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Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR)
NYSE:CFR

Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) AI Stock Analysis

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Cullen/Frost Bankers

(NYSE:CFR)

Rating:78Outperform
Price Target:
$144.00
▲(8.67%Upside)
Cullen/Frost Bankers receives a strong score driven primarily by its robust financial performance and positive earnings call insights, which highlight growth and effective expansion strategies. Technical analysis and valuation contribute moderately, reflecting a stable trading outlook and fair valuation.
Positive Factors
Branch Expansion
Cullen/Frost Bankers is expanding its branch network in major Texas cities like Dallas and Austin, which is expected to enhance deposit and loan growth.
Earnings Beat
Cullen/Frost Bankers reported first-quarter results with earnings per share beating expectations, mainly due to a wider net interest margin and lower credit loss provisioning.
Stock Performance
Despite the lower earnings estimate, the stock is expected to have an 18% price appreciation and a 3.3% dividend yield, leading to an estimated 12-month total return of about 21%.
Negative Factors
2025 Guidance
New 2025 guidance seems conservative with net interest income projected to increase modestly, assuming loan growth to moderate and regulators imposing restrictions on overdraft and interchange fees.
Expense Guidance
Expense guidance remains elevated as the management team focuses on creating long-term shareholder value, with major investments to replace legacy systems and enhance the digital experience continuing in 2026.

Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Cullen/Frost Bankers Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Frost Bank that offers commercial and consumer banking services in Texas. It operates in two segments, Banking and Frost Wealth Advisors. The company offers commercial banking services to corporations and other business clients, including financing for industrial and commercial properties, interim construction related to industrial and commercial properties, equipment, inventories and accounts receivables, and acquisitions; commercial leasing; and treasury management services. It also provides consumer banking services, such as checking accounts, savings programs, automated-teller machines (ATMs), overdraft facilities, installment and real estate loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, drive-in and night deposit services, safe deposit facilities, and brokerage services. In addition, the company offers international banking services comprising deposits, loans, letters of credit, foreign collections, funds, and foreign exchange services. Further, it acts as a correspondent for approximately 171 financial institutions; offers trust, investment, agency, and custodial services for individual and corporate clients; provides capital market services that include sales and trading, new issue underwriting, money market trading, advisory, and securities safekeeping and clearance; and supports international business activities. Additionally, the company offers insurance and securities brokerage services; and holds securities for investment purposes, as well as investment management services to Frost-managed mutual funds, institutions, and individuals. It operates approximately 157 financial centers and 1,650 ATMs. The company serves energy, manufacturing, services, construction, retail, telecommunications, healthcare, military, and transportation industries. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. was founded in 1868 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.
How the Company Makes MoneyCullen/Frost Bankers generates revenue primarily through the traditional banking model, which includes interest income from loans and leases, as well as fees and commissions from various banking services. The company earns interest income by lending money to individuals and businesses, with interest rates providing a significant portion of its income. Non-interest income is derived from service charges on deposit accounts, trust and investment management fees, and insurance commissions. Additionally, Cullen/Frost Bankers benefits from its wealth management and brokerage services, which offer investment advisory and financial planning services. The company also engages in strategic partnerships and maintains a strong regional focus that helps bolster its market presence in Texas. The combination of these revenue streams and a focus on customer-centric services contribute to its overall earnings.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 01, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 14.66%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 24, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong financial performance with increased earnings, robust consumer loan growth, and successful expansion efforts. However, challenges included a decline in non-interest bearing deposits and higher net charge-offs. The overall sentiment is balanced between positive growth and some operational challenges.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Earnings Growth
Cullen/Frost earned $149.3 million or $2.3 a share in Q1 2025 compared with $134 million or $2.06 a share in the same quarter last year.
Record Consumer Loan Growth
Consumer loan balances grew by 20.5% year-over-year, marking the 11th consecutive quarter of 20% growth driven by consumer real estate lending.
Expansion Success
The expansion efforts generated $2.64 billion in deposits, $1.9 billion in loans, and 64,000 new households. Loans and households exceeded goals by 40% and 27%, respectively.
Improved Net Interest Margin
Net interest margin increased by seven basis points to 3.6% from 3.53% reported last quarter.
JD Power Recognition
JD Power named Frost number one in Texas for consumer banking satisfaction for the 16th year in a row.
Strong Commercial Loan Pipeline
CRE opportunities over $10 million showed the highest growth, with new loan commitments totaling $1.28 billion in Q1 2025, up 1.5% from the previous year.
Negative Updates
Decline in Non-Interest Bearing Deposits
Average total deposits of $41.7 billion were down $228 million from the previous quarter, driven primarily by lower non-interest bearing accounts.
Higher Net Charge-Offs
Net charge-offs for the first quarter were $9.7 million, up from $7.3 million a year ago.
CRE Payoffs Impacting Loan Growth
CRE payoffs totaled over $430 million in Q1 2025, compared to just over $150 million in Q1 2024, creating headwinds for loan growth.
Company Guidance
During Cullen/Frost Bankers' Q1 2025 earnings call, the company provided several key metrics and forward-looking guidance. The bank reported earnings of $149.3 million, or $2.30 per share, a rise from $134 million, or $2.06 per share, in Q1 2024. Their return on average assets increased to 1.19%, and return on average common equity rose to 15.54%. Average deposits grew by 2.3% to $41.7 billion, while average loans grew by 8.8% to $20.8 billion. The bank's expansion efforts have been fruitful, with deposits, loans, and new households surpassing goals. Looking ahead, Cullen/Frost anticipates interest income growth between 5% and 7% for 2025, despite factoring in four expected 25 basis point federal rate cuts, and expects net interest margin improvement by 12 to 15 basis points over 2024's 3.53%. The bank also projects mid to high single-digit loan growth and 2% to 3% deposit growth for the year. Additionally, they expect non-interest income growth to be in the 2% to 3% range and non-interest expense growth in the high single digits, with an effective tax rate of 16% to 17%.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Cullen/Frost Bankers shows strong profitability with robust net profit and EBIT margins. However, the decline in free cash flow and modest revenue growth indicate potential challenges in cash generation and limited expansion. The solid leverage profile with an effective ROE is offset by the low equity ratio, suggesting restricted financial flexibility.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Cullen/Frost Bankers demonstrates strong profitability with a gross profit margin of 71.19% and a net profit margin of 20.88% for TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). Revenue growth rate is modest at 0.43%, indicating stability but limited expansion. The company maintains healthy EBIT (24.92%) and EBITDA margins (27.88%), showcasing efficient operations.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a solid equity ratio of 7.91%, indicating a conservative leverage profile with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. Return on Equity (ROE) is robust at 14.53%, reflecting effective use of equity to generate returns. However, the relatively low equity ratio may suggest limited financial flexibility.
Cash Flow
72
Positive
Cash flow analysis shows a significant decline in free cash flow growth, down by 91.36%, which raises concerns about cash generation. However, the company maintains a strong operating cash flow to net income ratio of 0.34 and a free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.12, indicating adequate cash flow management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.86B2.85B2.65B1.88B1.40B1.49B
Gross Profit2.04B2.00B1.94B1.69B1.37B1.20B
EBITDA797.98M778.78M788.82M740.17M558.83M415.69M
Net Income597.77M582.54M597.97M579.15M443.08M331.15M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets52.00B52.52B50.85B52.89B50.88B42.39B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments9.25B25.26B25.18B30.06B30.47B20.73B
Total Debt4.72B4.59B4.36B4.93B2.99B2.35B
Total Liabilities47.89B48.62B47.13B49.76B46.44B38.10B
Stockholders Equity4.11B3.90B3.72B3.14B4.44B4.29B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow74.44M861.76M320.21M620.08M582.44M428.82M
Operating Cash Flow204.99M989.53M478.85M722.58M648.29M524.24M
Investing Cash Flow-2.62B-180.88M-942.75M-8.28B-2.53B-1.63B
Financing Cash Flow1.80B738.33M-2.88B3.00B8.17B7.61B

