HDB vs. SAN: HDFC Bank vs. Banco Santander Stock Comparison
How do HDFC Bank (HDB) 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
HDFC Bank (HDB) 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 HDFC Bank (HDB) 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 | HDB | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | HDFC Bank Ltd. ADR | Banco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | India | Spain |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 129.32 billion USD | 169.27 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 20, 2001 | July 30, 1987 |
| Security Type | ADR | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HDB | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -27.88% | 22.64% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -1.98% | 52.66% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.21% | 31.64% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HDB | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 30.79% | 35.78% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.57 | 0.71 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -45.21% | -40.82% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 9.67M | 11.52M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HDB | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -1.04 | 0.51 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.40 | 0.77 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both HDFC Bank (HDB) at 11.01% 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.
HDB
Banks industry group
11.01%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- HDB
- 11.01%
- 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)
Banco Santander (SAN) at 32.58% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while HDFC Bank (HDB) at 26.53% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
HDB
Banks industry group
26.53%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- HDB
- 26.53%
- 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 HDFC Bank (HDB) 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 | HDB | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.01% | 13.06% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.66% | 0.76% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 26.53% | 32.58% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both HDFC Bank (HDB) at 5.23% and Banco Santander (SAN) at -0.47% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Banco Santander (SAN) reports EPS growth of 17.19%, ranked against its industry; HDFC Bank (HDB) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HDB | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.23% | -0.47% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 27.45% | 3.45% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | 17.19% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 18.78% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: HDFC Bank (HDB) 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: HDFC Bank (HDB) 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 | HDB | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% pays an industry-typical yield; HDFC Bank (HDB) at 52.63% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
HDB
Banks industry group
52.63%
- HDB
- 52.63%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- 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)
Both HDFC Bank (HDB) at 23.43% 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.
HDB
Banks industry group
23.43%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- HDB
- 23.43%
- 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 | HDB | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 52.63% | 2.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 23.43% | 25.91% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while HDFC Bank (HDB) at 16.22 sits in the richer quartile — HDB needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
HDB
Banks industry group
16.22
- Max
- 18.16
- HDB
- 16.22
- 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 HDFC Bank (HDB) 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)
Banco Santander (SAN) at 1.33 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while HDFC Bank (HDB) at 10.01 prices above its benchmark range — HDB looks rich relative to book.
HDB
Banks industry group
10.01
- HDB
- 10.01
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- 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 | HDB | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.22 | 11.08 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 10.01 | 1.33 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |