Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR) Given Average Rating of “Reduce” by Brokerages

Shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR) have been given an average rating of “Reduce” by the thirteen analysts that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eight have assigned a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $132.54.

A number of research analysts have recently commented on CFR shares. DA Davidson cut shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $138.00 to $143.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Maxim Group increased their target price on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $138.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Stephens raised their price objective on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $125.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $144.00 price objective on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Compass Point raised their price objective on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $122.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Stock Up 0.5 %

CFR stock opened at $136.41 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.46 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. Cullen/Frost Bankers has a 12 month low of $94.09 and a 12 month high of $147.64. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $138.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $128.41.

Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The bank reported $2.36 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.17 by $0.19. Cullen/Frost Bankers had a net margin of 20.44% and a return on equity of 15.95%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Cullen/Frost Bankers will post 8.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.79%. Cullen/Frost Bankers’s payout ratio is 42.84%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Cullen/Frost Bankers news, insider Paul Bracher sold 11,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.45, for a total transaction of $1,603,675.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 102,946 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,355,819.70. This trade represents a 10.05 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 2.89% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 169.9% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 224 shares of the bank’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 45.8% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 245 shares of the bank’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 239.0% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 339 shares of the bank’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 239 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.90% of the company’s stock.

About Cullen/Frost Bankers

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Frost Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking services in Texas. The company offers commercial banking services to corporations, including financing for industrial and commercial properties, interim construction related to industrial and commercial properties, equipment, inventories and accounts receivables, and acquisitions; and treasury management services, as well as originates commercial leasing services.