Cullen/Frost Bankers Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price132.51
Price Trends
50DMA
124.23
Positive
100DMA
125.09
Positive
200DMA
126.36
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.72
Negative
RSI
57.91
Neutral
STOCH
86.51
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CFR, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 132.51 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 126.65, above the 50-day MA of 124.23, and above the 200-day MA of 126.36, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.72 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 57.91 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 86.51 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CFR.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Risk Analysis

Cullen/Frost Bankers disclosed 39 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Cullen/Frost Bankers reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Cullen/Frost Bankers Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (73)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
82
Outperform
$8.55B12.6311.58%1.61%7.10%4.65%
WBWBS
79
Outperform
$9.56B12.798.59%2.93%2.69%-9.07%
CFCFR
78
Outperform
$8.52B14.5515.26%3.11%5.99%7.75%
CMCMA
75
Outperform
$7.81B11.2711.11%4.76%-9.81%5.22%
75
Outperform
$8.86B18.477.77%0.87%8.08%-11.31%
WAWAL
74
Outperform
$8.57B10.6712.36%1.96%11.01%6.63%
73
Outperform
€27.71B11.1317.20%4.00%9.17%28.21%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CFR
Cullen/Frost Bankers
132.51
36.93
38.64%
CMA
Comerica
60.93
12.95
26.99%
PNFP
Pinnacle Financial Partners
114.26
36.56
47.05%
WBS
Webster Financial
56.82
14.68
34.84%
WTFC
Wintrust Financial
127.71
31.20
32.33%
WAL
Western Alliance
81.03
18.23
29.03%

Cullen/Frost Bankers Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Cullen/Frost Bankers Highlights Strong Market Leadership
Positive
Feb 12, 2025

On December 31, 2024, Cullen/Frost Bankers released an investor presentation highlighting its financial performance and strategic positioning. The company has maintained strong market leadership in Texas, receiving top satisfaction rankings and numerous awards. Their technological advancements include a highly-rated mobile app and increased digital transactions. The presentation underscores the company’s resilience and commitment to growth in a competitive industry, which is significant for stakeholders given the robust Texas market and Cullen/Frost’s significant presence and influence.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jun 24, 2025