BBVA vs. SAN: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria vs. Banco Santander Stock Comparison

Company Profile

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

Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Banco Santander (SAN) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 19.84% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Banco Santander (SAN) at 13.06% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BBVA.

Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 32.62% and Banco Santander (SAN) at 32.58% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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

Profitability Metrics

Growth

Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 0.46% and Banco Santander (SAN) at -0.47% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 4.76% and Banco Santander (SAN) at 17.19% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in Banks and Banco Santander (SAN) 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-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in Banks and Banco Santander (SAN) 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

Dividends

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 3.80% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BBVA the richer one.

Banco Santander (SAN) at 25.91% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 47.61% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 10.99 and Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

P/S ratio is set aside for both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in Banks and Banco Santander (SAN) 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.

Banco Santander (SAN) at 1.33 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 2.12 carries an above-peer premium to book — BBVA is pricier on assets.

Valuation Metrics