SAN vs. TFC: Banco Santander vs. Truist Financial Stock Comparison
How do Banco Santander (SAN) and Truist Financial (TFC) 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
Banco Santander (SAN) and Truist Financial (TFC) both belong to the Banks industry, though SAN is classified under Diversified Banks while TFC falls under Regional Banks.
Truist Financial (TFC) 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.
| Profile Item | SAN | TFC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Banco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR | Truist Financial Corporation |
| Country/Region | Spain | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Regional Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 169.27 billion USD | 59.18 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 30, 1987 | March 18, 1980 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SAN | TFC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 22.64% | 18.58% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 52.66% | 25.74% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 31.64% | -0.01% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SAN | TFC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 35.78% | 23.91% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.71 | 0.88 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.82% | -59.11% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 11.52M | 7.35M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SAN | TFC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.51 | 0.60 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.77 | 0.83 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Banco Santander (SAN) at 13.06% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Truist Financial (TFC) at 8.16% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.
SAN
Banks industry group
13.06%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- SAN
- 13.06%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
TFC
Banks industry group
8.16%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- TFC
- 8.16%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 32.58% and Truist Financial (TFC) at 28.38% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
SAN
Banks industry group
32.58%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- SAN
- 32.58%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
TFC
Banks industry group
28.38%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- TFC
- 28.38%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Banco Santander (SAN) in Banks and Truist Financial (TFC) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | SAN | TFC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 13.06% | 8.16% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.76% | 0.95% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 32.58% | 28.38% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Truist Financial (TFC) at 53.03% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Banco Santander (SAN) at -0.47% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 17.19% and Truist Financial (TFC) at 13.69% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SAN | TFC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.47% | 53.03% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.45% | 0.57% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 17.19% | 13.69% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.78% | -4.82% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Banco Santander (SAN) in Banks and Truist Financial (TFC) 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: Banco Santander (SAN) in Banks and Truist Financial (TFC) 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 | SAN | TFC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Truist Financial (TFC) at 4.17% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, TFC the richer one.
SAN
Banks industry group
2.10%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- SAN
- 2.10%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
TFC
Banks industry group
4.17%
- Max
- 5.79%
- TFC
- 4.17%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Banco Santander (SAN) at 25.91% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Truist Financial (TFC) at 53.61% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
SAN
Banks industry group
25.91%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- SAN
- 25.91%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
TFC
Banks industry group
53.61%
- Max
- 70.75%
- TFC
- 53.61%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | SAN | TFC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.10% | 4.17% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 25.91% | 53.61% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 and Truist Financial (TFC) at 12.73 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
SAN
Banks industry group
11.08
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- SAN
- 11.08
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
TFC
Banks industry group
12.73
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- TFC
- 12.73
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Banco Santander (SAN) in Banks and Truist Financial (TFC) 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)
Truist Financial (TFC) at 1.06 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Banco Santander (SAN) at 1.33 is valued near its industry’s middle — TFC is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
SAN
Banks industry group
1.33
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- SAN
- 1.33
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
TFC
Banks industry group
1.06
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- TFC
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | SAN | TFC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 11.08 | 12.73 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.33 | 1.06 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |