Head-To-Head Survey: Citizens Bancshares (OTCMKTS:CZBS) versus First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ:FCNCA)

Citizens Bancshares (OTCMKTS:CZBS) and First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQ:FCNCA) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, risk, profitability and earnings.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings for Citizens Bancshares and First Citizens BancShares, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Citizens Bancshares	0	0	0	0	0.00
First Citizens BancShares	0	8	4	2	2.57

First Citizens BancShares has a consensus price target of $2,227.08, indicating a potential upside of 11.59%. Given First Citizens BancShares’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe First Citizens BancShares is more favorable than Citizens Bancshares.

Volatility and Risk

Citizens Bancshares has a beta of 0.37, indicating that its stock price is 63% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Citizens BancShares has a beta of 0.65, indicating that its stock price is 35% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Citizens Bancshares pays an annual dividend of $1.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. First Citizens BancShares pays an annual dividend of $8.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. First Citizens BancShares pays out 5.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Citizens BancShares has increased its dividend for 8 consecutive years.

Profitability

This table compares Citizens Bancshares and First Citizens BancShares’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Citizens Bancshares	N/A	N/A	N/A
First Citizens BancShares	15.21%	11.18%	1.03%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

78.0% of First Citizens BancShares shares are held by institutional investors. 10.2% of Citizens Bancshares shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 14.6% of First Citizens BancShares shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Citizens Bancshares and First Citizens BancShares”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Citizens Bancshares	$44.68 million	1.88	$12.88 million	N/A	N/A
First Citizens BancShares	$14.51 billion	1.64	$2.21 billion	$165.72	12.04

First Citizens BancShares has higher revenue and earnings than Citizens Bancshares.

Summary

First Citizens BancShares beats Citizens Bancshares on 13 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Citizens Bancshares

Citizens Bancshares Corporation operates as the holding company for Citizens Trust Bank that provides various commercial banking services to individual and corporate customers. The company offers checking and savings accounts; and demand and money market deposits. Its loan products include commercial, financial, and agricultural loans; loans secured by personal property, such as automobiles, marketable securities, and other titled recreational vehicles and motorcycles, as well as unsecured consumer debt; commercial real estate loans; single-family residential loans; and construction and development loans. The company also offers investment accounts and certificate of deposit account registry services. In addition, it provides merchant services, which include point of sale terminal, credit and debit card processing, electronic benefits transfer, gift card, and Internet shopping cart services; cash management services; and credit cards. Further, the company offers online and mobile banking, as well as check reorder services. Citizens Bancshares Corporation was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

About First Citizens BancShares

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. operates as the holding company for First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company that provides retail and commercial banking services to individuals, businesses, and professionals. The company's deposit products include checking, savings, money market, and time deposit accounts. Its loan product portfolio comprises commercial construction and mortgage; and commercial and industrial leases, as well as small business administration loans. In addition, the company offers consumer loans, such as residential and revolving mortgage, consumer auto, and other consumer loans. Further, it provides wealth management services, including annuities, brokerage services, and third-party mutual funds, as well as investment management and advisory services. The company provides its products and services through its branch network. First Citizens BancShares, Inc. was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.