Seek Returns

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.

Company profile comparison for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN)
Profile ItemFHNSAN
NameFirst Horizon CorporationBanco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesSpain
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryRegional BanksDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization10.85 billion USD169.27 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980July 30, 1987
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FHN
SAN
GSPC
Loading price history…
First Horizon (FHN) 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricFHNSAN
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

FHN
SAN
GSPC
Loading price history…
First Horizon (FHN) 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricFHNSAN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.55%35.78%
Beta (5Y)0.610.71
Max Drawdown (5Y)-60.76%-40.82%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.55M11.52M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
FHN 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 First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricFHNSAN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.380.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.560.77

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%
Loading chart…
First Horizon (FHN) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their ROE against the Banks industry group benchmark.

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%
Loading chart…
First Horizon (FHN) 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 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

Profitability metrics for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricFHNSAN
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.

Loading chart…
First Horizon (FHN) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

Loading chart…
First Horizon (FHN) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricFHNSAN
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

Financial strength metrics for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricFHNSAN
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%
Loading chart…
First Horizon (FHN) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Banks industry group benchmark.

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%
Loading chart…
First Horizon (FHN) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricFHNSAN
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
Loading chart…
First Horizon (FHN) 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 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
Loading chart…
First Horizon (FHN) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for First Horizon (FHN) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricFHNSAN
P/E Ratio (TTM)16.5811.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)----
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.341.33
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----