Seek Returns

HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC)

This page compares HSBC (HSBC) with Wells Fargo (WFC) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

HSBC (HSBC) and Wells Fargo (WFC) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Wells Fargo (WFC) trades as a standard ordinary-equity line, while HSBC (HSBC) is an ADR tied to a foreign-share or depositary-receipt structure — compare with FX exposure, program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

SymbolHSBCWFC
Company NameHSBC Holdings plcWells Fargo & Company
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified BanksDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization303.42 billion USD228.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 16, 1999June 1, 1972
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Historical Performance

HSBC
WFC
Loading price history…
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
5-Day Price Return-0.91%1.39%
13-Week Price Return7.12%-14.70%
26-Week Price Return20.68%-13.51%
52-Week Price Return49.99%-1.99%
Month-to-Date Return-1.65%-9.34%
Year-to-Date Return13.03%-20.01%
10-Day Avg. Volume15.76M19.87M
3-Month Avg. Volume14.96M17.68M
3-Month Volatility37.78%30.43%
Beta1.680.98

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both HSBC (HSBC) at 8.99% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.02% post Return on Equity (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on this measure.

HSBC

Banks industry group

8.99%

Max
19.43%
Q3
13.59%
Median
10.42%
Q1
8.86%
Min
4.22%

WFC

Banks industry group

12.02%

Max
19.43%
Q3
13.59%
Median
10.42%
Q1
8.86%
Min
4.22%
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

HSBC (HSBC) at 34.16% ranks in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM), while Wells Fargo (WFC) at 22.19% falls into the bottom quartile.

HSBC

Banks industry group

34.16%

Max
45.10%
Q3
33.38%
Median
28.75%
Q1
23.67%
Min
9.48%

WFC

Banks industry group

22.19%

Max
45.10%
Q3
33.38%
Median
28.75%
Q1
23.67%
Min
9.48%
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Operating Profit Margin (TTM) isn’t a meaningful figure for either HSBC (HSBC) in Banks or Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks under our convention.

HSBC

Banks industry group

40.44%

Max
59.75%
Q3
42.28%
Median
36.16%
Q1
30.13%
Min
12.28%

WFC

Banks industry group

25.35%

Max
59.75%
Q3
42.28%
Median
36.16%
Q1
30.13%
Min
12.28%
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
Return on Equity (TTM)8.99%12.02%
Return on Assets (TTM)0.54%1.03%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)34.16%22.19%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)40.44%25.35%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Current Ratio (MRQ) isn’t a meaningful figure for either HSBC (HSBC) in Banks or Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks under our convention.

HSBC

Banks industry group

--

Max
0.20
Q3
0.16
Median
0.13
Q1
0.09
Min
0.06

WFC

Banks industry group

--

Max
0.20
Q3
0.16
Median
0.13
Q1
0.09
Min
0.06
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) isn’t a meaningful figure for either HSBC (HSBC) in Banks or Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks under our convention.

HSBC

Banks industry group

1.62

Max
2.32
Q3
0.99
Median
0.21
Q1
0.10
Min
0.00

WFC

Banks industry group

2.53

Max
2.32
Q3
0.99
Median
0.21
Q1
0.10
Min
0.00
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) isn’t a meaningful figure for either HSBC (HSBC) in Banks or Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks under our convention.

HSBC

Banks industry group

--

Max
1.51
Q3
0.91
Median
0.30
Q1
-0.30
Min
-0.91

WFC

Banks industry group

--

Max
1.51
Q3
0.91
Median
0.30
Q1
-0.30
Min
-0.91
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Quick Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)1.622.53
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)15.51%52.43%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)109.08%72.75%
3-Year Revenue CAGR0.22%-6.53%
5-Year Revenue CAGR6.08%-1.72%

EPS Growth

HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)2.77%14.35%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)12.26%15.48%
3-Year EPS CAGR17.72%22.68%
5-Year EPS CAGR37.51%51.79%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

HSBC (HSBC) at 4.37% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Wells Fargo (WFC) at 2.88%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

HSBC

Banks industry group

4.37%

Max
5.97%
Q3
3.66%
Median
2.90%
Q1
2.08%
Min
0.00%

WFC

Banks industry group

2.88%

Max
5.97%
Q3
3.66%
Median
2.90%
Q1
2.08%
Min
0.00%
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

HSBC (HSBC) reports an unusual Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) of 139.32% — outside the typical 0–100% range, indicating either negative earnings (negative ratio) or dividends above current-period earnings (above 100%), both signaling sustainability concerns. Meanwhile Wells Fargo (WFC) reports 30.20%, ranking against industry peers normally.

HSBC

Banks industry group

139.32%

Max
82.25%
Q3
49.73%
Median
36.98%
Q1
27.46%
Min
0.00%

WFC

Banks industry group

30.20%

Max
82.25%
Q3
49.73%
Median
36.98%
Q1
27.46%
Min
0.00%
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.37%2.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)139.32%30.20%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both HSBC (HSBC) at 13.82 and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 10.49 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

HSBC

Banks industry group

13.82

Max
20.82
Q3
14.78
Median
11.87
Q1
10.36
Min
5.23

WFC

Banks industry group

10.49

Max
20.82
Q3
14.78
Median
11.87
Q1
10.36
Min
5.23
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) isn’t a meaningful figure for either HSBC (HSBC) in Banks or Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks under our convention.

HSBC

Banks industry group

1.74

Max
4.88
Q3
3.19
Median
2.36
Q1
1.99
Min
0.52

WFC

Banks industry group

1.91

Max
4.88
Q3
3.19
Median
2.36
Q1
1.99
Min
0.52
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both HSBC (HSBC) at 1.43 and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.37 post Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on book-value multiple.

HSBC

Banks industry group

1.43

Max
2.17
Q3
1.47
Median
1.16
Q1
1.00
Min
0.57

WFC

Banks industry group

1.37

Max
2.17
Q3
1.47
Median
1.16
Q1
1.00
Min
0.57
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)13.8210.49
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)1.741.91
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)1.431.37
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)12.2817.16