In the wake of escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas, Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C).’s CEO Jane Fraser has underscored the need for enhanced security measures. Speaking at Saudi Arabia’s flagship investment conference, the Future Investment Initiative, Fraser proposed an expansion of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors to include ‘security’. This new domain would cover areas such as food, energy, defense, and financial stability.

Fraser’s comments were made against the backdrop of a recent terrorist attack in Israel. She expressed a pessimistic outlook on the situation, emphasizing the importance of building resilient companies and nations to navigate these turbulent times. Her sentiments were echoed by fellow panelists Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) & Co., and Noel Quinn of HSBC Holdings Plc (LON:HSBA).

The proposal comes at a time when global CEOs are increasingly recognizing the need for enhanced security measures in response to geopolitical tensions. This aligns with a broader trend among businesses to prioritize ESG factors as part of their strategy for long-term sustainability and resilience.

In the context of Citigroup’s own performance, the company is currently trading at a low Price / Book multiple of 0.39. This, along with its P/E ratio of 6.14, indicates that the company is trading at a low earnings multiple. Citigroup is trading at a low earnings multiple.

Additionally, Citigroup’s stock price has seen significant movement, with a 3-month total return of -17.45% and a 6-month total return of -18.88%.  The company’s stock price movements are quite volatile.

Despite the challenging landscape, Citigroup has maintained its dividend payments for 13 consecutive years. This steadfast approach to dividends, along with a dividend yield of 5.45%, may be seen as a sign of the company’s resilience in the face of adversity.