SAN vs. WFC: Banco Santander vs. Wells Fargo Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Banco Santander (SAN) 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.

Wells Fargo (WFC) 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.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 13.06% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 12.91% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 32.58% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 27.64% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Banco Santander (SAN) 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

Growth

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at -0.47% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 1.70% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 17.19% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 16.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Banco Santander (SAN) 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-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Banco Santander (SAN) 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

Dividends

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 2.19% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 25.91% and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 26.09% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 and Wells Fargo (WFC) at 11.84 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

P/S ratio is set aside for both Banco Santander (SAN) 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.

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

Valuation Metrics