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Community Financial System, Inc.. (CBU) Stock Fundamental Analysis & AI Rating 2026

CBU NYSE National Commercial Banks DE CIK: 0000723188
Updated This Month • Analysis: Mar 22, 2026 • SEC Data: 2025-12-31
📅 Next earnings: Apr 29, 2026 (in 13 days) • Pre-market ET • EPS est. $1.10 (vs $0.93 prior year) • All earnings →
Combined AI Rating
BUY
72% Confidence
STRONG AGREEMENT
BUY
72% Conf
BUY
72% Conf

📊 CBU Key Takeaways

Revenue: $818.0M
Net Margin: 25.7%
Free Cash Flow: $233.3M
Current Ratio: N/A
Debt/Equity: 0.49x
EPS: $3.97
AI Rating: BUY with 72% confidence
Community Financial System, Inc.. (CBU) receives a BUY rating with 72% confidence from our AI fundamental analysis based on SEC 10-K filings. With revenue of $818.0M, net profit margin of 25.7%, and return on equity (ROE) of 10.5%, Community Financial System, Inc.. demonstrates strong fundamentals in the Finance sector. Below is our complete CBU stock analysis for 2026.

Is Community Financial System, Inc.. (CBU) a Good Investment?

Claude

Community Financial System demonstrates solid fundamental performance with strong revenue growth of 17% YoY and healthy profitability margins (25.7% net margin). The company maintains a conservative capital structure with a 0.49x debt-to-equity ratio and generates substantial free cash flow of $233.3M, indicating robust operational efficiency and cash generation capability.

ChatGPT

Community Financial System shows solid core fundamentals with strong operating and net margins, healthy returns on equity and assets for a bank, and good revenue growth. Free cash flow generation and a moderate reported debt-to-equity ratio support financial flexibility, although the very low interest coverage and nearly flat net income versus revenue growth suggest earnings quality should be watched closely.

Why Buy Community Financial System, Inc.. Stock? CBU Key Strengths

Claude
  • + Strong revenue growth of 17% YoY indicates market expansion and operational momentum
  • + Excellent free cash flow generation of $233.3M with 28.5% FCF margin demonstrates cash conversion efficiency
  • + Conservative leverage at 0.49x debt-to-equity provides financial flexibility and stability
  • + Healthy net profit margin of 25.7% and operating margin of 33.7% show strong cost control
  • + Operating cash flow of $301.9M exceeds net income, indicating quality earnings
ChatGPT
  • + Strong profitability with 33.7% operating margin and 25.7% net margin
  • + Healthy balance sheet profile with 10.5% ROE, 1.2% ROA, and moderate reported debt-to-equity of 0.49x
  • + Good top-line momentum with revenue up 17.0% YoY and solid free cash flow generation of $233.33M

CBU Stock Risks: Community Financial System, Inc.. Investment Risks

Claude
  • ! Weak interest coverage ratio of 1.4x suggests limited cushion to service debt obligations
  • ! ROA of 1.2% is relatively modest for banking sector, indicating lower asset efficiency
  • ! ROE of 10.5% is moderate and below typical banking sector benchmarks
  • ! High insider trading activity (35 Form 4 filings in 90 days) warrants monitoring for insider sentiment
  • ! Long-term debt of $990.2M represents significant obligations relative to equity base
ChatGPT
  • ! Net income grew only 0.4% YoY despite strong revenue growth, indicating margin pressure or higher credit and funding costs
  • ! Interest coverage of 1.4x is weak and leaves limited cushion if funding costs remain elevated
  • ! Bank fundamentals remain sensitive to credit quality deterioration, deposit mix changes, and net interest margin compression

Key Metrics to Watch

Claude
  • * Interest coverage ratio trend - currently thin at 1.4x
  • * Net interest margin and loan portfolio growth sustainability
  • * Capital expenditure trends and asset quality metrics
  • * Return on equity trajectory toward sector averages
  • * Insider buying/selling patterns and insider confidence indicators
ChatGPT
  • * Net interest margin and efficiency ratio
  • * Provision for credit losses and nonperforming assets

Community Financial System, Inc.. (CBU) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios

Revenue
$818.0M
Net Income
$210.5M
EPS (Diluted)
$3.97
Free Cash Flow
$233.3M
Total Assets
$17.3B
Cash Position
$301.8M

💡 AI Analyst Insight

The 28.5% free cash flow margin provides substantial flexibility for dividends, buybacks, and strategic investments. The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.

