BCS vs. EWBC: Barclays vs. East West Bancorp Stock Comparison
How do Barclays (BCS) and East West Bancorp (EWBC) 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
Barclays (BCS) and East West Bancorp (EWBC) both belong to the Banks industry, though BCS is classified under Diversified Banks while EWBC falls under Regional Banks.
East West Bancorp (EWBC) trades as ordinary local shares, while Barclays (BCS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | BCS | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Barclays PLC Sponsored ADR | East West Bancorp Inc. |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Regional Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 74.23 billion USD | 17.65 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | September 9, 1986 | February 3, 1999 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BCS | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 8.81% | 30.57% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 56.19% | 36.90% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 21.37% | 12.56% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BCS | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.20% | 23.01% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.00 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -48.14% | -54.06% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.89M | 807.94K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BCS | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.14 | 1.14 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.21 | 1.69 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 16.57% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Barclays (BCS) at 10.45% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for EWBC.
BCS
Banks industry group
10.45%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- BCS
- 10.45%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
EWBC
Banks industry group
16.57%
- Max
- 19.84%
- EWBC
- 16.57%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 50.06% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Barclays (BCS) at 28.22% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
BCS
Banks industry group
28.22%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- BCS
- 28.22%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
EWBC
Banks industry group
50.06%
- EWBC
- 50.06%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Barclays (BCS) in Banks and East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BCS | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.45% | 16.57% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.48% | 1.76% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.22% | 50.06% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Barclays (BCS) at 11.09% and East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 12.86% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Barclays (BCS) at 21.55% and East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 14.29% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BCS | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.09% | 12.86% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.21% | 7.70% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 21.55% | 14.29% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.38% | 6.33% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Barclays (BCS) in Banks and East West Bancorp (EWBC) 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: Barclays (BCS) in Banks and East West Bancorp (EWBC) 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 | BCS | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 2.32% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Barclays (BCS) at 0.50% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.
BCS
Banks industry group
0.50%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- BCS
- 0.50%
- Min
- 0.00%
EWBC
Banks industry group
2.32%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- EWBC
- 2.32%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Barclays (BCS) at 22.96% and East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 28.52% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
BCS
Banks industry group
22.96%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- BCS
- 22.96%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
EWBC
Banks industry group
28.52%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- EWBC
- 28.52%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BCS | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.50% | 2.32% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 22.96% | 28.52% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Barclays (BCS) at 8.33 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 12.25 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for BCS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
BCS
Banks industry group
8.33
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- BCS
- 8.33
- Min
- 6.49
EWBC
Banks industry group
12.25
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- EWBC
- 12.25
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Barclays (BCS) in Banks and East West Bancorp (EWBC) 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)
Barclays (BCS) at 0.88 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 1.95 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.
BCS
Banks industry group
0.88
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- BCS
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.59
EWBC
Banks industry group
1.95
- Max
- 2.28
- EWBC
- 1.95
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BCS | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.33 | 12.25 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.88 | 1.95 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |