AES Corp vs Banco Santander SA — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.66 (market cap $10.51B), while Banco Santander SA trades at $14.78 (market cap $211.88B). The key difference: Banco Santander SA is far larger — about 20.2× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | SAN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.51B | $211.88B |
Sector | Utilities | Financials |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $14.71 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $9.37 |
Enterprise Value | $40.77B | — |
Dividend Yield | 4.78% | 1.89% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.73, up 0.2% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong profitability with a net income margin of 14.34% and ROE of 45.05% for 2025, though Q2 2026 EPS missed expectations. A pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders, dominates recent developments, alongside a consistent dividend payout.
The acquisition offers a near-term catalyst with a capped upside at the buyout price of $15 per share, presenting a low-risk arbitrage opportunity. Risks include deal completion uncertainty amid shareholder complaints and regulatory scrutiny. Analyst consensus is mixed with 43% buy ratings, reflecting cautious optimism tied to the acquisition's successful closure and the company's strategic shift toward renewable energy investments.
Banco Santander (SAN) trades at $14.70, up 0.34% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a P/E of 14.39, net income margin of 26.25% for 2026, and record profits in H1 2026. Recent news highlights Federal Reserve approval for its $12 billion Webster Bank acquisition, expected to close August 20, 2026, and its rise as Spain's most valuable company.
Outlook is positive given analyst consensus (64% buy ratings), solid profitability, and strategic acquisitions, but risks include regulatory scrutiny in Spain, volatile cash flows, and earnings misses in two of the last three quarters. The stock offers value with growth potential amid integration execution and macroeconomic uncertainties.
Trailing returns across standard periods
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →Santander's focus is on retail and commercial banking. Latin America is geographically the largest operation, with Brazil by far the largest. Its continental European business is still mainly Iberian. Santander's U.K. presence is the result of the acquisition of building society Abbey. In the U.S., Santander operates a vehicle finance business and a regional bank focused on the Northeastern states.
Read more on SAN →