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.
| Profile Item | SAN | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Banco Santander, S.A. Sponsored ADR | Wintrust 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 | 10.21 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | July 30, 1987 | April 16, 1998 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SAN | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Return Distribution
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.
| Metric | SAN | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 35.78% | 23.68% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.71 | 0.85 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.82% | -40.71% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 11.52M | 515.90K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SAN | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.51 | 0.72 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.77 | 1.07 |
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%
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%
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
| Metric | SAN | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SAN | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| 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
| Metric | SAN | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| 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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | SAN | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | SAN | WTFC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 11.08 | 11.60 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.33 | 1.49 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |