Live Report · Updated January 26, 2026

Santander vs BBVA

This page compares Santander and BBVA, examining their business models, financial performance, and market context to help readers understand how the two banks operate within the sector. It presents neutral, accessible information without making recommendations, focusing on structure, strategy, and competitive landscape. Educational content, not financial advice.

This page compares Santander and BBVA, examining their business models, financial performance, and market context to help readers understand how the two banks operate within the sector. It presents ne...

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

SAN

Metric

BBVA

$185.08B

Market Cap

$144.65B

-16.69%

Potential Profit

-6.99%

Hold

Analyst Rating

Strong Buy

Why It's Moving

Banco Santander surges to 52-week high amid revenue strength and analyst scrutiny.

Revenue crushed expectations at $26.22 billion versus $15.32 billion forecast, highlighting strong net interest income and a healthy 17.9% net margin.
Hit intraday 52-week high of $12.34 with elevated trading volume, reflecting market enthusiasm for 11.68% return on equity.
Analysts split with Hold consensus after downgrades from DZ Bank, Barclays, and UBS, tempering optimism on near-term upside.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

BBVA Accelerates Share Buyback and Strikes $250M Climate Partnership Deal

Spent €543.8M on buybacks from Jan 19-23, hitting 36% of the first tranche to boost shareholder value.
Committed $250M as strategic LP in ALTÉRRA's $1.2B climate fund, aligning with €700B sustainable financing goal through 2029.
Chair Carlos Torres Vila projects €49B in top-quality capital by 2028, fueling growth in key markets like Mexico and Europe.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

Banco Santander surges to 52-week high amid revenue strength and analyst scrutiny.

Revenue crushed expectations at $26.22 billion versus $15.32 billion forecast, highlighting strong net interest income and a healthy 17.9% net margin.
Hit intraday 52-week high of $12.34 with elevated trading volume, reflecting market enthusiasm for 11.68% return on equity.
Analysts split with Hold consensus after downgrades from DZ Bank, Barclays, and UBS, tempering optimism on near-term upside.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

BBVA Accelerates Share Buyback and Strikes $250M Climate Partnership Deal

Spent €543.8M on buybacks from Jan 19-23, hitting 36% of the first tranche to boost shareholder value.
Committed $250M as strategic LP in ALTÉRRA's $1.2B climate fund, aligning with €700B sustainable financing goal through 2029.
Chair Carlos Torres Vila projects €49B in top-quality capital by 2028, fueling growth in key markets like Mexico and Europe.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

Investment Analysis

Santander

SAN

Pros

Banco Santander has demonstrated strong operational improvements, with profit up 11% year-on-year and return on tangible equity reaching 14%.
The stock trades at a reasonable forward price-to-earnings multiple of 10x, below the S&P 500 and slightly under the industry average.
Santander's risk-adjusted performance is robust, with a Sharpe ratio of 2.48 over the past 12 months, outpacing many peers.

Considerations

The bank's share price has shown limited upside according to recent analyst targets, with minimal projected growth in the near term.
Santander's institutional ownership is relatively low at 9.2%, suggesting less confidence from large money managers compared to global peers.
Recent price performance has lagged behind BBVA, with a 5% decline over the past year compared to BBVA's significant gains.

BBVA

Pros

BBVA has delivered strong recent returns, outperforming Santander with a 72% gain over the past 12 months.
The bank maintains a solid dividend yield of 5.32%, making it attractive for income-focused investors.
BBVA's risk-adjusted performance is solid, with a Sharpe ratio of 1.41 and a P/E ratio below the sector average at 9.0x.

Considerations

Analyst targets suggest limited upside, with a projected fair value decline of 1.6% and negative sentiment on future price growth.
BBVA's price-to-book ratio is higher than the sector average, indicating a premium valuation relative to peers.
The bank's recent profit growth has been inconsistent, with dips reported in some key markets despite strong loan growth.

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