Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR) Lifted to “Sell” at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR) to a sell rating in a report released on Saturday.

Several other analysts have also weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 4th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $109.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Wedbush reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $115.00 price target on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers in a research report on Friday, April 26th. UBS Group upped their target price on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $110.00 to $116.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Stephens increased their target price on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $116.00 to $117.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Cullen/Frost Bankers currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $117.46.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Stock Performance

NYSE:CFR opened at $105.48 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $108.90 and its 200-day simple moving average is $104.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The stock has a market cap of $6.78 billion, a PE ratio of 12.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.04. Cullen/Frost Bankers has a fifty-two week low of $82.25 and a fifty-two week high of $120.31.

Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The bank reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.13 by $0.02. Cullen/Frost Bankers had a net margin of 20.57% and a return on equity of 18.31%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.70 EPS. Analysts expect that Cullen/Frost Bankers will post 8.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 14th. Investors of record on Friday, May 31st will be paid a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 31st. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.49%. Cullen/Frost Bankers’s payout ratio is currently 43.50%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Bobby Berman sold 1,312 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.49, for a total transaction of $138,402.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 27,815 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,934,204.35. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Cullen/Frost Bankers news, insider Paul Bracher sold 9,820 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.40, for a total transaction of $1,074,308.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 96,380 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,543,972. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Bobby Berman sold 1,312 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.49, for a total value of $138,402.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 27,815 shares in the company, valued at $2,934,204.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 3.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers in the 4th quarter valued at $72,627,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 44.1% in the fourth quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 798,403 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $86,619,000 after buying an additional 244,197 shares in the last quarter. Polaris Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 87.9% in the fourth quarter. Polaris Capital Management LLC now owns 359,100 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $38,959,000 after buying an additional 168,000 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado raised its holdings in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 2,414.0% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 153,051 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $16,605,000 after buying an additional 146,963 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 20.1% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 787,599 shares of the bank’s stock worth $85,451,000 after acquiring an additional 131,726 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other 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.