HSBC vs. SAN: HSBC vs. Banco Santander Stock Comparison

Company Profile

HSBC (HSBC) 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 HSBC (HSBC) 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.

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

HSBC (HSBC) at 14.22% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Banco Santander (SAN) at 13.06% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for HSBC.

HSBC (HSBC) at 41.16% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Banco Santander (SAN) at 32.58%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for HSBC (HSBC) 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

Both HSBC (HSBC) at 5.38% and Banco Santander (SAN) at -0.47% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

Banco Santander (SAN) at 17.19% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while HSBC (HSBC) at -3.23% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: HSBC (HSBC) 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: HSBC (HSBC) 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

Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while HSBC (HSBC) at 0.86% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

Banco Santander (SAN) at 25.91% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while HSBC (HSBC) at 53.57% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Both HSBC (HSBC) at 11.38 and Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

P/S ratio is set aside for both HSBC (HSBC) 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 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while HSBC (HSBC) at 6.87 prices above its benchmark range — HSBC looks rich relative to book.

Valuation Metrics