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ITUB vs C
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Banks - Diversified
ITUB vs C — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Diversified |
| Market Cap | $93.13B | $222.93B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $384.58B | $170.71B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $44.86B | $14.69B |
| Gross Margin | 34.5% | 41.7% |
| Operating Margin | 13.1% | 10.0% |
| Forward P/E | 1.8x | 11.8x |
| Total Debt | $1.01T | $590.56B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $270.61B | $276.53B |
ITUB vs C — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itaú Unibanco Holdi… (ITUB) | 100 | 265.7 | +165.7% |
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | 100 | 266.3 | +166.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ITUB vs C
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
ITUB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.11, yield 10.1%
- Rev growth 18.0%, EPS growth 4.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.11, current ratio 0.35x
C is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and bank quality.
- 229.2% 10Y total return vs ITUB's 196.3%
- NIM 2.3% vs ITUB's 1.2%
- +87.1% vs ITUB's +48.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 18.0% NII/revenue growth vs C's 9.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (1.8x vs 11.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs C's 0.3% (lower = leaner) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.11 vs C's 1.51 | |
| Dividends | 10.1% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs C's 2.1% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +87.1% vs ITUB's +48.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | Efficiency ratio 0.2% vs C's 0.3% |
ITUB vs C — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
ITUB vs C — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ITUB leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ITUB is the larger business by revenue, generating $384.6B annually — 2.3x C's $170.7B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 11.7% (ITUB) to 7.4% (C).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $384.6B | $170.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $57.6B | $24.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $44.9B | $14.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $117.6B | -$76.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +34.5% | +41.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.1% | +10.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.7% | +7.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +33.3% | -15.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -11.4% | +23.2% |
Valuation Metrics
ITUB leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.6x trailing earnings, ITUB trades at a 50% valuation discount to C's 21.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ITUB's 20.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than C's 25.1x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $93.1B | $222.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $243.4B | $537.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.62x | 21.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 1.80x | 11.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.52x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 20.85x | 25.14x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.20x | 1.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.17x | 1.16x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 3.59x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
C leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ITUB delivers a 20.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $7 for C. C carries lower financial leverage with a 2.82x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ITUB's 4.71x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), C scores 5/9 vs ITUB's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.6% | +6.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.5% | +0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.2% | +1.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.8% | +3.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 4.71x | 2.82x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $742.0B | $314.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $270.6B | $276.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.01T | $590.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.23x | 0.24x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
C leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ITUB five years ago would be worth $26,251 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $18,509 for C. Over the past 12 months, C leads with a +87.1% total return vs ITUB's +48.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors C at 42.6% vs ITUB's 27.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.0% | +8.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +48.5% | +87.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +108.2% | +189.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +162.5% | +85.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +196.3% | +229.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +27.7% | +42.6% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ITUB and C each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ITUB is the less volatile stock with a 1.11 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than C's 1.51 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. C currently trades 94.3% from its 52-week high vs ITUB's 88.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.11x | 1.51x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.60 | $135.29 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.05 | $69.17 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.0% | +94.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.3 | 58.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 24.3M | 11.4M |
Analyst Outlook
ITUB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ITUB as "Buy" and C as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 10.1% upside for C (target: $140) vs -24.5% for ITUB (target: $6). For income investors, ITUB offers the higher dividend yield at 10.14% vs C's 2.14%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.38 | $140.42 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +10.1% | +2.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.23 | $2.73 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.7% | +3.4% |
ITUB leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). C leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
ITUB vs C: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ITUB or C a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Itaú Unibanco Holding S.
A. (ITUB) is the stronger pick with 18. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 9% for Citigroup Inc. (C). Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. (ITUB) offers the better valuation at 10. 6x trailing P/E (1. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. (ITUB) 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 — ITUB or C?
On trailing P/E, Itaú Unibanco Holding S.
A. (ITUB) is the cheapest at 10. 6x versus Citigroup Inc. at 21. 4x. On forward P/E, Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. is actually cheaper at 1. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ITUB or C?
Over the past 5 years, Itaú Unibanco Holding S.
A. (ITUB) delivered a total return of +162. 5%, compared to +85. 1% for Citigroup Inc. (C). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: C returned +229. 2% versus ITUB's +196. 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 — ITUB or C?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Itaú Unibanco Holding S.
A. (ITUB) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 11β versus Citigroup Inc. 's 1. 51β — meaning C is approximately 36% more volatile than ITUB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Citigroup Inc. (C) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 5% for Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ITUB or C?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Itaú Unibanco Holding S.
A. (ITUB) is pulling ahead at 18. 0% versus 9. 9% for Citigroup Inc. (C). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Citigroup Inc. grew EPS 47. 3% year-over-year, compared to 4. 0% for Itaú Unibanco Holding 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 — ITUB or C?
Itaú Unibanco Holding S.
A. (ITUB) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 7% net margin versus 7. 4% for Citigroup Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ITUB leads at 13. 1% versus 10. 0% for C. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — C leads at 41. 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 ITUB or C more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Itaú Unibanco Holding S.
A. (ITUB) trades at 1. 8x forward P/E versus 11. 8x for Citigroup Inc. — 10. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for C: 10. 1% to $140. 42.
08Which pays a better dividend — ITUB or C?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Itaú Unibanco Holding S. A. (ITUB) offers the highest yield at 10. 1%, versus 2. 1% for Citigroup Inc. (C).
09Is ITUB or C better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Itaú Unibanco Holding S.
A. (ITUB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 11), 10. 1% yield, +196. 3% 10Y return). Citigroup Inc. (C) carries a higher beta of 1. 51 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ITUB: +196. 3%, C: +229. 2%), 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 ITUB and C?
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: ITUB is a mid-cap high-growth stock; C is a large-cap quality compounder 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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