CBU Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis

Gross Margin N/A
Operating Margin 33.7%
Net Margin 25.7%
ROE 10.5%
ROA 1.2%
FCF Margin 28.5%

CBU vs Finance Sector: How Community Financial System, Inc.. Compares

How Community Financial System, Inc.. compares to Finance sector averages

Net Margin
CBU 25.7%
vs
Sector Avg 25.0%
CBU Sector
ROE
CBU 10.5%
vs
Sector Avg 12.0%
CBU Sector
Current Ratio
CBU 0.0x
vs
Sector Avg 1.2x
CBU Sector
Debt/Equity
CBU 0.5x
vs
Sector Avg 2.0x
CBU Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

Is Community Financial System, Inc.. Stock Overvalued? CBU Valuation Analysis 2026

Based on fundamental analysis, Community Financial System, Inc.. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Finance sector in 2026.

Return on Equity
10.5%
Sector avg: 12%
Net Profit Margin
25.7%
Sector avg: 25%
Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Debt/Equity
0.49x
Sector avg: 2x

Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.

Community Financial System, Inc.. Balance Sheet: CBU Debt, Cash & Liquidity

Current Ratio
N/A
Quick Ratio
N/A
Debt/Equity
0.49x
Debt/Assets
88.4%
Interest Coverage
1.43x
Long-term Debt
$990.2M

CBU Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend

CBU 5-year financial data: Year 2024: Revenue $746.3M, Net Income $188.1M, EPS $3.46. Year 2025: Revenue $818.0M, Net Income $131.9M, EPS $2.45.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: Community Financial System, Inc..'s revenue has shown modest growth of 10% over the 5-year period. The most recent EPS of $2.45 reflects profitable operations.

CBU Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
28.5%
Free cash flow / Revenue

CBU Quarterly Earnings & Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for Community Financial System, Inc.. including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q3 2025 $188.9M $43.9M $0.83
Q2 2025 $183.8M $47.9M $0.91
Q1 2025 $177.3M $40.9M $0.76
Q3 2022 $200.0K $45.3M $0.83
Q2 2022 $300.0K $39.8M $0.73
Q1 2022 $300.0K $47.1M $0.86

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

Community Financial System, Inc.. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
$301.9M
Cash generated from operations
Stock Buybacks
$11.2M
Shares repurchased (TTM)
Capital Expenditures
$68.5M
Investment in assets
Dividends Paid
$97.6M
Returned to shareholders

CBU SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Community Financial System, Inc.. (CIK: 0000723188)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
Mar 27, 2026 DEF 14A ny20064673x1_def14a.htm View →
Mar 23, 2026 4 xslF345X06/form4.xml View →
Mar 23, 2026 4 xslF345X06/form4.xml View →
Mar 23, 2026 4 xslF345X06/form4.xml View →
Mar 23, 2026 4 xslF345X06/form4.xml View →

Frequently Asked Questions about CBU

What is the AI rating for CBU?

Community Financial System, Inc.. (CBU) has a Combined AI Rating of BUY from Claude (BUY) and ChatGPT (BUY) with 72% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are CBU's key strengths?

Claude: Strong revenue growth of 17% YoY indicates market expansion and operational momentum. Excellent free cash flow generation of $233.3M with 28.5% FCF margin demonstrates cash conversion efficiency. ChatGPT: Strong profitability with 33.7% operating margin and 25.7% net margin. Healthy balance sheet profile with 10.5% ROE, 1.2% ROA, and moderate reported debt-to-equity of 0.49x.

What are the risks of investing in CBU?

Claude: Weak interest coverage ratio of 1.4x suggests limited cushion to service debt obligations. ROA of 1.2% is relatively modest for banking sector, indicating lower asset efficiency. ChatGPT: Net income grew only 0.4% YoY despite strong revenue growth, indicating margin pressure or higher credit and funding costs. Interest coverage of 1.4x is weak and leaves limited cushion if funding costs remain elevated.

What is CBU's revenue and growth?

Community Financial System, Inc.. reported revenue of $818.0M.

Does CBU pay dividends?

Community Financial System, Inc.. pays dividends, with $97.6M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.

Where can I find CBU SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for Community Financial System, Inc.. (CIK: 0000723188) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is CBU's EPS?

Community Financial System, Inc.. has a diluted EPS of $3.97.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.

Is CBU a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Community Financial System, Inc.. has a BUY rating with 72% confidence. The AI analysis suggests favorable fundamentals based on SEC filings. This is not investment advice.

Is CBU stock overvalued or undervalued?

Valuation metrics for CBU: ROE of 10.5% (sector avg: 12%), net margin of 25.7% (sector avg: 25%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.

Should I buy CBU stock in 2026?

Our dual AI analysis gives Community Financial System, Inc.. a combined BUY rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability above sector average. Always conduct your own research.

What is CBU's free cash flow?

Community Financial System, Inc..'s operating cash flow is $301.9M, with capital expenditures of $68.5M. FCF margin is 28.5%.

How does CBU compare to other Finance stocks?

Vs Finance sector averages: Net margin 25.7% (avg: 25%), ROE 10.5% (avg: 12%), current ratio N/A (avg: 1.2).

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Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: Mar 22, 2026 | Data as of: 2025-12-31 | Powered by Claude AI