Popular (BPOP) vs Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Popular (BPOP) has outperformed Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) over the past year, gaining 24.1% versus a loss of 13.5%. Over five years, BPOP leads with a +96.4% price change compared with -35.0% for WAL. Popular is the larger company by market cap ($9.92 billion vs $8.11 billion), about 1.2 times the size, while Western Alliance Bancorporation is growing revenue faster (+99.7% vs +8.8%).
On valuation, Western Alliance Bancorporation trades at a lower forward P/E (6.7x vs 9.0x for Popular). Western Alliance Bancorporation offers the higher dividend yield (2.21% vs 1.93%). Western Alliance Bancorporation converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 713.5% versus 26.0%.
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 | BPOP | WAL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $155.52 | $74.35 |
| Market cap | $9.92B | $8.11B |
| 1-day change | -1.75% | -2.29% |
| YTD return | +24.90% | -11.56% |
| 1-year return | +24.11% | -13.55% |
| 5-year return | +96.39% | -35.00% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.52 | 8.39 |
| Forward P/E | 9.00 | 6.67 |
| EPS (TTM) | $14.79 | $8.86 |
| Dividend yield | 1.93% | 2.21% |
| Annual dividend | $3.00 | $1.64 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.20B | $135.80M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.77% | +99.71% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $833.16M | $969.00M |
| Net margin | 26.04% | 713.55% |
| 52-week high | $179.24 | $97.23 |
| 52-week low | $108.74 | $65.82 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.23% | -23.53% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.51% | +23.40% |
| Average volume | 498.63K | 1.06M |
| Shares outstanding | 63.78M | 109.10M |
| Employees | 9,203 | 3,769 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Major Banks | Major 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
- BPOP has outperformed WAL by 37.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Popular trades at a higher earnings multiple (10.5x vs 8.4x trailing P/E).
- Western Alliance Bancorporation is more profitable, keeping 713.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 26.0 cents for Popular.
- Western Alliance Bancorporation grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+99.71% vs +8.77%).
About Popular
BPOP stock →Popular, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various retail, mortgage, and commercial banking services for individuals and businesses in Puerto Rico, the United States, the British Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The company offers savings, NOW, money market, and other interest-bearing demand accounts; non-interest bearing demand deposits; checking accounts; individual retirement accounts and educational contribution accounts; business accounts; investment accounts; private management accounts; and certificates of deposit.
Finance · Major Banks · 9,203 employees
About Western Alliance Bancorporation
WAL stock →Western Alliance Bancorporation operates as the bank holding company for Western Alliance Bank that provides various banking products and related services primarily in Arizona, California, and Nevada. It operates through Commercial and Consumer Related segments.
Finance · Major Banks · 3,769 employees
BPOP vs WAL FAQ
Which is bigger, Popular or Western Alliance Bancorporation?
Popular (BPOP) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.92B compared with $8.11B for Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BPOP or WAL?
BPOP returned +24.11% over the past 12 months, compared with -13.55% for WAL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BPOP or WAL?
WAL has the lower trailing P/E at 8.4, versus 10.5 for BPOP. 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, Popular or Western Alliance Bancorporation?
Western Alliance Bancorporation has the higher yield at 2.21%, compared with 1.93% for Popular.
Are Popular and Western Alliance Bancorporation in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.