Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) vs Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) has outperformed Wintrust Financial (WTFC) over the past year, gaining 18.0% versus a gain of 8.2%. Over five years, WTFC leads with a +69.7% price change compared with +21.6% for CFR. Wintrust Financial is the larger company by market cap ($9.61 billion vs $9.35 billion), about 1.0 times the size, while Cullen/Frost Bankers is growing revenue faster (+8.3% vs +5.9%).
On valuation, Wintrust Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (10.3x vs 12.6x for Cullen/Frost Bankers). Cullen/Frost Bankers offers the higher dividend yield (2.68% vs 1.47%). Wintrust Financial converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 310.1% versus 29.0%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CFR | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $150.37 | $142.49 |
| Market cap | $9.35B | $9.61B |
| 1-day change | -1.69% | -1.69% |
| YTD return | +18.75% | +1.91% |
| 1-year return | +18.00% | +8.22% |
| 5-year return | +21.60% | +69.67% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.21 | 11.44 |
| Forward P/E | 12.61 | 10.30 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.58 | $12.45 |
| Dividend yield | 2.68% | 1.47% |
| Annual dividend | $4.03 | $2.10 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.24B | $265.63M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.31% | +5.94% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $648.56M | $823.84M |
| Net margin | 29.02% | 310.14% |
| 52-week high | $170.80 | $167.22 |
| 52-week low | $119.00 | $119.61 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.96% | -14.79% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.29% | +23.66% |
| Average volume | 545.11K | 562.05K |
| Shares outstanding | 62.15M | 67.46M |
| Employees | 6,008 | 5,902 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Major Banks | Major Banks |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Cullen/Frost Bankers offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.68% vs 1.47%).
- Wintrust Financial is more profitable, keeping 310.1 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 29.0 cents for Cullen/Frost Bankers.
About Cullen/Frost Bankers
CFR stock →Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Frost Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking services in Texas.
Finance · Major Banks · 6,008 employees
About Wintrust Financial
WTFC stock →Wintrust Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides community-oriented, personal, and commercial banking services in the United States. It operates through three segments: Community Banking, Specialty Finance, and Wealth Management.
Finance · Major Banks · 5,902 employees
CFR vs WTFC FAQ
Which is bigger, Cullen/Frost Bankers or Wintrust Financial?
Wintrust Financial (WTFC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.61B compared with $9.35B for Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CFR or WTFC?
CFR returned +18.00% over the past 12 months, compared with +8.22% for WTFC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CFR or WTFC?
WTFC has the lower trailing P/E at 11.4, versus 14.2 for CFR. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Cullen/Frost Bankers or Wintrust Financial?
Cullen/Frost Bankers has the higher yield at 2.68%, compared with 1.47% for Wintrust Financial.
Are Cullen/Frost Bankers and Wintrust Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.