BAC vs. WFC: Bank of America vs. Wells Fargo Stock Comparison
How do Bank of America (BAC) and Wells Fargo (WFC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Bank of America (BAC) and Wells Fargo (WFC) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | BAC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bank of America Corporation | Wells Fargo & Company |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 450.96 billion USD | 268.59 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BAC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 38.12% | 14.29% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.99% | 29.74% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 11.85% | 14.77% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BAC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 21.28% | 26.40% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.16 | 0.93 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -46.64% | -37.10% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 35.09M | 15.43M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BAC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.60 | 0.39 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.31 | 0.55 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Bank of America (BAC) at 11.20% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.58% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
BAC
Banks industry group
11.20%
- Max
- 19.49%
- Q3
- 13.33%
- BAC
- 11.20%
- Median
- 11.17%
- Q1
- 9.21%
- Min
- 3.19%
WFC
Banks industry group
12.58%
- Max
- 19.49%
- Q3
- 13.33%
- WFC
- 12.58%
- Median
- 11.17%
- Q1
- 9.21%
- Min
- 3.19%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Bank of America (BAC) at 29.52% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 27.23% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
BAC
Banks industry group
29.52%
- Max
- 47.25%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 30.75%
- BAC
- 29.52%
- Q1
- 26.80%
- Min
- 14.41%
WFC
Banks industry group
27.23%
- Max
- 47.25%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 30.75%
- WFC
- 27.23%
- Q1
- 26.80%
- Min
- 14.41%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Bank of America (BAC) in Banks and Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BAC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.20% | 12.58% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.97% | 1.08% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 29.52% | 27.23% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Bank of America (BAC) at 6.84% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.70% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Bank of America (BAC) at 18.69% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 16.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BAC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.84% | 1.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.00% | 4.02% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 18.69% | 16.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.10% | 25.86% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of America (BAC) in Banks and Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Bank of America (BAC) in Banks and Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BAC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Bank of America (BAC) at 1.75% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 2.04% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
BAC
Banks industry group
1.75%
- Max
- 5.57%
- Q3
- 3.08%
- Median
- 2.25%
- BAC
- 1.75%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
WFC
Banks industry group
2.04%
- Max
- 5.57%
- Q3
- 3.08%
- Median
- 2.25%
- WFC
- 2.04%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Bank of America (BAC) at 25.87% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 26.16% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
BAC
Banks industry group
25.87%
- Max
- 76.19%
- Q3
- 41.82%
- Median
- 28.70%
- BAC
- 25.87%
- Q1
- 18.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
WFC
Banks industry group
26.16%
- Max
- 76.19%
- Q3
- 41.82%
- Median
- 28.70%
- WFC
- 26.16%
- Q1
- 18.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BAC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.75% | 2.04% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.87% | 26.16% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Bank of America (BAC) at 14.79 and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.91 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
BAC
Banks industry group
14.79
- Max
- 20.84
- Q3
- 15.55
- BAC
- 14.79
- Median
- 13.12
- Q1
- 11.81
- Min
- 7.19
WFC
Banks industry group
12.91
- Max
- 20.84
- Q3
- 15.55
- Median
- 13.12
- WFC
- 12.91
- Q1
- 11.81
- Min
- 7.19
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Bank of America (BAC) in Banks and Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks: without a conventional revenue line, pricing per dollar of sales isn’t meaningful, and book- or earnings-based multiples make the better comparison.
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Bank of America (BAC) at 1.64 and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.67 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
BAC
Banks industry group
1.64
- Max
- 2.39
- Q3
- 1.67
- BAC
- 1.64
- Median
- 1.37
- Q1
- 1.17
- Min
- 0.43
WFC
Banks industry group
1.67
- Max
- 2.39
- Q3
- 1.67
- WFC
- 1.67
- Median
- 1.37
- Q1
- 1.17
- Min
- 0.43
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BAC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 14.79 | 12.91 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.64 | 1.67 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |