Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Citigroup Inc. (C) vs HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HSBC | 10.6% revenue growth vs C's 9.9% |
| Value | C | Lower P/E (10.7x vs 11.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | HSBC | 16.7% net margin vs C's 7.4% |
| Stability / Safety | HSBC | Beta 0.83 vs C's 1.30, lower leverage |
| Dividends | HSBC | 5.0% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs C's 2.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HSBC | +61.0% vs C's +40.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | C | 0.6% ROA vs HSBC's 0.5%, ROIC 1.6% vs 4.6% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Citigroup is a global financial services giant operating through two main divisions: Global Consumer Banking serving retail customers and Institutional Clients Group serving corporations and institutions. It generates revenue primarily from interest income on loans and securities (about 60%) and non-interest income from investment banking, trading, and card fees (about 40%). The company's key advantage is its unparalleled global network spanning nearly 100 countries—particularly strong in emerging markets—which provides unique cross-border banking capabilities for multinational clients.
HSBC is a global banking and financial services institution operating across retail, commercial, and investment banking. It generates revenue primarily through net interest income from lending activities (about 60% of total income) and fee-based income from transaction services, wealth management, and investment banking. Its key competitive advantage is its unique global network—particularly its dominant position in Asia and strong connectivity between East and West—which enables cross-border banking services few competitors can match.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
HSBC leads in 5 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). C leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
C and HSBC operate at a comparable scale, with $170.7B and $143.3B in trailing revenue. HSBC is the more profitable business, keeping 16.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to C's 7.4%.
| Metric | CCitigroup Inc. | HSBCHSBC Holdings plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $170.7B | $143.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $24.1B | $28.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $14.7B | $17.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$76.0B | $0 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.7% | +47.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.0% | +22.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.4% | +16.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -15.3% | +42.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.2% | -17.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 15.0x trailing earnings, HSBC trades at a 19% valuation discount to C's 18.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HSBC's 7.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than C's 23.7x.
| Metric | CCitigroup Inc. | HSBCHSBC Holdings plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $192.6B | $319.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $506.6B | $277.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.52x | 15.03x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.69x | 11.63x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.46x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 23.72x | 7.63x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.13x | 2.23x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.00x | 1.79x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 5.21x |
Profitability & Efficiency
HSBC delivers a 8.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $7 for C. HSBC carries lower financial leverage with a 1.26x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to C's 2.82x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HSBC scores 7/9 vs C's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CCitigroup Inc. | HSBCHSBC Holdings plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.9% | +8.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.6% | +0.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.6% | +4.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.0% | +2.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.82x | 1.26x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $314.0B | -$42.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $276.5B | $284.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $590.6B | $242.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.24x | 0.39x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in HSBC five years ago would be worth $35,948 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,396 for C. Over the past 12 months, HSBC leads with a +61.0% total return vs C's +40.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HSBC at 39.1% vs C's 32.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CCitigroup Inc. | HSBCHSBC Holdings plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.6% | +15.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +40.8% | +61.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +130.6% | +169.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +74.0% | +259.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +230.3% | +267.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +32.1% | +39.1% |
Risk & Volatility
HSBC is the less volatile stock with a 0.83 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than C's 1.30 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HSBC currently trades 98.3% from its 52-week high vs C's 88.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CCitigroup Inc. | HSBCHSBC Holdings plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.30x | 0.83x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $125.16 | $94.80 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $55.51 | $45.66 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.1% | +98.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.7 | 69.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 11.9M | 1.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates C as "Buy" and HSBC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 19.8% upside for C (target: $132) vs -44.2% for HSBC (target: $52). For income investors, HSBC offers the higher dividend yield at 4.96% vs C's 2.48%.
| Metric | CCitigroup Inc. | HSBCHSBC Holdings plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $132.09 | $52.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 26 | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.5% | +5.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.73 | $4.63 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.9% | +3.7% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | 100 | 171.96 | +72.0% |
| HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) | 100 | 265.32 | +165.3% |
Citigroup Inc. (C) returned +74% over 5 years vs HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC)'s +74%. A $10,000 investment in C 5 years ago would be worth $17,396 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | $88.3B | $170.7B | +93.4% |
| HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) | $87.2B | $143.3B | +64.4% |
Citigroup Inc.'s revenue grew from $88.3B (2015) to $170.7B (2024) — a 7.6% CAGR. HSBC Holdings plc's revenue grew from $87.2B (2015) to $143.3B (2024) — a 5.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | 19.5% | 7.4% | -62.0% |
| HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) | 15.5% | 16.7% | +7.9% |
Citigroup Inc.'s net margin went from 20% (2015) to 7% (2024). HSBC Holdings plc's net margin went from 16% (2015) to 17% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | 7.8 | 11.8 | +51.3% |
| HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) | 21.5 | 8 | -62.8% |
Citigroup Inc. has traded in a 6x–13x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x. HSBC Holdings plc has traded in a 7x–27x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~15x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | 5.42 | 5.95 | +9.8% |
| HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) | 3.2 | 6.2 | +93.8% |
Citigroup Inc.'s EPS grew from $5.42 (2015) to $5.95 (2024) — a 1% CAGR. HSBC Holdings plc's EPS grew from $3.20 (2015) to $6.20 (2024) — a 8% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Citigroup Inc. generated $-26B FCF in 2024 (-161% vs 2021). HSBC Holdings plc generated $61B FCF in 2024 (-39% vs 2021).
C vs HSBC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is C or HSBC a better buy right now?
HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) offers the better valuation at 15.0x trailing P/E (11.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Citigroup Inc. (C) a "Buy" — based on 26 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — C or HSBC?
On trailing P/E, HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) is the cheapest at 15.0x versus Citigroup Inc. at 18.5x. On forward P/E, Citigroup Inc. is actually cheaper at 10.7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — C or HSBC?
Over the past 5 years, HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) delivered a total return of +259.5%, compared to +74.0% for Citigroup Inc. (C). A $10,000 investment in HSBC five years ago would be worth approximately $36K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HSBC returned +267.7% versus C's +230.3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — C or HSBC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.83β versus Citigroup Inc.'s 1.30β — meaning C is approximately 57% more volatile than HSBC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 126% versus 3% for Citigroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — C or HSBC?
HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) is the more profitable company, earning 16.7% net margin versus 7.4% for Citigroup Inc. — meaning it keeps 16.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HSBC leads at 22.5% versus 10.0% for C. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HSBC leads at 47.0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is C or HSBC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Citigroup Inc. (C) trades at 10.7x forward P/E versus 11.6x for HSBC Holdings plc — 0.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for C: 19.8% to $132.09.
07Which pays a better dividend — C or HSBC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) offers the highest yield at 5.0%, versus 2.5% for Citigroup Inc. (C).
08Is C or HSBC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.83), 5.0% yield, +267.7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HSBC: +267.7%, C: +230.3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between C and HSBC?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: C is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HSBC is a large-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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