Everything You Should Know About the Upgrade of Citizens Financial Group (CFG) Rating to Buy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 22 2025
0mins
Should l Buy CFG?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Citizens Financial Group Upgrade: Citizens Financial Group (CFG) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which are crucial for stock price movements.
Earnings Estimate Revisions: The Zacks rating system, which focuses on earnings estimate revisions, shows a strong correlation with stock price trends, suggesting that CFG's rising earnings estimates could lead to higher stock prices in the near term.
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Analyst Views on CFG
Wall Street analysts forecast CFG stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 64.780
Low
59.00
Averages
66.29
High
77.00
Current: 64.780
Low
59.00
Averages
66.29
High
77.00
About CFG
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. offers a range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. The Company operates through two segments: Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. Consumer Banking segment serves consumer customers and small businesses, with products and services that include deposits, mortgage and home equity lending, credit cards, small business loans, wealth management and investment services largely across its 14-state traditional banking footprint. Consumer Banking segment operates approximately 1,000 branches, including 143 in-store locations, and approximately 3,100 ATMs. Commercial Banking segment primarily serves companies and institutions with financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as syndicated loans, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Earnings Beat: Citizens Financial Group reported Q4 2025 EPS of $1.13, exceeding the $1.11 analyst estimate and rising from $1.05 in Q3 and $0.83 a year ago, indicating sustained profitability improvement.
- Revenue Growth: Total revenue for Q4 reached $2.16 billion, slightly above the $2.15 billion consensus, and increased from $2.12 billion in Q3 and $1.99 billion in Q4 2024, reflecting strong fee growth and business expansion.
- Net Interest Income Rise: Q4 net interest income was $1.54 billion, up from $1.49 billion in Q3 and $1.41 billion a year earlier, with net interest margin improving from 3.00% in Q3 to 3.07%, showcasing positive impacts from the improved interest rate environment.
- Credit Loss Provision Decline: Provisions for credit losses fell to $137 million from $154 million in Q3 and $162 million in Q4 2024, indicating improved credit quality and effective risk management by the bank.
See More
Citizens Financial Group (CFG) Reports 36% YoY EPS Growth in Q4 2025
- Significant Profit Growth: Citizens Financial Group reported Q4 2025 EPS of $1.13, reflecting an 8% sequential increase and a 36% year-over-year growth, indicating strong profitability and competitive positioning in the market.
- Strong Private Bank Performance: The Private Bank ended 2025 with $14.5 billion in deposits and $7.2 billion in loans, exceeding the 5% target and contributing 7% to pretax income, further solidifying its market position.
- Digital Transformation Initiative: The launch of the 'Reimagine the Bank' program includes around 50 initiatives aimed at enhancing customer experience and achieving substantial revenue growth, with projected pretax benefits of approximately $450 million by 2028.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Citizens expects net interest income to grow by 10% to 12% in 2026, with loan growth accelerating and overall earning assets improving, showcasing the company's strong growth potential in a favorable macroeconomic environment.
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- Large Asset Base: As of December 31, 2025, Citizens Financial Group reported total assets of $226.4 billion, reinforcing its position as one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S. and enhancing market confidence.
- Diverse Offerings: The company provides a wide range of retail, private banking, wealth management, and commercial banking products, catering to the diverse needs of individuals, small businesses, and large corporations, thereby improving customer satisfaction and competitive edge.
- Integrated Customer Experience: Citizens Financial integrates mobile and online banking services in its consumer banking operations, with approximately 3,100 ATMs and 1,000 branches, enhancing customer convenience and service quality, which further drives business growth.
See More
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- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the current stock price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, helping to assess market trends and potential buy or sell opportunities.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade similarly to stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting the liquidity and performance of the ETF.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in ETF shares outstanding helps identify those experiencing significant inflows or outflows, allowing investors to stay informed about market dynamics and potential investment opportunities.
See More
WRV Challenges Big Four Valuation Models with Faster Delivery and Lower Costs
- Clear Market Positioning: WRV enters the market as an independent platform, leveraging decades of valuation and advisory experience focused on the middle market, aiming to provide faster and more cost-effective services than large accounting firms, thereby attracting demand for efficiency and reliability.
