Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA vs Banco Santander SA — how do they compare? Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA trades at $28.62 (market cap $157.51B), while Banco Santander SA trades at $14.78 (market cap $211.88B). The key difference: Banco Santander SA is the larger of the two by market cap, and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA pays the higher dividend (3.8%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BBVA | SAN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $157.51B | $211.88B |
Sector | Financials | Financials |
52-Week High | $28.36 | $14.70 |
52-Week Low | $17.96 | $9.32 |
Dividend Yield | 3.8% | 1.89% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
BBVA trades at $28.35, up 0.75% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong fundamental performance. The bank reported Q2 2026 net profit growth of 11.4% year-over-year, driven by Mexico operations, and announced a $2.3 billion buyback. Revenue reached $39.42 billion in 2025, with net income margin at 26.13% and ROE of 18.5%, though cash flow was negative in 2024.
Outlook is positive with raised profitability guidance (ROTE ~21%) and analyst consensus leaning buy (54%), but risks include a Spanish court trial for spying allegations and antitrust probes. The stock offers value with a P/E of 12.98, yet investors should monitor legal overhangs and macroeconomic volatility in core markets like Spain and Mexico.
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
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 →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 →