KEY
KeyCorp
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$24.51B
5Y Perf.+87.6%
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Stock Comparison
KEY vs CFG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CFG
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Banks - Regional
Market Cap$28.31B
5Y Perf.+172.3%
KEY vs CFG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | KEY | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
| Market Cap | $24.51B | $28.31B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11.19B | $12.35B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.83B | $1.70B |
| Gross Margin | 62.3% | 57.6% |
| Operating Margin | 20.6% | 15.3% |
| Forward P/E | 12.2x | 12.7x |
| Total Debt | $11.00B | $12.40B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.29B | $11.24B |
KEY vs CFG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
KEY
CFG
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| KeyCorp (KEY) | 100 | 187.6 | +87.6% |
| Citizens Financial … (CFG) | 100 | 272.3 | +172.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KEY vs CFG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: KEY leads in 5 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 dividend income and shareholder returns and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
KEY
KeyCorp
The Banking Pick
KEY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.12
- Rev growth 23.6%, EPS growth 5.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.12, Low D/E 54.0%, current ratio 0.77x
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 bank quality.
- 260.3% 10Y total return vs KEY's 144.8%
- NIM 2.6% vs KEY's 2.5%
- 2.6% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
Best for: long-term compounding and bank quality
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | KEY | 23.6% NII/revenue growth vs CFG's 1.3% |
| Value | KEY | Lower P/E (12.2x vs 12.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | KEY | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs CFG's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | KEY | Beta 1.12 vs CFG's 1.33 |
| Dividends | CFG | 2.6% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CFG | +76.5% vs KEY's +50.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KEY | Efficiency ratio 0.4% vs CFG's 0.4% |
KEY vs CFG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2024
KEY vs CFG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLKEYLAGGINGCFG
CFGCitizens Financial Gr…
2leads
KEYKeyCorp
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CFGMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
KEY4/4
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
KEY4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
KEY6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CFG6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
CFG1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KEY leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CFG and KEY operate at a comparable scale, with $12.3B and $11.2B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 16.3% (KEY) to 12.2% (CFG).
| Metric | KEYKeyCorp | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11.2B | $12.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.3B | $2.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.8B | $1.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.4B | $2.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +62.3% | +57.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +20.6% | +15.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +16.3% | +12.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +15.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.5% | +38.2% |
KEY leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
KEY leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.6x trailing earnings, KEY trades at a 32% valuation discount to CFG's 21.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CFG's 12.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KEY's 14.7x.
| Metric | KEYKeyCorp | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $24.5B | $28.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $34.2B | $29.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.63x | 21.66x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.24x | 12.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.00x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.74x | 12.35x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.19x | 2.29x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.19x | 1.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 15.07x |
KEY leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KEY leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KEY delivers a 9.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $7 for CFG. CFG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.51x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KEY's 0.54x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CFG scores 7/9 vs KEY's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | KEYKeyCorp | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.0% | +6.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +0.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.4% | +3.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.0% | +4.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.54x | 0.51x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $9.7B | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.3B | $11.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $11.0B | $12.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.61x | 0.55x |
KEY leads this category, winning 6 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 $15,060 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,468 for KEY. Over the past 12 months, CFG leads with a +76.5% total return vs KEY's +50.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CFG at 40.1% vs KEY's 36.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KEYKeyCorp | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +6.9% | +12.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +50.7% | +76.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +155.1% | +174.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +14.7% | +50.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +144.8% | +260.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +36.6% | +40.1% |
CFG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — KEY and CFG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KEY is the less volatile stock with a 1.12 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.
| Metric | KEYKeyCorp | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.12x | 1.33x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $23.35 | $68.79 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.16 | $37.93 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.2% | +95.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.1 | 54.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 13.9M | 4.6M |
Evenly matched — KEY and CFG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
CFG leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KEY as "Buy" and CFG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 10.4% upside for CFG (target: $72) vs 4.0% for KEY (target: $23). CFG is the only dividend payer here at 2.58% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | KEYKeyCorp | CFGCitizens Financia… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $23.11 | $72.42 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 51 | 38 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.70 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +4.8% |
CFG leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
KEY leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). CFG leads in 2 (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallKeyCorp (KEY)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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KEY vs CFG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KEY or CFG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, KeyCorp (KEY) is the stronger pick with 23.
6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 3% for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG). KeyCorp (KEY) offers the better valuation at 14. 6x trailing P/E (12. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate KeyCorp (KEY) a "Buy" — based on 51 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 — KEY or CFG?
On trailing P/E, KeyCorp (KEY) is the cheapest at 14.
6x versus Citizens Financial Group, Inc. at 21. 7x. On forward P/E, KeyCorp is actually cheaper at 12. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KEY or CFG?
Over the past 5 years, Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
(CFG) delivered a total return of +50. 6%, compared to +14. 7% for KeyCorp (KEY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CFG returned +260. 3% versus KEY's +144. 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 — KEY or CFG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), KeyCorp (KEY) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
12β versus Citizens Financial Group, Inc. 's 1. 33β — meaning CFG is approximately 18% more volatile than KEY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 54% for KeyCorp — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — KEY or CFG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), KeyCorp (KEY) is pulling ahead at 23.
6% versus 1. 3% for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: KeyCorp grew EPS 575. 0% 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 — KEY or CFG?
KeyCorp (KEY) is the more profitable company, earning 16.
3% net margin versus 12. 2% for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KEY leads at 20. 6% versus 15. 3% for CFG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KEY leads at 62. 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 KEY or CFG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, KeyCorp (KEY) trades at 12.
2x forward P/E versus 12. 7x for Citizens Financial Group, Inc. — 0. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CFG: 10. 4% to $72. 42.
08Which pays a better dividend — KEY or CFG?
In this comparison, CFG (2.
6% yield) pays a dividend. KEY does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is KEY or CFG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
(CFG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2. 6% yield, +260. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CFG: +260. 3%, KEY: +144. 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 KEY 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: KEY is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CFG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. CFG pays a dividend while KEY 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(KEY: 23.6% · CFG: 1.3%)Net Margin>
%
(KEY: 16.3% · CFG: 12.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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