Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) vs Bank of America Corporation (BAC) 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 | SMFG | 10.2% revenue growth vs BAC's -1.9% |
| Value | SMFG | Lower P/E (0.1x vs 11.5x), PEG 0.01 vs 0.75 |
| Quality / Margins | BAC | 16.2% net margin vs SMFG's 12.2% |
| Stability / Safety | BAC | Beta 0.99 vs SMFG's 1.06, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SMFG | 3.0% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs BAC's 2.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SMFG | +49.8% vs BAC's +10.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BAC | 0.9% ROA vs SMFG's 0.5%, ROIC 3.2% vs 2.1% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is one of Japan's largest banking conglomerates providing comprehensive financial services globally. It generates revenue primarily through commercial banking—including corporate lending (wholesale business) and retail banking—supplemented by leasing, securities, and consumer finance operations. The company's competitive advantage lies in its entrenched position within Japan's keiretsu system—with deep corporate relationships—and its extensive domestic branch network.
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions providing comprehensive banking and financial services to consumers, businesses, and institutions. It generates revenue primarily through net interest income from its massive loan portfolio — about 60% of total revenue — supplemented by fees from investment banking, wealth management, and trading activities. The company's key advantage is its massive scale and nationwide branch network — the second-largest in the U.S. — which creates a stable deposit base and cross-selling opportunities across its diverse financial services ecosystem.
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
SMFG leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). BAC leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
SMFG is the larger business by revenue, generating $9.66T annually — 51.2x BAC's $188.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 16.2% (BAC) to 12.2% (SMFG).
| Metric | SMFGSumitomo Mitsui F… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $9.66T | $188.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.95T | $36.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.39T | $30.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $12.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +48.9% | +55.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.6% | +18.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.2% | +16.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +47.7% | +6.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +61.0% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 11.6x trailing earnings, SMFG trades at a 11% valuation discount to BAC's 13.0x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), BAC offers better value at 0.85x vs SMFG's 0.95x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | SMFGSumitomo Mitsui F… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $142.7B | $379.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $32.0B | $513.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.62x | 13.04x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.09x | 11.52x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.95x | 0.85x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.52x | 14.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.31x | 2.01x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.92x | 1.24x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.84x | 30.07x |
Profitability & Efficiency
BAC delivers a 10.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $9 for SMFG. BAC carries lower financial leverage with a 1.21x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SMFG's 3.93x.
| Metric | SMFGSumitomo Mitsui F… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.1% | +10.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.5% | +0.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.1% | +3.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.9% | +4.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.93x | 1.21x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$17.29T | $134.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $75.59T | $231.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $58.30T | $365.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.43x | 0.44x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SMFG five years ago would be worth $34,336 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,219 for BAC. Over the past 12 months, SMFG leads with a +49.8% total return vs BAC's +10.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SMFG at 39.5% vs BAC's 15.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SMFGSumitomo Mitsui F… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.4% | -10.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +49.8% | +10.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +171.5% | +54.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +243.4% | +52.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +368.3% | +355.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +39.5% | +15.5% |
Risk & Volatility
BAC is the less volatile stock with a 0.99 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SMFG's 1.06 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SMFG currently trades 92.2% from its 52-week high vs BAC's 86.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SMFGSumitomo Mitsui F… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.06x | 0.99x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.34 | $57.55 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.83 | $33.07 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.2% | +86.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.5 | 45.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.7M | 30.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SMFG as "Hold" and BAC as "Buy". For income investors, SMFG offers the higher dividend yield at 3.01% vs BAC's 2.54%.
| Metric | SMFGSumitomo Mitsui F… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $60.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 53 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +2.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 6 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $105.47 | $1.27 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.1% | +5.7% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Mitsui Fin… (SMFG) | 100 | 331.24 | +231.2% |
| Bank of America Cor… (BAC) | 100 | 183.96 | +84.0% |
Sumitomo Mitsui Fin… (SMFG) returned +243% over 5 years vs Bank of America Cor… (BAC)'s +52%. A $10,000 investment in SMFG 5 years ago would be worth $34,336 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Mitsui Fin… (SMFG) | $4.2T | $9.7T | +131.2% |
| Bank of America Cor… (BAC) | $93.7B | $188.8B | +101.5% |
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.'s revenue grew from $4.2T (2016) to $9.7T (2025) — a 9.8% CAGR. Bank of America Corporation's revenue grew from $93.7B (2016) to $188.8B (2025) — a 8.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Mitsui Fin… (SMFG) | 15.5% | 12.2% | -21.2% |
| Bank of America Cor… (BAC) | 19.0% | 16.2% | -14.7% |
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.'s net margin went from 15% (2016) to 12% (2025). Bank of America Corporation's net margin went from 19% (2016) to 16% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Mitsui Fin… (SMFG) | 0.1 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| Bank of America Cor… (BAC) | 18.9 | 14.4 | -23.8% |
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. has traded in a 0x–0x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~12x. Bank of America Corporation has traded in a 9x–19x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~13x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Mitsui Fin… (SMFG) | 155.98 | 301.48 | +93.3% |
| Bank of America Cor… (BAC) | 1.5 | 3.82 | +154.7% |
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.'s EPS grew from $155.98 (2016) to $301.48 (2025) — a 8% CAGR. Bank of America Corporation's EPS grew from $1.50 (2016) to $3.82 (2025) — a 11% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. generated $4.6T FCF in 2025 (-75% vs 2021). Bank of America Corporation generated $13B FCF in 2025 (+275% vs 2021).
SMFG vs BAC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SMFG or BAC a better buy right now?
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) offers the better valuation at 11.6x trailing P/E (0.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bank of America Corporation (BAC) a "Buy" — based on 53 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 — SMFG or BAC?
On trailing P/E, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the cheapest at 11.6x versus Bank of America Corporation at 13.0x. On forward P/E, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 0.1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. wins at 0.01x versus Bank of America Corporation's 0.75x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SMFG or BAC?
Over the past 5 years, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) delivered a total return of +243.4%, compared to +52.2% for Bank of America Corporation (BAC). A $10,000 investment in SMFG five years ago would be worth approximately $34K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SMFG returned +368.3% versus BAC's +355.5%. 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 — SMFG or BAC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Bank of America Corporation (BAC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.99β versus Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.'s 1.06β — meaning SMFG is approximately 6% more volatile than BAC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Bank of America Corporation (BAC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 121% versus 4% for Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SMFG or BAC?
Bank of America Corporation (BAC) is the more profitable company, earning 16.2% net margin versus 12.2% for Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BAC leads at 18.5% versus 17.6% for SMFG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BAC leads at 55.4%, 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 SMFG or BAC more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.01x versus Bank of America Corporation's 0.75x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) trades at 0.1x forward P/E versus 11.5x for Bank of America Corporation — 11.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — SMFG or BAC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) offers the highest yield at 3.0%, versus 2.5% for Bank of America Corporation (BAC).
08Is SMFG or BAC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Bank of America Corporation (BAC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.99), 2.5% yield, +355.5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BAC: +355.5%, SMFG: +368.3%), 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 SMFG and BAC?
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. 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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