Banco Santander SA vs Wells Fargo & Co — how do they compare? Banco Santander SA trades at $13.7 (market cap $191.46B), while Wells Fargo & Co trades at $87.9 (market cap $261.45B). The key difference: Wells Fargo & Co is the larger of the two by market cap, and Banco Santander SA is trading nearer its 52-week high, Wells Fargo & Co nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| SAN | WFC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $191.46B | $261.45B |
Sector | Financials | Financials |
52-Week High | $14.37 | $96.40 |
52-Week Low | $8.40 | $73.42 |
Dividend Yield | 2.09% | 2.09% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Santander (SAN) trades at $13.65, up 0.74% with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but oversold RSI. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS beat ($0.41 vs $0.29 expected) and maintains strong profitability with 26.72% net margin and 16.18% ROE. Recent developments include the $12.2 billion Webster Bank acquisition and AI-driven cost initiatives targeting $1.15 billion in business value.
SAN offers value with a 13.23 P/E and dividend yield near 4.4%, supported by 64% analyst buy ratings. Key risks include declining cash flows (-$28.13B in 2024) and Spanish antitrust probes. The stock's upside depends on successful integration of acquisitions and AI efficiency gains offsetting macroeconomic pressures on European banking.
Wells Fargo (WFC) trades at $87.75, up 0.26% today, with a neutral technical signal and bullish moving averages. The stock shows improving fundamentals with 2025 revenue of $83.70B and net income of $21.34B, yielding a 25.97% net margin. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $1.96 versus $1.73 expected. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $97.36 price target, suggesting 11% upside. The bank continues growth initiatives post-asset cap removal, though net cash flow remains negative.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic given valuation support (P/E 12.55) and dividend yield, but risks include net interest margin pressure and volatile cash flows. Institutional activity is mixed with some trimming positions. Earnings sustainability and loan growth execution are key catalysts for further upside, while macroeconomic sensitivity poses a headwind.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the United States, with approximately $1.9 trillion in balance sheet assets. The company is split into four primary segments: consumer banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management. It is almost entirely focused on the U.S.
Read more on WFC →