CFR vs SNV vs BOKF vs UMBF

For growth investors, UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) is the stronger pick with 68.

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.

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. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. wins at 0. 93x versus BOK Financial Corporation's 4. 38x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, BOK Financial Corporation (BOKF) delivered a total return of +59.

4%, 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.

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.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF) is pulling ahead at 68.

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.

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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 93x versus BOK Financial Corporation's 4. 38x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 1. 4% for UMB Financial Corporation (UMBF).

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.

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: CFR is a small-cap deep-value stock; SNV is a small-cap deep-value stock; BOKF is a mid-cap deep-value stock; UMBF is a small-cap high-growth 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.