BCS vs. RY: Barclays vs. Royal Bank of Canada Stock Comparison
How do Barclays (BCS) and Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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 Royal Bank of Canada (RY) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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 | RY |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Barclays PLC Sponsored ADR | Royal Bank of Canada |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | Canada |
| 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 | 278.49 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 9, 1986 | October 16, 1995 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BCS | RY |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 8.81% | 42.94% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 56.19% | 38.10% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 21.37% | 17.71% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BCS | RY |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.20% | 17.09% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.00 | 0.78 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -48.14% | -28.69% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.89M | 1.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BCS | RY |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.14 | 2.26 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.21 | 3.50 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 16.21% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Barclays (BCS) at 10.45% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for RY.
BCS
Banks industry group
10.45%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- BCS
- 10.45%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
RY
Banks industry group
16.21%
- Max
- 19.84%
- RY
- 16.21%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Barclays (BCS) at 28.22% and Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 33.87% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
BCS
Banks industry group
28.22%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- BCS
- 28.22%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
RY
Banks industry group
33.87%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- RY
- 33.87%
- 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 Royal Bank of Canada (RY) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BCS | RY |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.45% | 16.21% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.48% | 0.96% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.22% | 33.87% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Barclays (BCS) at 11.09% and Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 15.73% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Barclays (BCS) reports EPS growth of 21.55%, ranked against its industry; Royal Bank of Canada (RY) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BCS | RY |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.09% | 15.73% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.21% | 10.90% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 21.55% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.38% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Barclays (BCS) in Banks and Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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 Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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 | RY |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 3.23% offers top-quartile income, while Barclays (BCS) at 0.50% sits in the bottom quartile — a wide gap in cash returned to shareholders.
BCS
Banks industry group
0.50%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- BCS
- 0.50%
- Min
- 0.00%
RY
Banks industry group
3.23%
- Max
- 5.79%
- RY
- 3.23%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Barclays (BCS) at 22.96% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 41.49% 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%
RY
Banks industry group
41.49%
- Max
- 70.75%
- RY
- 41.49%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BCS | RY |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.50% | 3.23% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 22.96% | 41.49% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Barclays (BCS) at 8.33 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 17.58 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
BCS
Banks industry group
8.33
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- BCS
- 8.33
- Min
- 6.49
RY
Banks industry group
17.58
- Max
- 18.16
- RY
- 17.58
- Q3
- 13.75
- 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 Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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 Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 2.92 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
RY
Banks industry group
2.92
- RY
- 2.92
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BCS | RY |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.33 | 17.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.88 | 2.92 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |