Evercore ISI Raises Citizens Financial Group Price Target to $55.00, Up 14.58%

Evercore ISI Group has upgraded Citizens Financial Group's (CFG) rating from "In-Line" to "Outperform" and raised its price target from $48.00 to $55.00, a 14.58% increase. The upgrade reflects a stronger confidence in CFG's market position and growth potential. Analysts' average one-year price target is $52.56, with an upside of 7.66% from the current price.

Citizens Financial Group (CFG) has seen its stock rating upgraded by Evercore ISI from "In-Line" to "Outperform," with the price target raised from $48.00 to $55.00, representing a 14.58% increase. This upgrade reflects a stronger confidence in CFG's market position and growth potential.

Evercore ISI's positive outlook is driven by several factors, including strengthening balance sheet trends, favorable net interest margin dynamics, fee income upside, and positive operating leverage. The firm expects these elements to drive steady improvements in CFG's earnings trajectory and long-term returns. The upgrade comes on the heels of CFG's impressive second-quarter results for 2025, where the company exceeded Wall Street expectations, posting an earnings per share of $0.92 and revenue of $2.04 billion [1].

The bank's strong performance was driven by increases in net interest income and fee income, with the latter up by 10% due to record quarters in wealth and card fees. CFG has maintained dividend payments for 12 consecutive years, demonstrating consistent shareholder returns. Additionally, the company continues to expand its product offerings and technological innovations, aiming to enhance its competitive position in the market [2].

Evercore ISI's updated outlook implies a 30% EPS growth at CFG in 2026 compared to 16% at peers, supporting approximately 225 basis points of ROTCE expansion and 20 basis points of ROA improvement by year-end 2026. The bank is also committed to delivering positive operating leverage, including 150 basis points in fiscal year 2025, which should support upside to returns as growth accelerates [1].

Citizens Financial Group announced a stock buyback plan on June 13th, authorizing the repurchase of up to $1.50 billion in outstanding shares, indicating management's belief in the stock's undervaluation. Institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently increased their positions in CFG, further supporting the stock's potential upside [2].

Analysts from various firms, including Goldman Sachs and UBS, have shown interest in CFG's private bank growth strategy and the potential for AI and technology transformation. The company plans to continue its strategic initiatives, including the expansion of its Private Bank, targeting $12 billion in deposits and $7 billion in loans by year-end [2].

References:
[1] https://ca.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/citizens-financial-group-stock-rating-upgraded-by-evercore-isi-on-improving-earnings-93CH-4107858
[2] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/evercore-isi-upgrades-citizens-financial-group-nysecfg-to-outperform-2025-07-18/