- Rapid Delivery Capability: WRV's valuation reports are completed in days, while large firms often take weeks or months, enabling clients to make swift decisions in a competitive market, thus enhancing their responsiveness.
- Strategic Partnerships: WRV has established collaborations with leading service firms, including Baker Tilly and Merchant Investment Management, to provide comprehensive transaction lifecycle support, enhancing its competitive edge and service offerings.
- Future Growth Expectations: WRV anticipates accelerated capital release by 2026, with increased transaction activity as market confidence returns, indicating the company's growth potential and strategic positioning in the middle market will be further solidified.
See More
Trump Reaches Greenland Deal Framework, S&P 500 Rises 1.16%
- Market Rally: Following President Trump's announcement of a framework deal with NATO regarding Greenland, the S&P 500 rose by 1.16%, the Dow Jones by 1.21%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 1.36%, indicating a positive market response to policy stability.
- Bond Yields Decline: The 10-year T-note yield fell by 4 basis points to 4.25%, supported by concerns over Fed independence and rising Japanese bond yields, which contributed to the stock market's recovery.
- Gold Prices Hit Record: Amid the Greenland crisis prompting safe-haven buying, gold prices surged by 1% to a new record high, reflecting increased market anxiety and heightened demand for gold as a store of value.
- Natural Gas Surge: Natural gas prices soared over 24% to a six-week high, driven by an Arctic cold front expected to boost heating demand, leading to significant gains in natural gas-producing stocks and showcasing the energy market's robust activity.
See More
Citizens Financial Group (CFG) Posts Q4 2025 Earnings Beat, Shares Up 6%
- Earnings Beat: Citizens Financial Group reported Q4 2025 EPS of $1.13, exceeding the $1.11 analyst estimate and rising from $1.05 in Q3 and $0.83 a year ago, indicating sustained profitability improvement.
- Revenue Growth: Total revenue for Q4 reached $2.16 billion, slightly above the $2.15 billion consensus, and increased from $2.12 billion in Q3 and $1.99 billion in Q4 2024, reflecting strong fee growth and business expansion.
- Net Interest Income Rise: Q4 net interest income was $1.54 billion, up from $1.49 billion in Q3 and $1.41 billion a year earlier, with net interest margin improving from 3.00% in Q3 to 3.07%, showcasing positive impacts from the improved interest rate environment.
- Credit Loss Provision Decline: Provisions for credit losses fell to $137 million from $154 million in Q3 and $162 million in Q4 2024, indicating improved credit quality and effective risk management by the bank.
See More
Citizens Financial Group (CFG) Reports 36% YoY EPS Growth in Q4 2025
- Significant Profit Growth: Citizens Financial Group reported Q4 2025 EPS of $1.13, reflecting an 8% sequential increase and a 36% year-over-year growth, indicating strong profitability and competitive positioning in the market.
- Strong Private Bank Performance: The Private Bank ended 2025 with $14.5 billion in deposits and $7.2 billion in loans, exceeding the 5% target and contributing 7% to pretax income, further solidifying its market position.
- Digital Transformation Initiative: The launch of the 'Reimagine the Bank' program includes around 50 initiatives aimed at enhancing customer experience and achieving substantial revenue growth, with projected pretax benefits of approximately $450 million by 2028.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Citizens expects net interest income to grow by 10% to 12% in 2026, with loan growth accelerating and overall earning assets improving, showcasing the company's strong growth potential in a favorable macroeconomic environment.
See More
Citizens Financial Group to Participate in UBS Financial Services Conference 2026
- Executive Participation: Citizens Financial Group's Chair of Commercial Banking Don McCree and Head of Commercial Banking Ted Swimmer will participate in the UBS Financial Services Conference on February 10, 2026, showcasing the company's leadership in the financial services sector.
- Large Asset Base: As of December 31, 2025, Citizens Financial Group reported total assets of $226.4 billion, reinforcing its position as one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S. and enhancing market confidence.
- Diverse Offerings: The company provides a wide range of retail, private banking, wealth management, and commercial banking products, catering to the diverse needs of individuals, small businesses, and large corporations, thereby improving customer satisfaction and competitive edge.
- Integrated Customer Experience: Citizens Financial integrates mobile and online banking services in its consumer banking operations, with approximately 3,100 ATMs and 1,000 branches, enhancing customer convenience and service quality, which further drives business growth.
See More
