Barclays (BCS) vs Royal Bank Of Canada (RY)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Royal Bank Of Canada (RY) has outperformed Barclays (BCS) over the past year, gaining 31.1% versus a gain of 12.5%. Over five years, BCS leads with a +107.4% price change compared with +81.3% for RY. Royal Bank Of Canada is the larger company by market cap ($265.17 billion vs $76.52 billion), about 3.5 times the size.
On valuation, Barclays trades at a lower forward P/E (6.9x vs 15.2x for Royal Bank Of Canada). Royal Bank Of Canada offers the higher dividend yield (3.44% vs 0.50%).
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 | BCS | RY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $22.94 | $191.54 |
| Market cap | $76.52B | $265.17B |
| 1-day change | -0.28% | +0.16% |
| YTD return | -9.63% | +12.16% |
| 1-year return | +12.52% | +31.09% |
| 5-year return | +107.39% | +81.27% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 8.86 | 16.74 |
| Forward P/E | 6.94 | 15.23 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.59 | $11.44 |
| Dividend yield | 0.50% | 3.44% |
| Annual dividend | $0.115 | $6.58 |
| 52-week high | $28.69 | $218.57 |
| 52-week low | $19.29 | $143.13 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -20.06% | -12.37% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +30.46% | +8.25% |
| Average volume | 4.46M | 1.24M |
| Shares outstanding | 3.34B | 1.38B |
| Employees | 93,000 | 101,269 |
| 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
- Royal Bank Of Canada is about 3.5 times larger than Barclays by market value ($265.17B vs $76.52B).
- RY has outperformed BCS by 18.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Royal Bank Of Canada trades at a higher earnings multiple (16.7x vs 8.9x trailing P/E).
- Royal Bank Of Canada offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.44% vs 0.50%).
About Barclays
BCS stock →Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK; Barclays UK Corporate Bank; Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management; Barclays Investment Bank; and Barclays US Consumer Bank segments.
Finance · Commercial Banks · 93,000 employees
About Royal Bank Of Canada
RY stock →Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. Its Personal Banking segment offers home equity financing, personal lending, chequing and savings accounts, private banking, auto financing, mutual funds, GICs, credit cards, and payment products and solutions.
Finance · Commercial Banks · 101,269 employees
BCS vs RY FAQ
Which is bigger, Barclays or Royal Bank Of Canada?
Royal Bank Of Canada (RY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $265.17B compared with $76.52B for Barclays (BCS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BCS or RY?
RY returned +31.09% over the past 12 months, compared with +12.52% for BCS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BCS or RY?
BCS has the lower trailing P/E at 8.9, versus 16.7 for RY. 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, Barclays or Royal Bank Of Canada?
Royal Bank Of Canada has the higher yield at 3.44%, compared with 0.50% for Barclays.
Are Barclays and Royal Bank Of Canada in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Commercial Banks industry within the Finance sector.