BBVA vs. WFC: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria vs. Wells Fargo Stock Comparison
How do Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) 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
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) 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.
Wells Fargo (WFC) 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.
| Profile Item | BBVA | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. | Wells Fargo & Company |
| Country/Region | Spain | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 137.93 billion USD | 256.57 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 15, 1988 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | BBVA | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 74.79% | 13.63% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | BBVA | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 33.65% | 26.71% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.80 | 0.92 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.81M | 16.63M |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 19.04% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.03% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BBVA.
BBVA
Banks industry group
19.04%
- Max
- 19.15%
- BBVA
- 19.04%
- Q3
- 13.07%
- Median
- 10.82%
- Q1
- 8.57%
- Min
- 3.15%
WFC
Banks industry group
12.03%
- Max
- 19.15%
- Q3
- 13.07%
- WFC
- 12.03%
- Median
- 10.82%
- Q1
- 8.57%
- Min
- 3.15%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 33.12% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 26.74% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
BBVA
Banks industry group
33.12%
- Max
- 47.55%
- Q3
- 34.61%
- BBVA
- 33.12%
- Median
- 30.31%
- Q1
- 25.62%
- Min
- 12.76%
WFC
Banks industry group
26.74%
- Max
- 47.55%
- Q3
- 34.61%
- Median
- 30.31%
- WFC
- 26.74%
- Q1
- 25.62%
- Min
- 12.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) 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 at a Glance
| Metric | BBVA | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.04% | 12.03% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.37% | 1.05% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 33.12% | 26.74% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | BBVA | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 0.46% | 1.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.99% | 4.02% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | BBVA | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 4.76% | 16.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 21.55% | 25.86% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) 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: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) 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 at a Glance
| Metric | BBVA | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 3.76% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Wells Fargo (WFC) at 2.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BBVA the richer one.
BBVA
Banks industry group
3.76%
- Max
- 5.52%
- BBVA
- 3.76%
- Q3
- 3.32%
- Median
- 2.51%
- Q1
- 1.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
WFC
Banks industry group
2.13%
- Max
- 5.52%
- Q3
- 3.32%
- Median
- 2.51%
- WFC
- 2.13%
- Q1
- 1.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 39.66% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 27.05% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
BBVA
Banks industry group
39.66%
- Max
- 74.88%
- Q3
- 42.57%
- BBVA
- 39.66%
- Median
- 29.00%
- Q1
- 19.77%
- Min
- 0.00%
WFC
Banks industry group
27.05%
- Max
- 74.88%
- Q3
- 42.57%
- Median
- 29.00%
- WFC
- 27.05%
- Q1
- 19.77%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | BBVA | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.76% | 2.13% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 39.66% | 27.05% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 11.89 and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.96 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
BBVA
Banks industry group
11.89
- Max
- 20.92
- Q3
- 15.39
- Median
- 12.84
- BBVA
- 11.89
- Q1
- 11.21
- Min
- 6.47
WFC
Banks industry group
12.96
- Max
- 20.92
- Q3
- 15.39
- WFC
- 12.96
- Median
- 12.84
- Q1
- 11.21
- Min
- 6.47
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) 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)
Both Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) at 2.26 and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.58 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
BBVA
Banks industry group
2.26
- BBVA
- 2.26
- Max
- 2.26
- Q3
- 1.57
- Median
- 1.28
- Q1
- 1.11
- Min
- 0.62
WFC
Banks industry group
1.58
- Max
- 2.26
- WFC
- 1.58
- Q3
- 1.57
- Median
- 1.28
- Q1
- 1.11
- Min
- 0.62
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | BBVA | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 11.89 | 12.96 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.26 | 1.58 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |