RY vs. WFC: Royal Bank of Canada vs. Wells Fargo Stock Comparison
How do Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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
Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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.
| Profile Item | RY | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Royal Bank of Canada | Wells Fargo & Company |
| Country/Region | Canada | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 287.62 billion USD | 252.89 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 16, 1995 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RY | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 59.76% | 5.41% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | RY | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 15.03% | 26.61% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.80 | 0.93 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.61M | 16.50M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 16.20% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.03% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for RY.
RY
Banks industry group
16.20%
- Max
- 19.15%
- RY
- 16.20%
- Q3
- 13.03%
- Median
- 10.82%
- Q1
- 8.56%
- Min
- 3.15%
WFC
Banks industry group
12.03%
- Max
- 19.15%
- Q3
- 13.03%
- WFC
- 12.03%
- Median
- 10.82%
- Q1
- 8.56%
- Min
- 3.15%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 33.69% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 26.74% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
RY
Banks industry group
33.69%
- Max
- 47.55%
- Q3
- 34.56%
- RY
- 33.69%
- Median
- 30.17%
- Q1
- 25.36%
- Min
- 12.11%
WFC
Banks industry group
26.74%
- Max
- 47.55%
- Q3
- 34.56%
- Median
- 30.17%
- WFC
- 26.74%
- Q1
- 25.36%
- Min
- 12.11%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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 | RY | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.20% | 12.03% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.96% | 1.05% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 33.69% | 26.74% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | RY | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 15.73% | 1.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.90% | 4.02% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | RY | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | 16.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 25.86% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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: Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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 | RY | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 3.11% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 2.10% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
RY
Banks industry group
3.11%
- Max
- 5.31%
- Q3
- 3.21%
- RY
- 3.11%
- Median
- 2.34%
- Q1
- 1.29%
- Min
- 0.00%
WFC
Banks industry group
2.10%
- Max
- 5.31%
- Q3
- 3.21%
- Median
- 2.34%
- WFC
- 2.10%
- Q1
- 1.29%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 41.35% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 27.05% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
RY
Banks industry group
41.35%
- Max
- 74.88%
- Q3
- 42.43%
- RY
- 41.35%
- Median
- 28.93%
- Q1
- 19.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
WFC
Banks industry group
27.05%
- Max
- 74.88%
- Q3
- 42.43%
- Median
- 28.93%
- WFC
- 27.05%
- Q1
- 19.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RY | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.11% | 2.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 41.35% | 27.05% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.77 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 19.11 sits in the richer quartile — RY needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
RY
Banks industry group
19.11
- Max
- 20.85
- RY
- 19.11
- Q3
- 15.72
- Median
- 13.20
- Q1
- 11.71
- Min
- 6.98
WFC
Banks industry group
12.77
- Max
- 20.85
- Q3
- 15.72
- Median
- 13.20
- WFC
- 12.77
- Q1
- 11.71
- Min
- 6.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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)
Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.55 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Royal Bank of Canada (RY) at 3.10 prices above its benchmark range — RY looks rich relative to book.
RY
Banks industry group
3.10
- RY
- 3.10
- Max
- 2.27
- Q3
- 1.61
- Median
- 1.34
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.67
WFC
Banks industry group
1.55
- Max
- 2.27
- Q3
- 1.61
- WFC
- 1.55
- Median
- 1.34
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.67
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RY | WFC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.11 | 12.77 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.10 | 1.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |