HSBC vs. WFC: HSBC vs. Wells Fargo Stock Comparison
How do HSBC (HSBC) and Wells Fargo (WFC) 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
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 ordinary local shares, while HSBC (HSBC) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | HSBC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | HSBC Holdings plc Sponsored ADR | Wells Fargo & Company |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 326.12 billion USD | 252.89 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 16, 1999 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HSBC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 64.10% | 5.41% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HSBC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.03% | 26.61% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.58 | 0.93 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.75M | 16.50M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both HSBC (HSBC) at 11.61% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.03% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
HSBC
Banks industry group
11.61%
- Max
- 19.15%
- Q3
- 13.03%
- HSBC
- 11.61%
- Median
- 10.82%
- Q1
- 8.56%
- Min
- 3.15%
WFC
Banks industry group
12.03%
- Max
- 19.15%
- Q3
- 13.03%
- WFC
- 12.03%
- Median
- 10.82%
- Q1
- 8.56%
- Min
- 3.15%
Net Margin (TTM)
HSBC (HSBC) at 34.98% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Wells Fargo (WFC) at 26.74%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
HSBC
Banks industry group
34.98%
- Max
- 47.55%
- HSBC
- 34.98%
- Q3
- 34.56%
- Median
- 30.17%
- Q1
- 25.36%
- Min
- 12.11%
WFC
Banks industry group
26.74%
- Max
- 47.55%
- Q3
- 34.56%
- Median
- 30.17%
- WFC
- 26.74%
- Q1
- 25.36%
- Min
- 12.11%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for HSBC (HSBC) in Banks and Wells Fargo (WFC) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HSBC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.61% | 12.03% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.72% | 1.05% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 34.98% | 26.74% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | HSBC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.38% | 1.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.75% | 4.02% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | HSBC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -3.23% | 16.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.49% | 25.86% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: HSBC (HSBC) in Banks and Wells Fargo (WFC) 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: HSBC (HSBC) in Banks and Wells Fargo (WFC) 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 | HSBC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Wells Fargo (WFC) at 2.10% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while HSBC (HSBC) at 0.79% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.
HSBC
Banks industry group
0.79%
- Max
- 5.31%
- Q3
- 3.21%
- Median
- 2.34%
- Q1
- 1.29%
- HSBC
- 0.79%
- Min
- 0.00%
WFC
Banks industry group
2.10%
- Max
- 5.31%
- Q3
- 3.21%
- Median
- 2.34%
- WFC
- 2.10%
- Q1
- 1.29%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Wells Fargo (WFC) at 27.05% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while HSBC (HSBC) at 61.98% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
HSBC
Banks industry group
61.98%
- Max
- 74.88%
- HSBC
- 61.98%
- Q3
- 42.43%
- Median
- 28.93%
- Q1
- 19.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
WFC
Banks industry group
27.05%
- Max
- 74.88%
- Q3
- 42.43%
- Median
- 28.93%
- WFC
- 27.05%
- Q1
- 19.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HSBC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.79% | 2.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 61.98% | 27.05% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.77 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while HSBC (HSBC) at 15.72 sits in the richer quartile — HSBC needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
HSBC
Banks industry group
15.72
- Max
- 20.85
- HSBC
- 15.72
- Q3
- 15.72
- Median
- 13.20
- Q1
- 11.71
- Min
- 6.98
WFC
Banks industry group
12.77
- Max
- 20.85
- Q3
- 15.72
- Median
- 13.20
- WFC
- 12.77
- Q1
- 11.71
- Min
- 6.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both HSBC (HSBC) in Banks and Wells Fargo (WFC) 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)
Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.55 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while HSBC (HSBC) at 7.48 prices above its benchmark range — HSBC looks rich relative to book.
HSBC
Banks industry group
7.48
- HSBC
- 7.48
- Max
- 2.27
- Q3
- 1.61
- Median
- 1.34
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.67
WFC
Banks industry group
1.55
- Max
- 2.27
- Q3
- 1.61
- WFC
- 1.55
- Median
- 1.34
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.67
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HSBC | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.72 | 12.77 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.48 | 1.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |