Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (BBVA) vs Banco Santander S.A. Sponsored (SAN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (BBVA) has outperformed Banco Santander S.A. Sponsored (SAN) over the past year, gaining 41.2% versus a gain of 37.0%. Over five years, BBVA leads with a +291.2% price change compared with +250.3% for SAN. Banco Santander S.A. Sponsored is the larger company by market cap ($197.78 billion vs $144.37 billion), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, Banco Santander S.A. Sponsored trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 10.6x for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.). Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. offers the higher dividend yield (2.29% vs 0.92%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BBVA | SAN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $26.25 | $13.66 |
| Market cap | $144.37B | $197.78B |
| 1-day change | -3.31% | -2.50% |
| YTD return | +12.61% | +16.45% |
| 1-year return | +41.20% | +37.01% |
| 5-year return | +291.21% | +250.26% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.99 | 13.26 |
| Forward P/E | 10.58 | 9.54 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.19 | $1.03 |
| Dividend yield | 2.29% | 0.92% |
| Annual dividend | $0.60 | $0.125 |
| 52-week high | $29.64 | $15.05 |
| 52-week low | $17.90 | $9.62 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.44% | -9.24% |
| Analyst consensus | none | none |
| Avg. price target upside | -6.55% | +8.27% |
| Average volume | 1.44M | 12.46M |
| Shares outstanding | 5.50B | 14.48B |
| Employees | 126,994 | 185,279 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Commercial Banks | Commercial Banks |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.29% vs 0.92%).
About Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.
BBVA stock →Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services in Spain, Mexico, Turkey, South America, Europe, the United States, and Asia. The company offers traditional retail, wholesale, investment, and transaction banking.
Finance · Commercial Banks · 126,994 employees
About Banco Santander S.A. Sponsored
SAN stock →Banco Santander, S.A. provides various financial products and services to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporations, and public entities worldwide.
Finance · Commercial Banks · 185,279 employees
BBVA vs SAN FAQ
Which is bigger, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. or Banco Santander S.A. Sponsored?
Banco Santander S.A. Sponsored (SAN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $197.78B compared with $144.37B for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (BBVA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BBVA or SAN?
BBVA returned +41.20% over the past 12 months, compared with +37.01% for SAN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BBVA or SAN?
BBVA has the lower trailing P/E at 12.0, versus 13.3 for SAN. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. or Banco Santander S.A. Sponsored?
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. has the higher yield at 2.29%, compared with 0.92% for Banco Santander S.A. Sponsored.
Are Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. and Banco Santander S.A. Sponsored in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Commercial Banks industry within the Finance sector.