CFR
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$8.72B
5Y Perf.+82.4%
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Stock Comparison
CFR vs SNV
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SNV
Synovus Financial Corp.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$6.95B
5Y Perf.+160.8%
CFR vs SNV — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CFR | SNV |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $8.72B | $6.95B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.92B | $3.42B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $669M | $800M |
| Gross Margin | 75.0% | 53.8% |
| Operating Margin | 26.4% | 17.7% |
| Forward P/E | 13.3x | 8.9x |
| Total Debt | $4.77B | $1.86B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $8.86B | $2.98B |
CFR vs SNV — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CFR
SNV
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cullen/Frost Banker… (CFR) | 100 | 182.4 | +82.4% |
| Synovus Financial C… (SNV) | 100 | 260.8 | +160.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CFR vs SNV
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SNV leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CFR
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
The Banking Pick
CFR is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 33 yrs, beta 0.82, yield 2.9%
- Rev growth 2.5%, EPS growth 11.8%
- 181.5% 10Y total return vs SNV's 106.8%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
SNV
Synovus Financial Corp.
The Banking Pick
SNV carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for defensive.
- Beta 1.25, yield 3.0%, current ratio 0.22x
- Lower P/E (8.9x vs 13.3x)
- Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs CFR's 0.5% (lower = leaner)
Best for: defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CFR | 2.5% NII/revenue growth vs SNV's 1.2% |
| Value | SNV | Lower P/E (8.9x vs 13.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | SNV | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs CFR's 0.5% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | CFR | Beta 0.82 vs SNV's 1.25 |
| Dividends | SNV | 3.0% yield, 7-year raise streak, vs CFR's 2.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CFR | +16.3% vs SNV's +14.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SNV | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs CFR's 0.5% |
CFR vs SNV — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2024
CFR vs SNV — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCFRLAGGINGSNV
SNVSynovus Financial Cor…
1leads
CFRCullen/Frost Bankers,…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SNVMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CFR4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SNV4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CFR5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CFR4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CFR2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CFR leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SNV and CFR operate at a comparable scale, with $3.4B and $2.9B in trailing revenue. CFR is the more profitable business, keeping 22.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SNV's 14.1%.
| Metric | CFRCullen/Frost Bank… | SNVSynovus Financial… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.9B | $3.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $861M | $1.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $669M | $800M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $806M | $690M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +75.0% | +53.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +26.4% | +17.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +22.2% | +14.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.4% | +22.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +17.0% | +11.9% |
CFR leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SNV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.0x trailing earnings, CFR trades at a 15% valuation discount to SNV's 16.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CFR's 5.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SNV's 8.8x.
| Metric | CFRCullen/Frost Bank… | SNVSynovus Financial… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $8.7B | $6.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.6B | $5.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.97x | 16.52x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 13.31x | 8.91x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.98x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.38x | 8.77x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.99x | 2.03x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.94x | 1.38x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 68.52x | 9.08x |
SNV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CFR leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CFR delivers a 15.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $14 for SNV. SNV carries lower financial leverage with a 0.35x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CFR's 1.04x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CFR scores 6/9 vs SNV's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CFRCullen/Frost Bank… | SNVSynovus Financial… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.1% | +13.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.3% | +1.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.5% | +6.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +14.0% | +6.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.04x | 0.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$4.1B | -$1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $8.9B | $3.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.8B | $1.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.21x | 0.78x |
CFR leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CFR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CFR five years ago would be worth $12,659 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,545 for SNV. Over the past 12 months, CFR leads with a +16.3% total return vs SNV's +14.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SNV at 25.2% vs CFR's 15.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CFRCullen/Frost Bank… | SNVSynovus Financial… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +8.9% | 0.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.3% | +14.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +53.8% | +96.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +26.6% | +15.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +181.5% | +106.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.4% | +25.2% |
CFR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CFR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CFR is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SNV's 1.25 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CFR currently trades 93.0% from its 52-week high vs SNV's 82.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CFRCullen/Frost Bank… | SNVSynovus Financial… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 1.25x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $148.97 | $61.06 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $119.00 | $43.59 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.0% | +82.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.1 | 44.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 524K | 0 |
CFR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CFR and SNV each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CFR as "Hold" and SNV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.9% upside for SNV (target: $70) vs 11.8% for CFR (target: $155). For income investors, SNV offers the higher dividend yield at 3.03% vs CFR's 2.88%.
| Metric | CFRCullen/Frost Bank… | SNVSynovus Financial… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $154.88 | $70.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 33 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.9% | +3.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 33 | 7 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.98 | $1.52 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.8% | +3.9% |
Evenly matched — CFR and SNV each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CFR leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). SNV leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallCullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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CFR vs SNV: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CFR or SNV a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
(CFR) is the stronger pick with 2. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 2% for Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV). Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR) offers the better valuation at 14. 0x trailing P/E (13. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV) a "Buy" — based on 32 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 — CFR or SNV?
On trailing P/E, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
(CFR) is the cheapest at 14. 0x versus Synovus Financial Corp. at 16. 5x. On forward P/E, Synovus Financial Corp. is actually cheaper at 8. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CFR or SNV?
Over the past 5 years, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
(CFR) delivered a total return of +26. 6%, compared to +15. 5% for Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CFR returned +181. 5% versus SNV's +106. 8%. 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 — CFR or SNV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
(CFR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus Synovus Financial Corp. 's 1. 25β — meaning SNV is approximately 52% more volatile than CFR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 104% for Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CFR or SNV?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
(CFR) is pulling ahead at 2. 5% versus 1. 2% for Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. grew EPS 11. 8% year-over-year, compared to -12. 4% for Synovus Financial Corp.. 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 — CFR or SNV?
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
(CFR) is the more profitable company, earning 22. 2% net margin versus 14. 1% for Synovus Financial Corp. — meaning it keeps 22. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CFR leads at 26. 4% versus 17. 7% for SNV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CFR leads at 75. 0%, 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 CFR or SNV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Synovus Financial Corp.
(SNV) trades at 8. 9x forward P/E versus 13. 3x for Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. — 4. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SNV: 39. 9% to $70. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — CFR or SNV?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 2. 9% for Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR).
09Is CFR or SNV better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
(CFR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), 2. 9% yield, +181. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CFR: +181. 5%, SNV: +106. 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 CFR and SNV?
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.
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>
%
(CFR: 2.5% · SNV: 1.2%)Net Margin>
%
(CFR: 22.2% · SNV: 14.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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