Is CZBIL’s Dividend Streak Hiding Its Weak ROE and Below-Average EPS?

What Is CZBIL and Where Does the Price Stand?

We are looking at Citizens Bank International Limited (CZBIL) today. The share price stands at Rs 217.10, showing a minor change of 0.18%. Its 52-week range spans from a low of Rs 183.00 to a high of Rs 238.60. The company operates within the Commercial Banks sector.

Valuation Metrics Explained

Let us break down the fundamental numbers of the company:

- EPS (Earnings Per Share): Rs 13.53 (Shows how much profit the company makes per share.)
- P/E (Price-to-Earnings Ratio): 15.77 (Tells us how much investors are paying for each rupee of earnings.)
- P/B (Price-to-Book Ratio): 1.33 (Compares the market price to the book value per share.)
- ROE (Return on Equity): 7.09% (Measures profitability relative to shareholders' equity.)
- Book Value: Rs 160.49 (The net asset value per share.)
- Graham Number: Rs 221.04 (An estimate of a stock's fair value based on Benjamin Graham's formula.)

Peer Comparison

When compared against 19 peers in the Commercial Banks sector, CZBIL's standing is as follows:

| Indicator | CZBIL Rank | Sector Median |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| EPS | 13th of 19 (Best: EBL at 36.95) | Rs 18.01 |
| ROE | 17th of 19 (Best: KBL at 15.66%) | 10.42% |
| P/E | 7th of 19 | 18.87 |
| P/B | 5th of 19 | 1.41 |

CZBIL lags behind the sector median in profitability metrics like EPS and ROE, ranking in the lower half. However, its P/E and P/B ratios place it in a relatively better position compared to many peers.

Dividends and Payouts

CZBIL has declared a total dividend of 4% (0.2% cash and 3.8% bonus) for the fiscal year 2082/2083. The bank maintains a strong 16-year dividend streak. Its 5-year average total dividend is 5.65%, with a dividend yield of 0.09%. A recent book close took place on October 5, 2026.

Sector vs NEPSE

The banking sector sits at 45.13% of its 5-year range relative to NEPSE. It shares a strong weekly and 12-month correlation of 0.92 with the broader NEPSE index, meaning it moves closely with the market. The sector outperformed NEPSE slightly by 8.81% over 13 weeks and 10.36% over 52 weeks.

Price Trend and Big Broker Patterns

Moving averages (5-day, 20-day, and 50-day) are all flashing a 'Bullish' signal. The 20-day price range stays between Rs 200.7 and Rs 216.7. Over the last 20 sessions, big brokers like 56, 45, and 89 led the buying, while brokers 74, 58, and 49 led the selling, with a total turnover exceeding Rs 27.5 crore across 1.31 million shares.

Risks and What to Watch

The health score is 65, earning an 'OK' grade, backed by a consistent record of paying a dividend in each of the last 5 years. On the flip side, the low ROE of 7.09% and below-average EPS remain key areas of concern.

Conclusion

We see that CZBIL's long-standing dividend streak offers appeal for income-focused observers. Yet, its lagging profitability metrics demand careful attention. We advise watching these fundamentals closely before making any decisions.