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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.

Company profile comparison for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN)
Profile ItemHDBSAN
NameHDFC Bank Ltd. ADRBanco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionIndiaSpain
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified BanksDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization129.32 billion USD169.27 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 20, 2001July 30, 1987
Security TypeADRADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HDB
SAN
GSPC
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HDFC Bank (HDB) 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

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Trailing total returns for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricHDBSAN
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

HDB
SAN
GSPC
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HDFC Bank (HDB) 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

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Distribution of monthly total returns for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricHDBSAN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.79%35.78%
Beta (5Y)0.570.71
Max Drawdown (5Y)-45.21%-40.82%
Avg. Volume (3M)9.67M11.52M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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HDB 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 HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricHDBSAN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-1.040.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.400.77

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%
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HDFC Bank (HDB) 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 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%
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HDFC Bank (HDB) 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 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

Profitability metrics for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricHDBSAN
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.

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HDFC Bank (HDB) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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HDFC Bank (HDB) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricHDBSAN
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

Financial strength metrics for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricHDBSAN
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%
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HDFC Bank (HDB) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Banks industry group benchmark.

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%
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HDFC Bank (HDB) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricHDBSAN
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
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HDFC Bank (HDB) 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 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
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HDFC Bank (HDB) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for HDFC Bank (HDB) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricHDBSAN
P/E Ratio (TTM)16.2211.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)----
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.011.33
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----