C 10-K Analysis: The Capital Return Mirage Behind Citigroup's 63% Re-Rating
Citigroup delivered the highest total shareholder yield (8.7%) among US megabanks in FY 2025, returning $18.6 billion through buybacks and dividends. The stock re-rated 63% from its 8-quarter P/B median. But the 10-K reveals 42% of buybacks were funded by depleting the CET1 buffer to just 90 basis points above regulatory minimums — a one-time capital maneuver, not sustainable earnings power. This analysis decomposes what's organic, what's borrowed, and what has to go right in 2026.