CFG vs. EWBC: Citizens Financial vs. East West Bancorp Stock Comparison
How do Citizens Financial (CFG) and East West Bancorp (EWBC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Citizens Financial (CFG) and East West Bancorp (EWBC) are both classified in the Regional Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | CFG | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Citizens Financial Group Inc. | East West Bancorp Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Regional Banks | Regional Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 26.51 billion USD | 17.65 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | September 24, 2014 | February 3, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CFG | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.28% | 30.57% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 42.95% | 36.90% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 10.93% | 12.56% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CFG | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.87% | 23.01% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.07 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -56.19% | -54.06% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.99M | 807.94K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CFG | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.00 | 1.14 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.50 | 1.69 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 16.57% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Citizens Financial (CFG) at 8.90% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in returns on equity.
CFG
Banks industry group
8.90%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- CFG
- 8.90%
- Min
- 3.64%
EWBC
Banks industry group
16.57%
- Max
- 19.84%
- EWBC
- 16.57%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 50.06% retains an above-range share of revenue as profit, while Citizens Financial (CFG) at 27.02% keeps a bottom-quartile share — a wide gap in how much each sales dollar survives to the bottom line.
CFG
Banks industry group
27.02%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- CFG
- 27.02%
- Min
- 14.93%
EWBC
Banks industry group
50.06%
- EWBC
- 50.06%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Citizens Financial (CFG) in Banks and East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CFG | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 8.90% | 16.57% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.99% | 1.76% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 27.02% | 50.06% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 12.86% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Citizens Financial (CFG) at 5.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Citizens Financial (CFG) at 27.39% and East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 14.29% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CFG | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.61% | 12.86% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.93% | 7.70% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 27.39% | 14.29% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.99% | 6.33% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Citizens Financial (CFG) in Banks and East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Citizens Financial (CFG) in Banks and East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CFG | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Citizens Financial (CFG) at 2.88% and East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 2.32% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
CFG
Banks industry group
2.88%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- CFG
- 2.88%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
EWBC
Banks industry group
2.32%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- EWBC
- 2.32%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Citizens Financial (CFG) at 37.17% and East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 28.52% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
CFG
Banks industry group
37.17%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- CFG
- 37.17%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
EWBC
Banks industry group
28.52%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- EWBC
- 28.52%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CFG | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 2.32% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 37.17% | 28.52% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Citizens Financial (CFG) at 12.78 and East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 12.25 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
CFG
Banks industry group
12.78
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- CFG
- 12.78
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
EWBC
Banks industry group
12.25
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- EWBC
- 12.25
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Citizens Financial (CFG) in Banks and East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks: without a conventional revenue line, pricing per dollar of sales isn’t meaningful, and book- or earnings-based multiples make the better comparison.
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Citizens Financial (CFG) at 1.16 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 1.95 carries an above-peer premium to book — EWBC is pricier on assets.
CFG
Banks industry group
1.16
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- CFG
- 1.16
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
EWBC
Banks industry group
1.95
- Max
- 2.28
- EWBC
- 1.95
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CFG | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.78 | 12.25 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.16 | 1.95 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |