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BCS vs. SAN: Barclays vs. Banco Santander Stock Comparison

How do Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN) 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 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 Barclays (BCS) 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.

Company profile comparison for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN)
Profile ItemBCSSAN
NameBarclays PLC Sponsored ADRBanco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited KingdomSpain
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified BanksDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization74.23 billion USD169.27 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateSeptember 9, 1986July 30, 1987
Security TypeADRADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BCS
SAN
GSPC
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Barclays (BCS) vs. Banco Santander (SAN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricBCSSAN
Total Return (1Y)8.81%22.64%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)56.19%52.66%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)21.37%31.64%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BCS
SAN
GSPC
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Barclays (BCS) vs. Banco Santander (SAN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricBCSSAN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)32.20%35.78%
Beta (5Y)1.000.71
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.14%-40.82%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.89M11.52M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BCS and SAN are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricBCSSAN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.140.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.210.77

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Barclays (BCS) at 10.45% and Banco Santander (SAN) at 13.06% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

BCS

Banks industry group

10.45%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
Median
11.49%
BCS
10.45%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%

SAN

Banks industry group

13.06%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
SAN
13.06%
Median
11.49%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%
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Barclays (BCS) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their ROE against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Barclays (BCS) at 28.22% 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.

BCS

Banks industry group

28.22%

Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
Median
31.21%
BCS
28.22%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%

SAN

Banks industry group

32.58%

Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
SAN
32.58%
Median
31.21%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%
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Barclays (BCS) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their net margin against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Barclays (BCS) 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

Profitability metrics for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricBCSSAN
ROE (TTM)10.45%13.06%
ROA (TTM)0.48%0.76%
Net Margin (TTM)28.22%32.58%
Operating Margin (TTM)----
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Barclays (BCS) at 11.09% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Banco Santander (SAN) at -0.47% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Barclays (BCS) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Barclays (BCS) at 21.55% 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.

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Barclays (BCS) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricBCSSAN
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.09%-0.47%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.21%3.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)21.55%17.19%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)12.38%18.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Barclays (BCS) 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 / Equity (MRQ)

debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Barclays (BCS) 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

Financial strength metrics for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricBCSSAN
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% 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%

SAN

Banks industry group

2.10%

Max
5.79%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
SAN
2.10%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%
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Barclays (BCS) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Barclays (BCS) at 22.96% and Banco Santander (SAN) at 25.91% 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%

SAN

Banks industry group

25.91%

Max
70.75%
Q3
41.28%
Median
29.26%
SAN
25.91%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%
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Barclays (BCS) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricBCSSAN
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.50%2.10%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.96%25.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Barclays (BCS) at 8.33 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 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

SAN

Banks industry group

11.08

Max
18.16
Q3
13.75
Median
11.81
SAN
11.08
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49
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Barclays (BCS) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

P/S ratio is set aside for both Barclays (BCS) 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.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Barclays (BCS) at 0.88 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Banco Santander (SAN) at 1.33 is valued near its industry’s middle — BCS is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

BCS

Banks industry group

0.88

Max
2.28
Q3
1.58
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
BCS
0.88
Min
0.59

SAN

Banks industry group

1.33

Max
2.28
Q3
1.58
SAN
1.33
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59
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Barclays (BCS) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Barclays (BCS) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricBCSSAN
P/E Ratio (TTM)8.3311.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)----
P/B Ratio (MRQ)0.881.33
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----