SSB
SouthState Corporation
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$9.79B
5Y Perf.+85.3%
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Stock Comparison
SSB vs CFG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CFG
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$27.70B
5Y Perf.+166.4%
SSB vs CFG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SSB | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $9.79B | $27.70B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.76B | $12.35B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $799M | $1.70B |
| Gross Margin | 68.3% | 57.6% |
| Operating Margin | 27.9% | 15.3% |
| Forward P/E | 10.3x | 12.4x |
| Total Debt | $1.31B | $12.40B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $583M | $11.24B |
SSB vs CFG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SSB
CFG
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| SouthState Corporat… (SSB) | 100 | 185.3 | +85.3% |
| Citizens Financial … (CFG) | 100 | 266.4 | +166.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SSB vs CFG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SSB leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SSB
SouthState Corporation
The Banking Pick
SSB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 16 yrs, beta 1.02, yield 2.4%
- Rev growth 57.0%, EPS growth 12.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.02, Low D/E 14.5%, current ratio 0.22x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
CFG
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
The Banking Pick
CFG is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and defensive.
- 257.8% 10Y total return vs SSB's 67.9%
- Beta 1.33, yield 2.6%, current ratio 0.25x
- +73.3% vs SSB's +14.3%
Best for: long-term compounding and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SSB | 57.0% NII/revenue growth vs CFG's 1.3% |
| Value | SSB | Lower P/E (10.3x vs 12.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | SSB | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs CFG's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | SSB | Beta 1.02 vs CFG's 1.33, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SSB | 2.4% yield, 16-year raise streak, vs CFG's 2.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CFG | +73.3% vs SSB's +14.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SSB | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs CFG's 0.4% |
SSB vs CFG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2024
SSB vs CFG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSSBLAGGINGCFG
CFGCitizens Financial Gr…
1leads
SSBSouthState Corporation
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CFGMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SSB3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SSB4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SSB8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CFG6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SSB leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CFG is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.3B annually — 3.3x SSB's $3.8B. SSB is the more profitable business, keeping 21.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CFG's 12.2%.
| Metric | SSBSouthState Corpor… | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.8B | $12.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | $2.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $799M | $1.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $154M | $2.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +68.3% | +57.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +27.9% | +15.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +21.3% | +12.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -14.4% | +15.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +30.9% | +38.2% |
SSB leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SSB leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.4x trailing earnings, SSB trades at a 42% valuation discount to CFG's 21.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SSB's 9.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CFG's 12.1x.
| Metric | SSBSouthState Corpor… | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $9.8B | $27.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10.5B | $28.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 12.39x | 21.19x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.30x | 12.39x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.43x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.98x | 12.10x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.61x | 2.24x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.08x | 1.20x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 14.74x |
SSB leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SSB leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SSB delivers a 9.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $7 for CFG. SSB carries lower financial leverage with a 0.15x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CFG's 0.51x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CFG scores 7/9 vs SSB's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SSBSouthState Corpor… | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.0% | +6.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.2% | +0.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.2% | +3.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.8% | +4.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.15x | 0.51x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $731M | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $583M | $11.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.3B | $12.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.97x | 0.55x |
SSB leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CFG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CFG five years ago would be worth $14,687 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,035 for SSB. Over the past 12 months, CFG leads with a +73.3% total return vs SSB's +14.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CFG at 39.1% vs SSB's 17.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SSBSouthState Corpor… | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +4.0% | +9.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.3% | +73.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +62.3% | +169.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +20.3% | +46.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +67.9% | +257.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.5% | +39.1% |
CFG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SSB and CFG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SSB is the less volatile stock with a 1.02 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CFG's 1.33 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CFG currently trades 93.3% from its 52-week high vs SSB's 89.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SSBSouthState Corpor… | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.02x | 1.33x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $108.46 | $68.79 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $84.48 | $37.93 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.8% | +93.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.7 | 60.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 841K | 4.5M |
Evenly matched — SSB and CFG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — SSB and CFG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SSB as "Buy" and CFG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 21.3% upside for SSB (target: $118) vs 12.8% for CFG (target: $72). For income investors, CFG offers the higher dividend yield at 2.64% vs SSB's 2.36%.
| Metric | SSBSouthState Corpor… | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $118.20 | $72.42 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 38 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.4% | +2.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 16 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.30 | $1.70 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.4% | +4.9% |
Evenly matched — SSB and CFG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
SSB leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). CFG leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallSouthState Corporation (SSB)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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SSB vs CFG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SSB or CFG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the stronger pick with 57.
0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 3% for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG). SouthState Corporation (SSB) offers the better valuation at 12. 4x trailing P/E (10. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SouthState Corporation (SSB) a "Buy" — based on 20 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — SSB or CFG?
On trailing P/E, SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the cheapest at 12.
4x versus Citizens Financial Group, Inc. at 21. 2x. On forward P/E, SouthState Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SSB or CFG?
Over the past 5 years, Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
(CFG) delivered a total return of +46. 9%, compared to +20. 3% for SouthState Corporation (SSB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CFG returned +257. 8% versus SSB's +67. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SSB or CFG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
02β versus Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 's 1. 33β — meaning CFG is approximately 30% more volatile than SSB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SouthState Corporation (SSB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 51% for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SSB or CFG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), SouthState Corporation (SSB) is pulling ahead at 57.
0% versus 1. 3% for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: SouthState Corporation grew EPS 12. 8% year-over-year, compared to -3. 2% for Citizens Financial Group, Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — SSB or CFG?
SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the more profitable company, earning 21.
3% net margin versus 12. 2% for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SSB leads at 27. 9% versus 15. 3% for CFG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SSB leads at 68. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is SSB or CFG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, SouthState Corporation (SSB) trades at 10.
3x forward P/E versus 12. 4x for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. — 2. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SSB: 21. 3% to $118. 20.
08Which pays a better dividend — SSB or CFG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 2. 4% for SouthState Corporation (SSB).
09Is SSB or CFG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, SouthState Corporation (SSB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
02), 2. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SSB: +67. 9%, CFG: +257. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between SSB and CFG?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: SSB is a small-cap high-growth stock; CFG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(SSB: 57.0% · CFG: 1.3%)Net Margin>
%
(SSB: 21.3% · CFG: 12.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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