CFR vs WTFC

For growth investors, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is the stronger pick with 6.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 5% for Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR). Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) offers the better valuation at 13. 1x trailing P/E (11. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is the cheapest at 13.

1x versus Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. at 14. 0x. On forward P/E, Wintrust Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 11. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Wintrust Financial Corporation wins at 0. 59x versus Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. 's 0. 93x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) delivered a total return of +102.

9%, compared to +26. 6% for Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WTFC returned +224. 8% versus CFR's +181. 5%. 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 Wintrust Financial Corporation's 1. 16β — meaning WTFC is approximately 41% more volatile than CFR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 62% versus 104% for Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is pulling ahead at 6.

7% versus 2. 5% for Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Wintrust Financial Corporation grew EPS 12. 1% year-over-year, compared to 11. 8% for Cullen/Frost Bankers, 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.

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.

(CFR) is the more profitable company, earning 22. 2% net margin versus 19. 5% for Wintrust Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 22. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WTFC leads at 26. 4% versus 26. 4% for CFR. 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, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 59x versus Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. 's 0. 93x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) trades at 11. 6x forward P/E versus 13. 3x for Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. — 1. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WTFC: 15. 5% to $174. 57.

In this comparison, CFR (2.

9% yield) pays a dividend. WTFC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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%, WTFC: +224. 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.

CFR pays a dividend while WTFC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.