CFG vs. WFC: Citizens Financial vs. Wells Fargo Stock Comparison
How do Citizens Financial (CFG) and Wells Fargo (WFC) 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 Wells Fargo (WFC) both belong to the Banks industry, though CFG is classified under Regional Banks while WFC falls under Diversified Banks.
| Profile Item | CFG | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Citizens Financial Group Inc. | Wells Fargo & Company |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Regional Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 26.51 billion USD | 251.98 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 24, 2014 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CFG | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.28% | 2.40% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 42.95% | 31.75% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 10.93% | 14.35% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CFG | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.87% | 26.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.07 | 0.91 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -56.19% | -37.10% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.99M | 14.10M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CFG | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.00 | -0.07 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.50 | -0.10 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.91% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Citizens Financial (CFG) at 8.90% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ 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%
WFC
Banks industry group
12.91%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- WFC
- 12.91%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
Wells Fargo (WFC) at 27.64% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Citizens Financial (CFG) at 27.02% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
CFG
Banks industry group
27.02%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- CFG
- 27.02%
- Min
- 14.93%
WFC
Banks industry group
27.64%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- WFC
- 27.64%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Citizens Financial (CFG) in Banks and Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CFG | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 8.90% | 12.91% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.99% | 1.08% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 27.02% | 27.64% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Citizens Financial (CFG) at 5.61% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.70% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Both Citizens Financial (CFG) at 27.39% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 16.57% 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 | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.61% | 1.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.93% | 4.02% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 27.39% | 16.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.99% | 25.86% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Citizens Financial (CFG) in Banks and Wells Fargo (WFC) 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 Wells Fargo (WFC) 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 | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Citizens Financial (CFG) at 2.88% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 2.19% 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%
WFC
Banks industry group
2.19%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- WFC
- 2.19%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Citizens Financial (CFG) at 37.17% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 26.09% 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%
WFC
Banks industry group
26.09%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- WFC
- 26.09%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CFG | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 2.19% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 37.17% | 26.09% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Citizens Financial (CFG) at 12.78 and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 11.84 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
WFC
Banks industry group
11.84
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- WFC
- 11.84
- 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 Wells Fargo (WFC) 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 Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.59 carries an above-peer premium to book — WFC 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
WFC
Banks industry group
1.59
- Max
- 2.28
- WFC
- 1.59
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CFG | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.78 | 11.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.16 | 1.59 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |