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GGAL vs SAN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Banks - Diversified
GGAL vs SAN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Diversified |
| Market Cap | $5.76B | $182.01B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $10.63T | $119.89B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $915.98B | $14.10B |
| Gross Margin | 62.7% | 40.0% |
| Operating Margin | 20.8% | 15.6% |
| Forward P/E | 0.0x | 10.4x |
| Total Debt | $2.16T | $496.64B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.76T | $179.30B |
GGAL vs SAN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grupo Financiero Ga… (GGAL) | 100 | 542.3 | +442.3% |
| Banco Santander, S.… (SAN) | 100 | 568.8 | +468.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GGAL vs SAN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
GGAL is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and bank quality.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.73, Low D/E 35.6%, current ratio 0.66x
- NIM 15.8% vs SAN's 2.3%
- Lower P/E (0.0x vs 10.4x)
SAN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 1.48
- Rev growth -7.7%, EPS growth 13.0%
- 223.0% 10Y total return vs GGAL's 76.7%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -7.7% NII/revenue growth vs GGAL's -23.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (0.0x vs 10.4x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs GGAL's 0.4% (lower = leaner) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.48 vs GGAL's 1.73 | |
| Dividends | 6.8% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +76.6% vs GGAL's -22.8% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs GGAL's 0.4% |
GGAL vs SAN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GGAL leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GGAL is the larger business by revenue, generating $10.63T annually — 88.6x SAN's $119.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 15.3% (GGAL) to 11.8% (SAN).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $10.63T | $119.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.35T | $22.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $916.0B | $14.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.62T | -$12.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +62.7% | +40.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +20.8% | +15.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.3% | +11.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -27.4% | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -138.6% | +20.0% |
Valuation Metrics
GGAL leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 5.1x trailing earnings, GGAL trades at a 58% valuation discount to SAN's 12.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, GGAL's 2.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SAN's 21.6x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.8B | $182.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.6B | $554.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 5.10x | 12.14x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.01x | 10.43x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.04x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.68x | 21.61x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.75x | 1.29x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.48x | 1.49x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
GGAL leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GGAL delivers a 12.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $13 for SAN. GGAL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.36x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SAN's 4.40x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.9% | +12.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.2% | +0.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +31.0% | +2.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.5% | +1.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.36x | 4.40x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$203.1B | $317.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.76T | $179.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.16T | $496.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.71x | 1.24x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — GGAL and SAN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GGAL five years ago would be worth $65,574 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $34,265 for SAN. Over the past 12 months, SAN leads with a +76.6% total return vs GGAL's -22.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GGAL at 59.5% vs SAN's 55.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -17.7% | +3.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -22.8% | +76.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +305.9% | +275.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +555.7% | +242.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +76.7% | +223.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +59.5% | +55.4% |
Risk & Volatility
SAN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SAN is the less volatile stock with a 1.48 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GGAL's 1.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SAN currently trades 93.7% from its 52-week high vs GGAL's 66.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.73x | 1.48x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $65.48 | $13.24 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.89 | $7.14 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +66.3% | +93.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 32.6 | 49.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.2M | 12.7M |
Analyst Outlook
SAN leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GGAL as "Buy" and SAN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.3% upside for GGAL (target: $61) vs -75.8% for SAN (target: $3). GGAL is the only dividend payer here at 6.85% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $60.50 | $3.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +6.8% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4146.37 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | 0.0% |
GGAL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). SAN leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
GGAL vs SAN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GGAL or SAN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Banco Santander, S.
A. (SAN) is the stronger pick with -7. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 5% for Grupo Financiero Galicia S. A. (GGAL). Grupo Financiero Galicia S. A. (GGAL) offers the better valuation at 5. 1x trailing P/E (0. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Grupo Financiero Galicia S. A. (GGAL) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — GGAL or SAN?
On trailing P/E, Grupo Financiero Galicia S.
A. (GGAL) is the cheapest at 5. 1x versus Banco Santander, S. A. at 12. 1x. On forward P/E, Grupo Financiero Galicia S. A. is actually cheaper at 0. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GGAL or SAN?
Over the past 5 years, Grupo Financiero Galicia S.
A. (GGAL) delivered a total return of +555. 7%, compared to +242. 7% for Banco Santander, S. A. (SAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SAN returned +223. 0% versus GGAL's +76. 7%. 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 — GGAL or SAN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Banco Santander, S.
A. (SAN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 48β versus Grupo Financiero Galicia S. A. 's 1. 73β — meaning GGAL is approximately 17% more volatile than SAN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Grupo Financiero Galicia S. A. (GGAL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 4% for Banco Santander, S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — GGAL or SAN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Banco Santander, S.
A. (SAN) is pulling ahead at -7. 7% versus -23. 5% for Grupo Financiero Galicia S. A. (GGAL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Grupo Financiero Galicia S. A. grew EPS 119. 6% year-over-year, compared to 13. 0% for Banco Santander, S. A.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — GGAL or SAN?
Grupo Financiero Galicia S.
A. (GGAL) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 3% net margin versus 11. 8% for Banco Santander, S. A. — meaning it keeps 15. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GGAL leads at 20. 8% versus 15. 6% for SAN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GGAL leads at 62. 7%, 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.
07Is GGAL or SAN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Grupo Financiero Galicia S.
A. (GGAL) trades at 0. 0x forward P/E versus 10. 4x for Banco Santander, S. A. — 10. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GGAL: 39. 3% to $60. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — GGAL or SAN?
In this comparison, GGAL (6.
8% yield) pays a dividend. SAN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is GGAL or SAN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Grupo Financiero Galicia S.
A. (GGAL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (6. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GGAL: +76. 7%, SAN: +223. 0%), 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.
10What are the main differences between GGAL and SAN?
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.
GGAL pays a dividend while SAN does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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