Lazard Asset Management LLC Cuts Stake in Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:CFG)

Lazard Asset Management LLC lowered its position in Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:CFG - Free Report) by 83.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,776 shares of the bank's stock after selling 45,171 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC's holdings in Citizens Financial Group were worth $383,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Colonial Trust Co SC boosted its position in Citizens Financial Group by 673.0% during the fourth quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 889 shares of the bank's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 774 shares in the last quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in Citizens Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $47,000. Finally, Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in Citizens Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $51,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.90% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have issued reports on CFG. Argus set a $45.00 price target on Citizens Financial Group in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on Citizens Financial Group from $55.00 to $48.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Citizens Financial Group in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. They set a "buy" rating and a $50.00 price objective for the company. Stephens reduced their price objective on Citizens Financial Group from $53.00 to $48.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Citizens Financial Group from $49.00 to $43.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Citizens Financial Group currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $47.50.

Citizens Financial Group Stock Down 1.1%

Shares of NYSE CFG traded down $0.44 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $39.98. 343,577 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,798,627. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $32.60 and a fifty-two week high of $49.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.20, a P/E/G ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The business's fifty day moving average is $38.42 and its 200 day moving average is $42.96.

Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The bank reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.02. Citizens Financial Group had a return on equity of 6.75% and a net margin of 12.21%. The firm had revenue of $1.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.94 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Citizens Financial Group, Inc. will post 3.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Citizens Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 30th were issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.20%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 30th. Citizens Financial Group's payout ratio is 53.33%.

Citizens Financial Group Profile

Citizens Financial Group, Inc operates as the bank holding company that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking.