KB vs. NWG: KB Financial vs. NatWest Stock Comparison
How do KB Financial (KB) and NatWest (NWG) 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
KB Financial (KB) and NatWest (NWG) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Both KB Financial (KB) and NatWest (NWG) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.
| Profile Item | KB | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | KB Financial Group Inc. ADR | NatWest Group plc Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | South Korea | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 38.60 billion USD | 61.54 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 13, 2001 | October 18, 2007 |
| Security Type | ADR | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | KB | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 34.70% | 7.03% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 45.50% | 59.12% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 23.53% | 30.15% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | KB | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 36.91% | 33.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 0.96 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.89% | -40.66% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 194.61K | 3.73M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | KB | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.82 | 0.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.30 | 0.12 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: NatWest (NWG) earns 14.58% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; KB Financial (KB) has no ROE this period.
KB
Banks industry group
--
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
- KB
- --
NWG
Banks industry group
14.58%
- Max
- 19.84%
- NWG
- 14.58%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
NatWest (NWG) at 36.93% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while KB Financial (KB) at 17.25% keeps a bottom-quartile share.
KB
Banks industry group
17.25%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- KB
- 17.25%
- Min
- 14.93%
NWG
Banks industry group
36.93%
- Max
- 47.19%
- NWG
- 36.93%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for KB Financial (KB) in Banks and NatWest (NWG) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | KB | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 14.58% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | 0.85% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.25% | 36.93% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
NatWest (NWG) at 13.35% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while KB Financial (KB) at 5.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both KB Financial (KB) at 27.83% and NatWest (NWG) at 26.93% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | KB | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.61% | 13.35% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.97% | 7.55% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 27.83% | 26.93% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.97% | 26.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: KB Financial (KB) in Banks and NatWest (NWG) 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: KB Financial (KB) in Banks and NatWest (NWG) 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 | KB | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
NatWest (NWG) at 2.19% pays an industry-typical yield; KB Financial (KB) at 1,434.96% 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.
KB
Banks industry group
1,434.96%
- KB
- 1,434.96%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
NWG
Banks industry group
2.19%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- NWG
- 2.19%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
KB Financial (KB) at 26.89% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while NatWest (NWG) at 47.43% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
KB
Banks industry group
26.89%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- KB
- 26.89%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
NWG
Banks industry group
47.43%
- Max
- 70.75%
- NWG
- 47.43%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | KB | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1,434.96% | 2.19% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 26.89% | 47.43% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both KB Financial (KB) at 9.55 and NatWest (NWG) at 7.84 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.
KB
Banks industry group
9.55
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- KB
- 9.55
- Min
- 6.49
NWG
Banks industry group
7.84
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- NWG
- 7.84
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both KB Financial (KB) in Banks and NatWest (NWG) 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)
NatWest (NWG) at 1.20 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while KB Financial (KB) at 3.68 prices above its benchmark range — KB looks rich relative to book.
KB
Banks industry group
3.68
- KB
- 3.68
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
NWG
Banks industry group
1.20
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- NWG
- 1.20
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | KB | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 9.55 | 7.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.68 | 1.20 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |