KB vs. WFC: KB Financial vs. Wells Fargo Stock Comparison
How do KB Financial (KB) 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
KB Financial (KB) 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 KB Financial (KB) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | KB | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | KB Financial Group Inc. ADR | Wells Fargo & Company |
| Country/Region | South Korea | United States |
| 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 | 251.98 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 13, 2001 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | KB | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 34.70% | 2.40% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 45.50% | 31.75% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 23.53% | 14.35% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Wells Fargo (WFC) is heavily traded at around 14.10M shares per day, whereas KB Financial (KB) sees a more moderate 194.61K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | KB | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 36.91% | 26.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 0.91 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.89% | -37.10% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 194.61K | 14.10M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | KB | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.82 | -0.07 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.30 | -0.10 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Wells Fargo (WFC) earns 12.91% 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
- --
WFC
Banks industry group
12.91%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- WFC
- 12.91%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
Wells Fargo (WFC) at 27.64% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while KB Financial (KB) at 17.25% retains only 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%
WFC
Banks industry group
27.64%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- WFC
- 27.64%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for KB Financial (KB) 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 | KB | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 12.91% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | 1.08% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.25% | 27.64% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both KB Financial (KB) at 5.61% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.70% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Both KB Financial (KB) at 27.83% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 16.57% 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 | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.61% | 1.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.97% | 4.02% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 27.83% | 16.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.97% | 25.86% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: KB Financial (KB) 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: KB Financial (KB) 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 | KB | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Wells Fargo (WFC) 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%
WFC
Banks industry group
2.19%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- WFC
- 2.19%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both KB Financial (KB) at 26.89% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 26.09% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
KB
Banks industry group
26.89%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- KB
- 26.89%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
WFC
Banks industry group
26.09%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- WFC
- 26.09%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | KB | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1,434.96% | 2.19% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 26.89% | 26.09% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
KB Financial (KB) at 9.55 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Wells Fargo (WFC) at 11.84 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for KB, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
KB
Banks industry group
9.55
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- KB
- 9.55
- Min
- 6.49
WFC
Banks industry group
11.84
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- WFC
- 11.84
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both KB Financial (KB) 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)
Both look rich against book: Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.59 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and KB Financial (KB) at 3.68 prices even higher, above its industry range.
KB
Banks industry group
3.68
- KB
- 3.68
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
WFC
Banks industry group
1.59
- Max
- 2.28
- WFC
- 1.59
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | KB | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 9.55 | 11.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.68 | 1.59 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |