First Citizens BancShares (STU:FC6A) Moat Score: 6/10 (As of Aug. 20, 2026)

Author: Vera Yuan Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Reviewed by: Charlie Tian Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

STU:FC6A First Citizens BancShares Inc STU:FC6A
75 GF Score
Price €1,850.00
GF Value €1,878.09
! 4 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is First Citizens BancShares Moat Score?

First Citizens BancShares STU:FC6A -2.63% 75 Moat Score is 6 as of Aug. 20, 2026. GuruFocus rates STU:FC6A with a GF Score™ of 75/100 and a GF Value™ of €1,878.09. The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,608 Banks companies, First Citizens BancShares ranks better than 97.82% on this metric.

First Citizens BancShares has the Moat Score of 6, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide.

First Citizens BancShares has Narrow Moat: First Citizens BancShares Inc has a strong narrow moat with a solid market position and customer loyalty. It benefits from economies of scale and regulatory barriers, but lacks the dominance required for a wide moat.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes First Citizens BancShares might have Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide.

First Citizens BancShares  (STU:FC6A) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

First Citizens BancShares Moat Score Related Terms

STU:FC6A vs KEY, RF, CFG: Moat Score Comparison

For the Banks - Regional subindustry, First Citizens BancShares's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

First Citizens BancShares Moat Score vs Banks Industry

For the Banks industry and Financial Services sector, First Citizens BancShares's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where First Citizens BancShares's Moat Score falls into.


STU:FC6A
75GF Score
First Citizens BancShares Inc STU:FC6A
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 6 mean?
First Citizens BancShares (STU:FC6A) has a Moat Score of 6 as of Aug. 20, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, First Citizens BancShares ranks #35 out of 1608 companies in the Banks industry, placing it in the top 2.2%.
Is First Citizens BancShares' Moat Score too high?
First Citizens BancShares' current Moat Score is 6. Based on the distribution chart, First Citizens BancShares ranks #35 out of 1608 companies in the Banks industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, First Citizens BancShares has a GF Score™ of 75/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does First Citizens BancShares' Moat Score compare to KEY and RF?
According to the Banks industry distribution chart, First Citizens BancShares ranks #35 out of 1608 companies for Moat Score. This places First Citizens BancShares in the top 2% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Banks company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Banks industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. First Citizens BancShares's current Moat Score is 6. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is First Citizens BancShares stock overvalued right now?
First Citizens BancShares (STU:FC6A) has a current Moat Score of 6. The stock's GF Value™ is €1,878.09, compared to a current price of €1,850.00 — trading 1.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 6. First Citizens BancShares' overall GF Score™ is 75/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For First Citizens BancShares (STU:FC6A), the current Moat Score is 6 as of Aug. 20, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is First Citizens BancShares (STU:FC6A) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, First Citizens BancShares stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of €1,850.00 is trading 1.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of €1,878.09.

Key valuation signals for STU:FC6A:

  • Moat Score: 6
  • GF Value™: €1,878.09 vs. price of €1,850.00 (1.5% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 75/100 with 4 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:FC6A stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

First Citizens BancShares Business Description

Address 4300 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC, USA, 27609
First Citizens is a US regional bank with total assets of around $236 billion as of March 31, 2026. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, First Citizens' largest markets are North Carolina, South Carolina, and California. The bank has a track record of acquiring troubled banks from the FDIC, such as Silicon Valley Bridge Bank in 2023, which doubled its asset base. First Citizens offers products and services across retail, commercial, wealth management, and railcar leasing. First Citizens derived over 95% of its earnings from banking and less than 5% from railcar leasing in 2025.
75GF Score

Get the complete analysis for STU:FC6A

Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€1,850.00
Price
€1,878.09
GF Value