Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA vs First Citizens BancShares Inc — how do they compare? Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA trades at $25.31 (market cap $142.30B), while First Citizens BancShares Inc trades at $2,070.84 (market cap $23.65B). The key difference: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA is far larger — about 6× First Citizens BancShares Inc's market cap, and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA pays the higher dividend (4.2%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BBVA | FCNCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $142.30B | $23.65B |
Sector | Financials | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $26.14 | $2.20K |
52-Week Low | $14.73 | $1.64K |
Dividend Yield | 4.2% | 0.41% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
BBVA trades at $25.39, down 1.17% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong fundamental metrics including a 26.51% net income margin and 18.67% ROE. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026, and revenue has grown steadily from $28.2B in 2022 to $39.4B in 2025. Positive analyst sentiment is reflected in a 53.85% buy rating, though legal and regulatory risks from ongoing probes in Spain present headwinds.
The outlook for BBVA remains positive given robust profitability and analyst support, but investors should weigh the stock's attractive valuation against litigation risks and sector volatility. Upside potential exists if earnings continue to exceed forecasts, but legal developments could pressure the share price near-term.
First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) trades at $2,106.06, up 0.64% with a bullish technical outlook and strong fundamental performance. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $44.86 exceeding expectations by 13.4%. Recent developments include expansion of commercial banking capabilities and the planned retirement of the Silicon Valley Bank brand name in Q4 2026. The company maintains solid profitability with a 24.35% net income margin and 10.5% ROE, supported by $9.25B in revenue for 2025.
FCNCA presents a mixed investment case with strong fundamentals but cautious analyst sentiment. While valuation appears reasonable at 11.89 P/E and 1.18 P/B ratios, the majority of analysts (81.82%) maintain Hold ratings. Key opportunities include continued earnings momentum and strategic brand alignment, while risks involve margin pressure and credit exposure in the tech sector. The consensus price target of $2,320 suggests modest upside potential from current levels.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Despite its Spanish origins, BBVA generates three quarters of its profits in emerging markets, especially Mexico that contributes nearly half of BBVA's net profit. BBVA is overwhelmingly a retail and commercial bank with corporate and investment banking forming a smaller part of the overall business.
Read more on BBVA →First Citizens BancShares is a major US regional bank providing diverse financial services. It recently expanded significantly by acquiring the assets and liabilities of Silicon Valley Bank.
Read more on FCNCA →