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Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG) vs Salesforce, Inc. (CRM): Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

As of 2026-06-19, CFG is undervalued at $67, with a DCF intrinsic value of $267 and a margin of safety of 75%. CRM is undervalued at $152, with an intrinsic value of $274 and a margin of safety of 45%. Of the two, CFG has the wider margin of safety.

CFG
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
$67.08
VS
CRM
Salesforce, Inc.
$151.78

Rewards

CFG
  • ★Citizens Financial Group, Inc. scores 84/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with reinvestment efficiency as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • ★Share count has been reduced by 13% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
CRM
  • ★Gross margin of 77.6% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★Free cash flow has grown at a 31.6% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
  • ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $5.53 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.

Risks

CFG
  • ⚠Gross margin of 0.0% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
  • ⚠Trailing P/E of 15.9x is 29% above the historical average of 12.4x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
  • ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.18 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
CRM

    Key Valuation Metrics

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    CFG
    CRM
    Valuation
    N/A
    Free Cash Flow
    $16.55B
    N/A
    FCF Yield
    13.32%
    15.90
    Trailing P/E
    17.57
    10.46
    Forward P/E
    9.77
    Quality & Moat
    16.21%
    ROIC
    9.61%
    7.74%
    ROE
    16.91%
    0.00%
    Gross Margin
    77.64%
    1.65
    PEG Ratio
    0.77
    Balance Sheet Safety
    N/A
    Net Debt / Equity
    0.90
    N/A
    Interest Coverage
    N/A
    N/A
    Net Debt / EBITDA
    2.38
    2.74%
    Dividend Yield
    1.09%
    CFG: 3Ties: 1CRM: 4
    CFGCRM

    Historical Fundamentals

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    CFG

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

    CRM

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

    $1 Retained Earnings Test

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    CFG
    $2.55
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Exceptional Value Creator
    Σ Retained
    $2.23B
    Δ Market Cap
    +$5.69B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
    CRM
    $-7.99
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Market Cap Declined
    Σ Retained
    $14.67B
    Δ Market Cap
    $-117.14B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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    CFG
    74.8% Margin of Safety
    Price is 74.8% below estimated fair value
    Current Price: $67.08
    Fair Value: $266.62
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued
    CRM
    44.5% Margin of Safety
    Price is 44.5% below estimated fair value
    Current Price: $151.78
    Fair Value: $273.71
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued

    Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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    CFG

    Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

    CRM

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $152?

    +3.6%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies -2.8%

    The market implies +3.6% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

    Standard FCF implies a more demanding -2.8%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

    Economic Moat Score

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    CFG
    84/100
    Wide Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Wide moat driven primarily by reinvestment efficiency. Margin Stability is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
    CRM
    58/100
    Narrow Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

    Forensic Accounting

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    CFG
    -2.39
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
    CRM
    -2.73
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Ownership Breakdown

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    CFG
    Insiders 0.7%Institutions 98.7%Retail & Other 0.5%
    No. of Institutional Holders1,403
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
    CRM
    Insiders 3.0%Institutions 94.3%Retail & Other 2.8%
    No. of Institutional Holders3,722
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    Insider Buying Activity

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    CFG
    0
    Buys (3M)
    0
    Buys (12M)
    No open market insider purchases found.
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
    CRM
    0
    Buys (3M)
    5
    Buys (12M)
    Total value (12M): $27.38M
    ALBER LAURA
    Director
    $500,266
    @ $194.58 · 2026-03-19
    KIRK DAVID BLAIR
    Director
    $500,178
    @ $194.62 · 2026-03-18
    KIRK DAVID BLAIR
    Director
    $500,722
    @ $258.64 · 2025-12-17
    MORFIT G MASON
    Director and Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
    $25.02M
    @ $260.58 · 2025-12-05
    KIRK DAVID BLAIR
    Director
    $865,827
    @ $254.66 · 2025-09-09
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

    Insider Selling Activity

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    CFG
    1
    Sells (3M)
    2
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $1.15M
    MOOSALLY MICHELLE
    Officer
    $376,068
    @ $62.16 · 2026-05-12
    LAMONICA SUSAN
    Officer
    $769,494
    @ $58.04 · 2026-03-11
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
    CRM
    0
    Sells (3M)
    15
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $40.30M
    KROES NEELIE
    Director
    $929,276
    @ $238.70 · 2026-01-14
    HARRIS G PARKER
    Officer and Director
    $31.61M
    @ $234.70 · 2025-12-02
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $575,140
    @ $255.62 · 2025-10-23
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $590,102
    @ $262.27 · 2025-10-21
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $567,631
    @ $252.28 · 2025-10-20
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $550,430
    @ $244.64 · 2025-10-17
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $558,810
    @ $248.36 · 2025-10-16
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $536,322
    @ $238.37 · 2025-10-15
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $548,796
    @ $243.91 · 2025-10-14
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $1.10M
    @ $244.75 · 2025-10-13
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $547,344
    @ $243.26 · 2025-10-09
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $539,533
    @ $239.79 · 2025-10-08
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $555,001
    @ $246.67 · 2025-09-23
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $552,798
    @ $245.69 · 2025-09-19
    BENIOFF MARC RUSSELL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $545,384
    @ $242.39 · 2025-09-15
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

    🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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    CFG
    FearGreed
    😏Greed(71/100)

    "Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
    CRM
    FearGreed
    🥶Extreme Fear(18/100)

    "Mr. Market is panicking — potential buying opportunity if fundamentals are strong"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    ⚖️ Buffett Signal

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    CFG
    ⚪Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Greed (71)
    CRM
    ⚪Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Extreme Fear (18)
    View CFG Full AnalysisView CRM Full Analysis

    Frequently Asked Questions: CFG vs CRM

    Is Citizens Financial Group, Inc. or Salesforce, Inc. more undervalued in 2026?▼

    Based on our discounted cash flow model, CFG trades at a 74.8% margin of safety (intrinsic value $267 vs. price $67), compared to CRM's 44.5% margin of safety (intrinsic $274 vs. $152).

    Which stock has a wider economic moat, Citizens Financial Group, Inc. or Salesforce, Inc.?▼

    CFG scores 84/100 (Wide moat), while CRM scores 58/100 (Narrow moat). The moat score measures competitive advantage durability across ROIC consistency, margin stability, revenue predictability, and reinvestment efficiency.

    Is Citizens Financial Group, Inc. in financial distress?▼

    CFG's Altman Z-Score of 0.2 places it in the Distress zone, signaling elevated bankruptcy risk. CRM scores 2.4 (Grey zone). The Altman Z-Score is a five-factor model that predicts insolvency within two years; scores below 1.81 indicate significant distress.

    Which stock has higher return on invested capital, Citizens Financial Group, Inc. or Salesforce, Inc.?▼

    CFG earns 16.2% ROIC versus CRM's 9.6%. A higher ROIC means the company generates more profit per dollar of capital employed, a hallmark of durable competitive advantage in Buffett-style analysis.

    Which dividend is safer, Citizens Financial Group, Inc.'s or Salesforce, Inc.'s?▼

    CFG's dividend earns a safety score of 94/100 (Very Safe), compared to CRM's 88/100 (Very Safe). CFG has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years.