BNS vs. SAN: Bank of Nova Scotia vs. Banco Santander Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 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.

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) trades as ordinary local shares, while Banco Santander (SAN) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 11.46% 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.

Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 28.43% 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.

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 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

Growth

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 10.36% 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.

Banco Santander (SAN) at 17.19% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at -3.41% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 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-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 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

Dividends

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 4.84% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BNS the richer one.

Banco Santander (SAN) at 25.91% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 58.04% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 16.61 sits in the richer quartile — BNS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

P/S ratio is set aside for both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 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.

Banco Santander (SAN) at 1.33 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 1.76 carries an above-peer premium to book — BNS is pricier on assets.

Valuation Metrics