NTRS vs. SCHW: Northern Trust vs. Charles Schwab Stock Comparison
How do Northern Trust (NTRS) and Charles Schwab (SCHW) 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
Northern Trust (NTRS) and Charles Schwab (SCHW) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though NTRS is classified under Asset Management & Custody Banks while SCHW falls under Investment Banking & Brokerage.
| Profile Item | NTRS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Northern Trust Corporation | The Charles Schwab Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Asset Management & Custody Banks | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 31.29 billion USD | 158.22 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | September 22, 1987 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | NTRS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 39.45% | -0.80% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.68% | 21.35% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 11.05% | 4.31% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | NTRS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.90% | 26.01% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.18 | 0.74 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -50.03% | -49.70% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.11M | 8.22M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | NTRS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.41 | -0.20 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.17 | -0.26 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Northern Trust (NTRS) at 18.44% and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 21.12% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
18.44%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- NTRS
- 18.44%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
21.12%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- SCHW
- 21.12%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 39.33% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Northern Trust (NTRS) at 26.00%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
26.00%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- NTRS
- 26.00%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
39.33%
- Max
- 62.84%
- SCHW
- 39.33%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Northern Trust (NTRS) at 34.80% and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 52.67% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
34.80%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- NTRS
- 34.80%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
52.67%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- SCHW
- 52.67%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | NTRS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.44% | 21.12% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.44% | 2.16% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 26.00% | 39.33% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 34.80% | 52.67% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 22.01% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Northern Trust (NTRS) at -2.46% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 55.52% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Northern Trust (NTRS) at -10.54% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for SCHW.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | NTRS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -2.46% | 22.01% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.15% | 4.83% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -10.54% | 55.52% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.49% | 9.93% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Northern Trust (NTRS) in Financial Services and Charles Schwab (SCHW) in Financial Services 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: Northern Trust (NTRS) in Financial Services and Charles Schwab (SCHW) in Financial Services 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 | NTRS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Northern Trust (NTRS) at 1.91% and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 1.33% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
1.91%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- NTRS
- 1.91%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
1.33%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- SCHW
- 1.33%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Northern Trust (NTRS) at 25.73% and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 21.03% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
25.73%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- NTRS
- 25.73%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
21.03%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- SCHW
- 21.03%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | NTRS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.91% | 1.33% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.73% | 21.03% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Northern Trust (NTRS) at 13.55 and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 15.64 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
13.55
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- NTRS
- 13.55
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
15.64
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- SCHW
- 15.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Northern Trust (NTRS) at 3.35 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 5.85 sits in the pricier quartile — SCHW costs more per dollar of sales.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
3.35
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- NTRS
- 3.35
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
5.85
- Max
- 9.23
- SCHW
- 5.85
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Northern Trust (NTRS) at 2.51 and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 3.08 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
2.51
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- NTRS
- 2.51
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
3.08
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- SCHW
- 3.08
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NTRS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.55 | 15.64 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.35 | 5.85 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.51 | 3.08 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |