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BBVA vs. BNS: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria vs. Bank of Nova Scotia Stock Comparison

How do Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 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

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) trades as ordinary local shares, while Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
Profile ItemBBVABNS
NameBanco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. Sponsored ADRBank of Nova Scotia
Country/RegionSpainCanada
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified BanksDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization137.77 billion USD111.75 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 15, 1988June 7, 2002
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BBVA
BNS
GSPC
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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBBVABNS
Total Return (1Y)33.97%44.24%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)54.49%35.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)39.16%12.57%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BBVA
BNS
GSPC
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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBBVABNS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)33.51%20.52%
Beta (5Y)0.771.14
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.96%-40.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.56M1.76M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BBVA and BNS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBBVABNS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.891.95
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.302.99

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 19.84% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 11.46% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BBVA.

BBVA

Banks industry group

19.84%

BBVA
19.84%
Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
Median
11.49%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%

BNS

Banks industry group

11.46%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
Median
11.49%
BNS
11.46%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%
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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their ROE against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 32.62% and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 28.43% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

BBVA

Banks industry group

32.62%

Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
BBVA
32.62%
Median
31.21%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%

BNS

Banks industry group

28.43%

Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
Median
31.21%
BNS
28.43%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%
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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their net margin against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in Banks and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBBVABNS
ROE (TTM)19.84%11.46%
ROA (TTM)1.37%0.68%
Net Margin (TTM)32.62%28.43%
Operating Margin (TTM)----
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 10.36% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 0.46% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 4.76% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at -3.41% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBBVABNS
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.46%10.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.99%5.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.76%-3.41%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)21.55%-10.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in Banks and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 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: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in Banks and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 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

Financial strength metrics for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBBVABNS
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 3.80% and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 4.84% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

BBVA

Banks industry group

3.80%

Max
5.79%
BBVA
3.80%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%

BNS

Banks industry group

4.84%

Max
5.79%
BNS
4.84%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%
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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 47.61% and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 58.04% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

BBVA

Banks industry group

47.61%

Max
70.75%
BBVA
47.61%
Q3
41.28%
Median
29.26%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%

BNS

Banks industry group

58.04%

Max
70.75%
BNS
58.04%
Q3
41.28%
Median
29.26%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%
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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBBVABNS
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.80%4.84%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)47.61%58.04%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 10.99 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 16.61 sits in the richer quartile — BNS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BBVA

Banks industry group

10.99

Max
18.16
Q3
13.75
Median
11.81
BBVA
10.99
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49

BNS

Banks industry group

16.61

Max
18.16
BNS
16.61
Q3
13.75
Median
11.81
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49
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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

P/S ratio is set aside for both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in Banks and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 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)

Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 2.12 and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 1.76 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

BBVA

Banks industry group

2.12

Max
2.28
BBVA
2.12
Q3
1.58
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59

BNS

Banks industry group

1.76

Max
2.28
BNS
1.76
Q3
1.58
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59
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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBBVABNS
P/E Ratio (TTM)10.9916.61
P/S Ratio (TTM)----
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.121.76
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----