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HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC)

This page compares HSBC (HSBC) with Wells Fargo (WFC) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, 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
NameHSBC Holdings plc Sponsored ADRWells Fargo & Company
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified BanksDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization306.40 billion USD250.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 16, 1999June 1, 1972
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both HSBC (HSBC) at 14.77 and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.67 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

14.77

Max
21.00
Q3
15.02
Median
12.55
Q1
10.95
Min
5.90

WFC

Banks industry group

12.67

Max
21.00
Q3
15.02
Median
12.55
Q1
10.95
Min
5.90
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

4.80

Max
6.00
Q3
4.33
Median
3.68
Q1
3.17
Min
1.73

WFC

Banks industry group

3.09

Max
6.00
Q3
4.33
Median
3.68
Q1
3.17
Min
1.73
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 look rich against book: Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.54 sits in the upper Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) quartile, and HSBC (HSBC) at 7.03 prices even higher, above its industry range.

HSBC

Banks industry group

7.03

Max
2.06
Q3
1.53
Median
1.26
Q1
1.11
Min
0.62

WFC

Banks industry group

1.54

Max
2.06
Q3
1.53
Median
1.26
Q1
1.11
Min
0.62
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)14.7712.67
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)4.803.09
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)7.031.54
Free Cash Flow Yield----

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both HSBC (HSBC) at 11.61% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.03% 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

11.61%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.11%
Median
10.82%
Q1
8.56%
Min
3.15%

WFC

Banks industry group

12.03%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.11%
Median
10.82%
Q1
8.56%
Min
3.15%
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 34.98% 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%
Q3
34.64%
Median
30.31%
Q1
25.75%
Min
12.76%

WFC

Banks industry group

26.74%

Max
47.55%
Q3
34.64%
Median
30.31%
Q1
25.75%
Min
12.76%
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

50.68%

Max
65.49%
Q3
47.71%
Median
42.03%
Q1
35.80%
Min
22.32%

WFC

Banks industry group

29.45%

Max
65.49%
Q3
47.71%
Median
42.03%
Q1
35.80%
Min
22.32%
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)11.61%12.03%
Return on Assets (TTM)0.72%1.05%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)34.98%26.74%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)50.68%29.45%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)0.00%0.00%

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
1-Year Revenue Growth-1.74%1.70%
3-Year Revenue CAGR7.22%4.02%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
1-Year EPS Growth-3.23%16.57%
3-Year EPS CAGR17.49%25.86%

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
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--

WFC

Banks industry group

--

Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ). No industry group benchmark is available for either stock for this metric.

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

--

Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--

WFC

Banks industry group

--

Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ). No industry group benchmark is available for either stock for this metric.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

HSBC (HSBC) at 4.20% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Wells Fargo (WFC) at 2.20%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

HSBC

Banks industry group

4.20%

Max
5.68%
Q3
3.37%
Median
2.63%
Q1
1.78%
Min
0.00%

WFC

Banks industry group

2.20%

Max
5.68%
Q3
3.37%
Median
2.63%
Q1
1.78%
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)

Wells Fargo (WFC) at 27.05% maintains Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around its industry median — a balanced dividend policy. HSBC (HSBC) at 61.98% sits outside the typical mid-range, leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

HSBC

Banks industry group

61.98%

Max
74.88%
Q3
42.74%
Median
29.08%
Q1
19.87%
Min
0.00%

WFC

Banks industry group

27.05%

Max
74.88%
Q3
42.74%
Median
29.08%
Q1
19.87%
Min
0.00%
HSBC (HSBC) vs. Wells Fargo (WFC): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.20%2.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)61.98%27.05%

Performance & Risk

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.

Performance & Risk at a Glance

SymbolHSBCWFC
1-Year Return60.06%8.39%
1-Year Volatility26.30%26.82%
Beta0.590.92
3-Month Avg. Volume1.91M17.27M