BCS vs. HSBC: Barclays vs. HSBC Stock Comparison
How do Barclays (BCS) and HSBC (HSBC) 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 HSBC (HSBC) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Both Barclays (BCS) and HSBC (HSBC) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.
| Profile Item | BCS | HSBC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Barclays PLC Sponsored ADR | HSBC Holdings plc Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 74.23 billion USD | 297.66 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 9, 1986 | July 16, 1999 |
| Security Type | ADR | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BCS | HSBC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 8.81% | 32.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 56.19% | 43.61% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 21.37% | 33.35% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BCS | HSBC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.20% | 28.54% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.00 | 0.54 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -48.14% | -31.80% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.89M | 1.58M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BCS | HSBC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.14 | 0.97 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.21 | 1.52 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
HSBC (HSBC) at 14.22% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Barclays (BCS) at 10.45% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for HSBC.
BCS
Banks industry group
10.45%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- BCS
- 10.45%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
HSBC
Banks industry group
14.22%
- Max
- 19.84%
- HSBC
- 14.22%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
HSBC (HSBC) at 41.16% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Barclays (BCS) at 28.22%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
BCS
Banks industry group
28.22%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- BCS
- 28.22%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
HSBC
Banks industry group
41.16%
- Max
- 47.19%
- HSBC
- 41.16%
- 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 HSBC (HSBC) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BCS | HSBC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.45% | 14.22% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.48% | 0.84% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.22% | 41.16% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Barclays (BCS) at 11.09% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while HSBC (HSBC) at 5.38% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Barclays (BCS) at 21.55% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while HSBC (HSBC) at -3.23% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BCS | HSBC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.09% | 5.38% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.21% | 9.75% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 21.55% | -3.23% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.38% | 17.49% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Barclays (BCS) in Banks and HSBC (HSBC) 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 HSBC (HSBC) 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 | HSBC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Barclays (BCS) at 0.50% and HSBC (HSBC) at 0.86% offer bottom-quartile dividend income relative to share price versus industry 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%
HSBC
Banks industry group
0.86%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- HSBC
- 0.86%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Barclays (BCS) at 22.96% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while HSBC (HSBC) at 53.57% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
BCS
Banks industry group
22.96%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- BCS
- 22.96%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
HSBC
Banks industry group
53.57%
- Max
- 70.75%
- HSBC
- 53.57%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BCS | HSBC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.50% | 0.86% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 22.96% | 53.57% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Barclays (BCS) at 8.33 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while HSBC (HSBC) at 11.38 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
HSBC
Banks industry group
11.38
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- HSBC
- 11.38
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Barclays (BCS) in Banks and HSBC (HSBC) 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 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while HSBC (HSBC) at 6.87 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.
BCS
Banks industry group
0.88
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- BCS
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.59
HSBC
Banks industry group
6.87
- HSBC
- 6.87
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BCS | HSBC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.33 | 11.38 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.88 | 6.87 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |