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.
| Profile Item | BCS | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Barclays PLC Sponsored ADR | Banco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | Spain |
| 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 | 169.27 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 9, 1986 | July 30, 1987 |
| Security Type | ADR | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BCS | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BCS | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.20% | 35.78% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.00 | 0.71 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -48.14% | -40.82% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.89M | 11.52M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BCS | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.14 | 0.51 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.21 | 0.77 |
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%
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%
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
| Metric | BCS | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BCS | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| 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
| Metric | BCS | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| 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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BCS | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BCS | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.33 | 11.08 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.88 | 1.33 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |