Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR) Short Interest Update

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,980,000 shares, an increase of 8.2% from the March 31st total of 1,830,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 429,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.6 days. Approximately 3.3% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $109.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $109.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. DA Davidson reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $126.00 price target on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers in a report on Thursday, March 28th. Stephens upped their price objective on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $116.00 to $117.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 4th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Cullen/Frost Bankers presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $117.46.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Paul Bracher sold 9,820 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.40, for a total value of $1,074,308.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 96,380 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,543,972. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, EVP Bobby Berman sold 1,312 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.49, for a total value of $138,402.88. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 27,815 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,934,204.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Paul Bracher sold 9,820 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.40, for a total transaction of $1,074,308.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 96,380 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,543,972. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 2.89% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cullen/Frost Bankers

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers during the third quarter valued at $27,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Arvest Investments Inc. acquired a new stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers in the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. CWM LLC increased its holdings in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 46.5% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 334 shares of the bank’s stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in Cullen/Frost Bankers during the fourth quarter valued at $43,000. 86.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers stock opened at $105.35 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $6.77 billion, a PE ratio of 12.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.04. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $108.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $104.19. Cullen/Frost Bankers has a 1 year low of $82.25 and a 1 year high of $120.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.65.

Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The bank reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.13 by $0.02. Cullen/Frost Bankers had a return on equity of 18.31% and a net margin of 20.57%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.70 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Cullen/Frost Bankers will post 8.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 31st will be given a $0.92 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 31st. This represents a $3.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.49%. Cullen/Frost Bankers’s dividend payout ratio is presently 43.50%.

About Cullen/Frost Bankers

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Frost Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking services in Texas. The company offers commercial banking services to corporations, including financing for industrial and commercial properties, interim construction related to industrial and commercial properties, equipment, inventories and accounts receivables, and acquisitions; and treasury management services, as well as originates commercial leasing services.