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PNC vs. SAN: PNC Financial Services vs. Banco Santander Stock Comparison

How do PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN) 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

PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

PNC Financial Services (PNC) trades as ordinary local shares, while Banco Santander (SAN) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN)
Profile ItemPNCSAN
NameThe PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.Banco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesSpain
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified BanksDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization89.43 billion USD169.27 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateNovember 17, 1975July 30, 1987
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PNC
SAN
GSPC
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PNC Financial Services (PNC) vs. Banco Santander (SAN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricPNCSAN
Total Return (1Y)30.50%22.64%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)29.46%52.66%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.26%31.64%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PNC
SAN
GSPC
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PNC Financial Services (PNC) vs. Banco Santander (SAN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricPNCSAN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.60%35.78%
Beta (5Y)0.900.71
Max Drawdown (5Y)-47.98%-40.82%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.77M11.52M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PNC and SAN are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricPNCSAN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.210.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.770.77

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both PNC Financial Services (PNC) at 13.10% and Banco Santander (SAN) at 13.06% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

PNC

Banks industry group

13.10%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
PNC
13.10%
Median
11.49%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%

SAN

Banks industry group

13.06%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
SAN
13.06%
Median
11.49%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%
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PNC Financial Services (PNC) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their ROE against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both PNC Financial Services (PNC) at 31.68% and Banco Santander (SAN) at 32.58% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

PNC

Banks industry group

31.68%

Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
PNC
31.68%
Median
31.21%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%

SAN

Banks industry group

32.58%

Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
SAN
32.58%
Median
31.21%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%
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PNC Financial Services (PNC) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their net margin against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for PNC Financial Services (PNC) in Banks and Banco Santander (SAN) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricPNCSAN
ROE (TTM)13.10%13.06%
ROA (TTM)1.33%0.76%
Net Margin (TTM)31.68%32.58%
Operating Margin (TTM)----
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

PNC Financial Services (PNC) at 10.90% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Banco Santander (SAN) at -0.47% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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PNC Financial Services (PNC) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both PNC Financial Services (PNC) at 20.74% and Banco Santander (SAN) at 17.19% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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PNC Financial Services (PNC) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricPNCSAN
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.90%-0.47%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.01%3.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)20.74%17.19%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.20%18.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: PNC Financial Services (PNC) in Banks and Banco Santander (SAN) 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: PNC Financial Services (PNC) in Banks and Banco Santander (SAN) 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

Financial strength metrics for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricPNCSAN
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both PNC Financial Services (PNC) at 3.13% and Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

PNC

Banks industry group

3.13%

Max
5.79%
Q3
3.18%
PNC
3.13%
Median
2.39%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%

SAN

Banks industry group

2.10%

Max
5.79%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
SAN
2.10%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%
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PNC Financial Services (PNC) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both PNC Financial Services (PNC) at 37.81% and Banco Santander (SAN) at 25.91% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

PNC

Banks industry group

37.81%

Max
70.75%
Q3
41.28%
PNC
37.81%
Median
29.26%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%

SAN

Banks industry group

25.91%

Max
70.75%
Q3
41.28%
Median
29.26%
SAN
25.91%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%
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PNC Financial Services (PNC) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricPNCSAN
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.13%2.10%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)37.81%25.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both PNC Financial Services (PNC) at 12.00 and Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

PNC

Banks industry group

12.00

Max
18.16
Q3
13.75
PNC
12.00
Median
11.81
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49

SAN

Banks industry group

11.08

Max
18.16
Q3
13.75
Median
11.81
SAN
11.08
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49
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PNC Financial Services (PNC) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

P/S ratio is set aside for both PNC Financial Services (PNC) in Banks and Banco Santander (SAN) 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)

Banco Santander (SAN) at 1.33 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while PNC Financial Services (PNC) at 1.59 carries an above-peer premium to book — PNC is pricier on assets.

PNC

Banks industry group

1.59

Max
2.28
PNC
1.59
Q3
1.58
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59

SAN

Banks industry group

1.33

Max
2.28
Q3
1.58
SAN
1.33
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59
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PNC Financial Services (PNC) vs. Banco Santander (SAN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for PNC Financial Services (PNC) and Banco Santander (SAN)
MetricPNCSAN
P/E Ratio (TTM)12.0011.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)----
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.591.33
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----