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SAN vs. WTFC: Banco Santander vs. Wintrust Financial Stock Comparison

How do Banco Santander (SAN) and Wintrust Financial (WTFC) 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 Wintrust Financial (WTFC) both belong to the Banks industry, though SAN is classified under Diversified Banks while WTFC falls under Regional Banks.

Wintrust Financial (WTFC) 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 Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
Profile ItemSANWTFC
NameBanco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADRWintrust Financial Corporation
Country/RegionSpainUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified BanksRegional Banks
Market Capitalization169.27 billion USD10.21 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJuly 30, 1987April 16, 1998
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SAN
WTFC
GSPC
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Banco Santander (SAN) vs. Wintrust Financial (WTFC), 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 Banco Santander (SAN) and Wintrust Financial (WTFC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Banco Santander (SAN) and Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
MetricSANWTFC
Total Return (1Y)22.64%21.25%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)52.66%28.56%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)31.64%13.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SAN
WTFC
GSPC
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Banco Santander (SAN) vs. Wintrust Financial (WTFC), 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 Banco Santander (SAN) and Wintrust Financial (WTFC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Banco Santander (SAN) is heavily traded at around 11.52M shares per day, whereas Wintrust Financial (WTFC) sees a more moderate 515.90K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for Banco Santander (SAN) and Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
MetricSANWTFC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)35.78%23.68%
Beta (5Y)0.710.85
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.82%-40.71%
Avg. Volume (3M)11.52M515.90K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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SAN and WTFC 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 Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
MetricSANWTFC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.510.72
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.771.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 13.06% and Wintrust Financial (WTFC) at 12.88% 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%

WTFC

Banks industry group

12.88%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
WTFC
12.88%
Median
11.49%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%
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Banco Santander (SAN) vs. Wintrust Financial (WTFC): A comparison of their ROE against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 32.58% and Wintrust Financial (WTFC) at 32.81% 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%

WTFC

Banks industry group

32.81%

Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
WTFC
32.81%
Median
31.21%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%
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Banco Santander (SAN) vs. Wintrust Financial (WTFC): 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 Wintrust Financial (WTFC) 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 Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
MetricSANWTFC
ROE (TTM)13.06%12.88%
ROA (TTM)0.76%1.27%
Net Margin (TTM)32.58%32.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)----
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Wintrust Financial (WTFC) at 11.23% 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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Banco Santander (SAN) vs. Wintrust Financial (WTFC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 17.19% and Wintrust Financial (WTFC) at 10.57% 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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Banco Santander (SAN) vs. Wintrust Financial (WTFC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Banco Santander (SAN) and Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
MetricSANWTFC
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.47%11.23%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.45%11.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)17.19%10.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)18.78%12.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Banco Santander (SAN) in Banks and Wintrust Financial (WTFC) 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 Wintrust Financial (WTFC) 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 Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
MetricSANWTFC
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 2.10% and Wintrust Financial (WTFC) at 1.42% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

SAN

Banks industry group

2.10%

Max
5.79%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
SAN
2.10%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%

WTFC

Banks industry group

1.42%

Max
5.79%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
WTFC
1.42%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%
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Banco Santander (SAN) vs. Wintrust Financial (WTFC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Banco Santander (SAN) at 25.91% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; Wintrust Financial (WTFC) at 16.49% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

SAN

Banks industry group

25.91%

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

WTFC

Banks industry group

16.49%

Max
70.75%
Q3
41.28%
Median
29.26%
Q1
18.98%
WTFC
16.49%
Min
0.00%
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Banco Santander (SAN) vs. Wintrust Financial (WTFC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Banco Santander (SAN) and Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
MetricSANWTFC
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.10%1.42%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)25.91%16.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Banco Santander (SAN) at 11.08 and Wintrust Financial (WTFC) at 11.60 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

WTFC

Banks industry group

11.60

Max
18.16
Q3
13.75
Median
11.81
WTFC
11.60
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49
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Banco Santander (SAN) vs. Wintrust Financial (WTFC): 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 Wintrust Financial (WTFC) 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 Wintrust Financial (WTFC) at 1.49 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

WTFC

Banks industry group

1.49

Max
2.28
Q3
1.58
WTFC
1.49
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59
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Banco Santander (SAN) vs. Wintrust Financial (WTFC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Banco Santander (SAN) and Wintrust Financial (WTFC)
MetricSANWTFC
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.0811.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)----
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.331.49
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----