Is the Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) share price a buy at $90?

Is the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price a buy today? This ASX bank has just hit a new post-COVID high of ~$90 a share.

| More on:
investor staring off into the distance wondering when Flight Centre might pay a dividend again as the share price rises today

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price has been making investors very happy over the past 12 months. The ASX's largest bank has grown more than 52% in value over the past year, including a healthy 7% in 2021 so far.

On Friday, CBA broke its 52-week high and closed at its highest level since February 2020 when the bank hit its pre-COVID all-time high.

Today, CBA has climbed even higher, making a fresh new 52-week high of $89.99 this morning. While that share price is laughably tantalising for being so close to $90, let's take a look at what this ASX bank has to offer at ~$90 a share today.

What does Commonwealth Bank offer today?

So, at the current share price, CBA is trading with a market capitalisation of $159.2 billion, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 19.96 and a trailing dividend yield of 2.76%.

At this market capitalisation, CBA is now back atop its sometimes-occupied throne of the most valuable company on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). Yes, CBA is now the biggest public company in Australia, a position it has regularly shared with BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) over the past few years.

So at a P/E ratio of 19.96, CBA is still below the current average for an ASX 200 company, which is 23.65. However, it is also below the average P/E of other big ASX banks today. To illustrate, let's take a look at CBA's big four brethren.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are currently trading on a sky-high P/E ratio of 39.63. But National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) currently have P/Es of 24.67 and 23.79 respectively.

Turning to dividend yields, and CBA is once again looking competitive. A trailing yield of 2.76% far outstrips ANZ's current trailing yield of 2.08% on current pricing. Ditto with NAB's 2.24%. And Westpac is currently offering investors just 1.23%.

However, it's worth noting that the dividends we will see over the rest of 2021 are likely to look a lot different to what we have seen over 2020.

So CBA looks objectively attractive on all of these metrics compared to its ASX banking stablemates. But that doesn't automatically mean CBA shares are a buy today. So what's the 411?

Is the CBA share price a buy today?

According to CommSec, broker Goldman Sachs has a 'sell' rating on CBA shares, with a 12-month price target of $73.64 a share. The investment bank and broker points to CBA's heavy exposure to the retail housing market as the primary reason it is not too keen on CBA shares at $90.

Sebastian Bowen owns shares of National Australia Bank Limited. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of CSL Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

More on Bank Shares

Shot of a young businesswoman looking stressed out while working in an office.
Bank Shares

Why is the Westpac share price being hit so hard today?

The bank is currently the worst-performing member of the big four.

Read more »

A happy elderly woman smiles and cheers as she looks at good investment news on her laptop.
Bank Shares

Are superannuation funds propping up the CBA share price?

This expert might have cracked the CBA share price code.

Read more »

A young bank customer wearing a yellow jumper smiles as she checks her bank balance on her phone.
Bank Shares

$5,000 invested in CBA shares at the start of 2023 is now worth…

CBA's smashing returns might surprise you...

Read more »

A man in a suit smiles at the yellow piggy bank he holds in his hand.
Share Market News

Looking outside the big four? What's in store for the other ASX bank shares in 2025?

Shares in the big four banks went gangbusters in 2024, but what about the others?

Read more »

Businessman smiles with arms outstretched after receiving good news.
Bank Shares

Guess which ASX 200 bank stock delivered double CBA's share price gains in 2024?

Hint: It's wasn't a big four bank...

Read more »

A man in a business suit whose face isn't shown hands over two australian hundred dollar notes from a pile of notes in his other hand to an outstretched hand of another person.
Bank Shares

Is it time to cash in some profit on ASX 200 bank shares?

The S&P/ASX 200 Banks Index surged almost 30% compared to a 7.5% lift for the broader ASX 200 last year.

Read more »

Nervous customer in discussions at a bank.
Share Market News

Are CBA shares a great buy for dividends in 2025?

Can investors bank on big dividends this year?

Read more »

Middle age caucasian man smiling confident drinking coffee at home.
Bank Shares

Was it a good idea to own Westpac shares in 2024?

Were the bank's shareholders smiling at the end of last year? Let's find out.

Read more »