Citigroup Stock Has Lost 16% in the Market Sell-Off. Is It a Buy?

Core Viewpoint - Citigroup's stock has experienced a significant decline, falling approximately 20% from its highs, which is notably worse than the S&P 500 index's decline of over 10% [1][2] Group 1: Stock Performance - Citigroup's shares have rebounded somewhat but remain down about 16%, compared to the S&P 500's decline of roughly 7.5% [2] - Between mid-September 2024 and its recent sell-off, Citigroup's stock gained over 40%, and it is still up more than 20% since that time despite the recent downturn [3] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - Citigroup's current price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is approximately 1.7, compared to a five-year average of just under 1.5 [5] - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 12, against a longer-term average of about 8.2 [5] - The price-to-book (P/B) ratio is 0.7, in contrast to a five-year average of around 0.6 [5] Group 3: Historical Context - Citigroup's recent decline is relatively minor compared to other sell-offs over the past decade, suggesting that the current drop may not be as significant [6] - There is a possibility that Citigroup's stock could decline further based on its current valuation metrics [6] Group 4: Investment Considerations - Despite the recent price drop, Citigroup does not appear to be a compelling buy for value-oriented investors, as it has not fallen to a level that would warrant immediate purchase [7]