FHN vs. SAN: First Horizon vs. Banco Santander Stock Comparison
How do First Horizon (FHN) 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
First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN) both belong to the Banks industry, though FHN is classified under Regional Banks while SAN falls under Diversified Banks.
First Horizon (FHN) 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.
| Profile Item | FHN | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | First Horizon Corporation | Banco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Spain |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Regional Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 10.85 billion USD | 169.27 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | July 30, 1987 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FHN | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.96% | 22.64% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 32.94% | 52.66% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 10.16% | 31.64% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | FHN | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 22.55% | 35.78% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.61 | 0.71 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -60.76% | -40.82% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.55M | 11.52M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FHN | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.38 | 0.51 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.56 | 0.77 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Banco Santander (SAN) at 13.06% is around its peer norm for ROE, while First Horizon (FHN) at 7.92% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.
FHN
Banks industry group
7.92%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- FHN
- 7.92%
- 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)
Banco Santander (SAN) at 32.58% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while First Horizon (FHN) at 23.43% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
FHN
Banks industry group
23.43%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- FHN
- 23.43%
- 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 First Horizon (FHN) 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 | FHN | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 7.92% | 13.06% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.87% | 0.76% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 23.43% | 32.58% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
First Horizon (FHN) at 7.33% 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
First Horizon (FHN) at 37.50% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Banco Santander (SAN) at 17.19% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for FHN.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | FHN | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.33% | -0.47% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.12% | 3.45% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 37.50% | 17.19% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.92% | 18.78% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: First Horizon (FHN) 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: First Horizon (FHN) 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 | FHN | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both First Horizon (FHN) at 2.85% and Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
FHN
Banks industry group
2.85%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- FHN
- 2.85%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- 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)
Banco Santander (SAN) at 25.91% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while First Horizon (FHN) at 47.48% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
FHN
Banks industry group
47.48%
- Max
- 70.75%
- FHN
- 47.48%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- 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 | FHN | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.85% | 2.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 47.48% | 25.91% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while First Horizon (FHN) at 16.58 sits in the richer quartile — FHN needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
FHN
Banks industry group
16.58
- Max
- 18.16
- FHN
- 16.58
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- 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 First Horizon (FHN) 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)
On P/B ratio, both First Horizon (FHN) at 1.34 and Banco Santander (SAN) at 1.33 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
FHN
Banks industry group
1.34
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- FHN
- 1.34
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- 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 | FHN | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.58 | 11.08 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.34 | 1.33 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |