Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR) Receives Average Recommendation of "Reduce" from Analysts

Shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR - Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of "Reduce" by the fourteen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, nine have assigned a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $132.57.

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a "sector perform" rating and set a $144.00 price target on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers in a report on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $132.00 to $120.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $140.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays initiated coverage on Cullen/Frost Bankers in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $130.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their target price on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $136.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an "underperform" rating in a report on Monday, February 10th.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CFR traded down $0.71 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $111.08. 171,159 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 466,989. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 0.68. Cullen/Frost Bankers has a 1 year low of $94.09 and a 1 year high of $147.64. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $126.65 and a 200 day moving average of $131.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.46 and a beta of 0.82.

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Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The bank reported $2.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.17 by $0.19. Cullen/Frost Bankers had a return on equity of 15.95% and a net margin of 20.44%. On average, analysts forecast that Cullen/Frost Bankers will post 8.85 earnings per share for the current year.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.42%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Cullen/Frost Bankers's dividend payout ratio is presently 42.84%.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Paul Bracher sold 11,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 102,946 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,355,819.70. The trade was a 10.05 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 2.89% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cullen/Frost Bankers

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. UMB Bank n.a. raised 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 valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers in the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 239.0% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 339 shares of the bank's stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 35.3% during the fourth quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 460 shares of the bank's stock worth $62,000 after buying an additional 120 shares during the period. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 33.8% during the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 522 shares of the bank's stock valued at $65,000 after acquiring an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.90% of the company's stock.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Company Profile

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.