GAMMA Investing LLC Boosts Holdings in Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR)

GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR - Free Report) by 877.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,035 shares of the bank's stock after purchasing an additional 7,213 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC's holdings in Cullen/Frost Bankers were worth $1,006,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of CFR. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 8.3% during the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 13,083 shares of the bank's stock worth $1,756,000 after acquiring an additional 1,003 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 59.6% during the 1st quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 391 shares of the bank's stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,375,303 shares of the bank's stock valued at $855,884,000 after purchasing an additional 66,243 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 15.1% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 4,339 shares of the bank's stock worth $583,000 after buying an additional 568 shares during the period. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers by 42.6% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 4,090 shares of the bank's stock worth $549,000 after buying an additional 1,222 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.90% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Matthew Bradley Henson acquired 1,870 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $16.93 per share, with a total value of $31,659.10. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief accounting officer owned 5,545 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $93,876.85. This trade represents a 50.88% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Stock Up 3.1%

Shares of CFR traded up $3.98 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $132.52. 466,363 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 458,711. The business has a 50 day moving average of $125.36 and a 200 day moving average of $128.66. The company has a market capitalization of $8.52 billion, a PE ratio of 14.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.90 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. has a 1-year low of $96.94 and a 1-year high of $147.64.

Cullen/Frost Bankers (NYSE:CFR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The bank reported $2.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.17 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $560.42 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $540.57 million. Cullen/Frost Bankers had a net margin of 20.89% and a return on equity of 15.70%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.15 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. will post 8.85 EPS for the current year.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 30th were given a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.02%. This is a boost from Cullen/Frost Bankers's previous quarterly dividend of $0.95. Cullen/Frost Bankers's payout ratio is currently 43.91%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $105.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $147.00 to $140.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers from $132.00 to $120.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. Finally, Stephens increased their target price on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $138.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $132.08.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Profile

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.