Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Bank of Montreal (BMO) vs Citigroup Inc. (C) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | C | 9.9% revenue growth vs BMO's -0.5% |
| Value | BMO | Lower P/E (10.2x vs 10.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | BMO | 11.1% net margin vs C's 7.4% |
| Stability / Safety | BMO | Beta 0.66 vs C's 1.30 |
| Dividends | BMO | 3.5% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs C's 2.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BMO | +44.5% vs C's +40.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BMO | 0.6% ROA vs C's 0.6%, ROIC 1.8% vs 1.6% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Bank of Montreal is a major Canadian diversified financial institution providing banking, wealth management, and capital markets services across North America. It generates revenue primarily through net interest income from lending activities (about 60% of total revenue) and non-interest income from capital markets, wealth management, and insurance services. Its competitive advantage stems from its long-established Canadian retail banking franchise—one of the country's "Big Five" banks—with deep customer relationships and extensive branch networks.
Citigroup is a global financial services giant operating through two main divisions: Global Consumer Banking serving retail customers and Institutional Clients Group serving corporations and institutions. It generates revenue primarily from interest income on loans and securities (about 60%) and non-interest income from investment banking, trading, and card fees (about 40%). The company's key advantage is its unparalleled global network spanning nearly 100 countries—particularly strong in emerging markets—which provides unique cross-border banking capabilities for multinational clients.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
BMO leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). C leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
C is the larger business by revenue, generating $170.7B annually — 2.2x BMO's $78.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 11.1% (BMO) to 7.4% (C).
| Metric | BMOBank of Montreal | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $78.1B | $170.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $14.5B | $24.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $9.1B | $14.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $11.0B | -$76.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.6% | +41.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | +10.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.1% | +7.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | -15.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.4% | +23.2% |
Valuation Metrics
At 17.2x trailing earnings, BMO trades at a 7% valuation discount to C's 18.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, C's 23.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BMO's 35.3x.
| Metric | BMOBank of Montreal | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $102.0B | $192.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $354.0B | $506.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.22x | 18.52x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.18x | 10.69x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.99x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 35.29x | 23.72x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.79x | 1.13x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.62x | 1.00x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.41x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
BMO delivers a 10.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $7 for C. C carries lower financial leverage with a 2.82x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BMO's 4.71x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BMO scores 6/9 vs C's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | BMOBank of Montreal | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.6% | +6.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.6% | +0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.8% | +1.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.4% | +3.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 4.71x | 2.82x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $344.9B | $314.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $70.3B | $276.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $415.2B | $590.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.30x | 0.24x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in BMO five years ago would be worth $19,707 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,396 for C. Over the past 12 months, BMO leads with a +44.5% total return vs C's +40.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors C at 32.1% vs BMO's 18.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BMOBank of Montreal | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.8% | -6.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +44.5% | +40.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +66.1% | +130.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +97.1% | +74.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +227.9% | +230.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.4% | +32.1% |
Risk & Volatility
BMO is the less volatile stock with a 0.66 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than C's 1.30 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BMO currently trades 96.6% from its 52-week high vs C's 88.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BMOBank of Montreal | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.66x | 1.30x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $149.01 | $125.16 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $85.40 | $55.51 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.6% | +88.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.7 | 51.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 631K | 11.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BMO as "Buy" and C as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 19.8% upside for C (target: $132) vs -45.8% for BMO (target: $78). For income investors, BMO offers the higher dividend yield at 3.53% vs C's 2.48%.
| Metric | BMOBank of Montreal | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $78.00 | $132.09 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 18 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.5% | +2.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $6.96 | $2.73 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.4% | +3.9% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Montreal (BMO) | 100 | 200.36 | +100.4% |
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | 100 | 171.96 | +72.0% |
Bank of Montreal (BMO) returned +97% over 5 years vs Citigroup Inc. (C)'s +74%. A $10,000 investment in BMO 5 years ago would be worth $19,707 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Montreal (BMO) | $25.5B | $78.1B | +206.9% |
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | $83.3B | $170.7B | +104.9% |
Bank of Montreal's revenue grew from $25.5B (2016) to $78.1B (2025) — a 13.3% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Montreal (BMO) | 18.2% | 11.1% | -38.6% |
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | 17.9% | 7.4% | -58.5% |
Bank of Montreal's net margin went from 18% (2016) to 11% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Montreal (BMO) | 10.1 | 11.3 | +11.9% |
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | 7.8 | 11.8 | +51.3% |
Bank of Montreal has traded in a 5x–17x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~17x. Citigroup Inc. has traded in a 6x–13x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Montreal (BMO) | 6.92 | 11.44 | +65.3% |
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | 4.74 | 5.95 | +25.5% |
Bank of Montreal's EPS grew from $6.92 (2016) to $11.44 (2025) — a 6% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Bank of Montreal generated $9B FCF in 2025 (-80% vs 2021). Citigroup Inc. generated $-26B FCF in 2024 (-161% vs 2021).
BMO vs C: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BMO or C a better buy right now?
Bank of Montreal (BMO) offers the better valuation at 17.2x trailing P/E (10.2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bank of Montreal (BMO) a "Buy" — based on 18 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 — BMO or C?
On trailing P/E, Bank of Montreal (BMO) is the cheapest at 17.2x versus Citigroup Inc. at 18.5x. On forward P/E, Bank of Montreal is actually cheaper at 10.2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BMO or C?
Over the past 5 years, Bank of Montreal (BMO) delivered a total return of +97.1%, compared to +74.0% for Citigroup Inc. (C). A $10,000 investment in BMO five years ago would be worth approximately $20K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: C returned +230.3% versus BMO's +227.9%. 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 — BMO or C?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Bank of Montreal (BMO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.66β versus Citigroup Inc.'s 1.30β — meaning C is approximately 95% more volatile than BMO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Citigroup Inc. (C) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 5% for Bank of Montreal — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — BMO or C?
Bank of Montreal (BMO) is the more profitable company, earning 11.1% net margin versus 7.4% for Citigroup Inc. — meaning it keeps 11.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BMO leads at 14.8% versus 10.0% for C. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — C leads at 41.7%, 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.
06Is BMO or C more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Bank of Montreal (BMO) trades at 10.2x forward P/E versus 10.7x for Citigroup Inc. — 0.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for C: 19.8% to $132.09.
07Which pays a better dividend — BMO or C?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Bank of Montreal (BMO) offers the highest yield at 3.5%, versus 2.5% for Citigroup Inc. (C).
08Is BMO or C better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Bank of Montreal (BMO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.66), 3.5% yield, +227.9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BMO: +227.9%, C: +230.3%), 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.
09What are the main differences between BMO and C?
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: BMO is a mid-cap deep-value stock; C 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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