Seek Returns

SAN vs. USB: Banco Santander vs. U.S. Bancorp Stock Comparison

How do Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB) 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 U.S. Bancorp (USB) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

U.S. Bancorp (USB) 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 Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB)
Profile ItemSANUSB
NameBanco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADRU.S. Bancorp
Country/RegionSpainUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified BanksDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization169.27 billion USD92.64 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJuly 30, 1987May 3, 1973
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SAN
USB
GSPC
Loading price history…
Banco Santander (SAN) vs. U.S. Bancorp (USB), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB)
MetricSANUSB
Total Return (1Y)22.64%34.87%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)52.66%27.22%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)31.64%4.97%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SAN
USB
GSPC
Loading price history…
Banco Santander (SAN) vs. U.S. Bancorp (USB), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB)
MetricSANUSB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)35.78%22.72%
Beta (5Y)0.710.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.82%-52.13%
Avg. Volume (3M)11.52M7.25M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
SAN and USB 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 Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB)
MetricSANUSB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.511.35
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.771.98

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 13.06% and U.S. Bancorp (USB) at 12.84% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

SAN

Banks industry group

13.06%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
SAN
13.06%
Median
11.49%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%

USB

Banks industry group

12.84%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
USB
12.84%
Median
11.49%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%
Loading chart…
Banco Santander (SAN) vs. U.S. Bancorp (USB): A comparison of their ROE against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 32.58% and U.S. Bancorp (USB) at 30.01% 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%

USB

Banks industry group

30.01%

Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
Median
31.21%
USB
30.01%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%
Loading chart…
Banco Santander (SAN) vs. U.S. Bancorp (USB): A comparison of their net margin against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Banco Santander (SAN) in Banks and U.S. Bancorp (USB) 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 Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB)
MetricSANUSB
ROE (TTM)13.06%12.84%
ROA (TTM)0.76%1.20%
Net Margin (TTM)32.58%30.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)----
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at -0.47% and U.S. Bancorp (USB) at 4.41% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

Loading chart…
Banco Santander (SAN) vs. U.S. Bancorp (USB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 17.19% and U.S. Bancorp (USB) at 21.90% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Banco Santander (SAN) vs. U.S. Bancorp (USB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB)
MetricSANUSB
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.47%4.41%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.45%5.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)17.19%21.90%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)18.78%7.78%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Banco Santander (SAN) in Banks and U.S. Bancorp (USB) 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 U.S. Bancorp (USB) 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 Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB)
MetricSANUSB
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

U.S. Bancorp (USB) at 3.51% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, USB 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%

USB

Banks industry group

3.51%

Max
5.79%
USB
3.51%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Banco Santander (SAN) vs. U.S. Bancorp (USB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 25.91% and U.S. Bancorp (USB) at 40.86% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

SAN

Banks industry group

25.91%

Max
70.75%
Q3
41.28%
Median
29.26%
SAN
25.91%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%

USB

Banks industry group

40.86%

Max
70.75%
Q3
41.28%
USB
40.86%
Median
29.26%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Banco Santander (SAN) vs. U.S. Bancorp (USB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB)
MetricSANUSB
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.10%3.51%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.91%40.86%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 and U.S. Bancorp (USB) at 11.57 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

USB

Banks industry group

11.57

Max
18.16
Q3
13.75
Median
11.81
USB
11.57
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49
Loading chart…
Banco Santander (SAN) vs. U.S. Bancorp (USB): 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 Banco Santander (SAN) in Banks and U.S. Bancorp (USB) 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)

On P/B ratio, both Banco Santander (SAN) at 1.33 and U.S. Bancorp (USB) at 1.55 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

SAN

Banks industry group

1.33

Max
2.28
Q3
1.58
SAN
1.33
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59

USB

Banks industry group

1.55

Max
2.28
Q3
1.58
USB
1.55
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59
Loading chart…
Banco Santander (SAN) vs. U.S. Bancorp (USB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Banco Santander (SAN) and U.S. Bancorp (USB)
MetricSANUSB
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.0811.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)----
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.331.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----