimate revision of 2.1%, for 2016, for the past 30 days. Its share price has risen 37.5% over the last one-year period. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Comerica also boasts a Zacks Rank #1. Its Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 moved slightly upward, over the last 30 days. Its share price has surged 66.2% over the last one-year period.
Zions carries a Zacks Rank #2. It has recorded an upward earnings estimate revision of 3.8% for 2016, over the past 90 days. Over the last one-year period, its share price is up 62.9%.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2017
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2017?
Who wouldn't? As of early December, the 2016 Top 10 produced 5 double-digit winners including oil and natural gas giant Pioneer Natural Resources which racked up a stellar +50% gain. The new list is painstakingly hand-picked from 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Be among the very first to see it>>
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6 Reasons to Add Cullen/Frost (CFR) to Your Portfolio Now
With impressive revenue growth and growing deposit and loan balances, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR - Free Report) appears a promising buying opportunity now. Further, the recent interest rate hike is anticipated to bring further stability to top-line generation.
Though the U.S. banks have been battling with regulatory and litigation issues, leading to elevated legal and compliance costs; a sharper focus on reducing needless expenses by reorganizing business and improving revenues is boosting the bottom line. This also paves a steadier growth path for the banks.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to add stocks with robust fundamentals and long-term growth opportunities to your portfolio, at present.
6 Reasons Why Cullen/Frost is a Must Buy
Revenue Growth: Organic growth remains a key strength at Cullen/Frost, as reflected by its revenue growth story. Revenues grew at a CAGR of 5.1%, over the last five years, (2011–2015), with the trend continuing in the first nine months of 2016.
The company’s projected sales growth (F1/F0) of 11.5% (as against the nil industry average) indicates constant upward momentum in revenues.
Strong Leverage: Cullen/Frost’s debt/equity ratio is valued at 0.08 compared to the industry average of 0.63, indicating lower debt burden relative to the industry. It highlights the financial stability of the company even in an unstable economic environment.
Favorable Zacks Rank: Cullen/Frost currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This has been driven by the upward estimate revisions, for the last 30 days. For 2016, the Zacks Consensus Estimate moved up slightly to $4.64, while for 2017, it inched up 1.6% to $4.93.
Steady Capital Deployment: Cullen/Frost manages its capital levels efficiently. In Apr 2016, the company hiked its quarterly stock dividend by 1.9%. Notably, the company has raised dividends annually for 23 consecutive years. Additionally, in Oct 2016, its board of directors approved a $100-million common stock repurchase program. This reflects the company’s commitment to return value to its shareholders.
Stock is Undervalued: Cullen/Frost has a P/E ratio and P/B ratio of 17.9x and 1.84x, compared to the S&P 500 average of 18.69x and 3.07x, respectively. Based on these ratios, the stock seems undervalued.
Share Price Movement: Cullen/Frost’s shares gained 54.4% over the past one year, compared with the 48.2% growth in the Zacks categorized Southwest Banks industry.
Stocks to Consider
Other stocks in the finance space worth considering include The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS - Free Report) , Zions Bancorporation (ZION - Free Report) and Comerica Incorporated (CMA - Free Report) .
Goldman has witnessed an upward earnings estimate revision of 2.1%, for 2016, for the past 30 days. Its share price has risen 37.5% over the last one-year period. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Comerica also boasts a Zacks Rank #1. Its Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 moved slightly upward, over the last 30 days. Its share price has surged 66.2% over the last one-year period.
Zions carries a Zacks Rank #2. It has recorded an upward earnings estimate revision of 3.8% for 2016, over the past 90 days. Over the last one-year period, its share price is up 62.9%.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2017
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2017?
Who wouldn't? As of early December, the 2016 Top 10 produced 5 double-digit winners including oil and natural gas giant Pioneer Natural Resources which racked up a stellar +50% gain. The new list is painstakingly hand-picked from 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Be among the very first to see it>>