Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) 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 | WFC | 8.7% revenue growth vs BAC's -1.9% |
| Value | BAC | Lower P/E (11.5x vs 11.6x), PEG 0.75 vs 2.07 |
| Quality / Margins | BAC | 16.2% net margin vs WFC's 15.7% |
| Stability / Safety | BAC | Beta 0.99 vs WFC's 1.04, lower leverage |
| Dividends | BAC | 2.5% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs WFC's 1.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BAC | +10.4% vs WFC's +6.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WFC | 1.0% ROA vs BAC's 0.9%, ROIC 3.7% vs 3.2% |
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
Wells Fargo is one of America's largest diversified financial services companies operating primarily through its extensive branch network. It generates revenue from interest income on loans (roughly 60% of total revenue) and non-interest income from fees for banking services, wealth management, and investment banking. Its key competitive advantage is its massive retail banking footprint—with thousands of branches serving millions of customers—which creates a stable deposit base and cross-selling opportunities.
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
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
BAC leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). WFC leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
BAC is the larger business by revenue, generating $188.8B annually — 1.5x WFC's $125.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 16.2% (BAC) to 15.7% (WFC).
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $125.4B | $188.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $31.6B | $36.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $21.1B | $30.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$14.2B | $12.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +62.2% | +55.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.6% | +18.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.7% | +16.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.4% | +6.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +16.9% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 13.0x trailing earnings, BAC trades at a 14% valuation discount to WFC's 15.2x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), BAC offers better value at 0.85x vs WFC's 2.71x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $251.8B | $379.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $330.4B | $513.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.16x | 13.04x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.58x | 11.52x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.71x | 0.85x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.68x | 14.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.01x | 2.01x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.56x | 1.24x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 82.98x | 30.07x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WFC delivers a 11.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $10 for BAC. BAC carries lower financial leverage with a 1.21x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WFC's 1.56x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BAC scores 7/9 vs WFC's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.5% | +10.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +0.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.7% | +3.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.0% | +4.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.56x | 1.21x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $78.5B | $134.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $203.4B | $231.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $281.9B | $365.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.60x | 0.44x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in WFC five years ago would be worth $23,722 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,219 for BAC. Over the past 12 months, BAC leads with a +10.4% total return vs WFC's +6.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WFC at 22.6% vs BAC's 15.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -14.0% | -10.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +6.2% | +10.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +84.1% | +54.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +137.2% | +52.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +103.6% | +355.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +22.6% | +15.5% |
Risk & Volatility
BAC is the less volatile stock with a 0.99 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than WFC's 1.04 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BAC currently trades 86.6% from its 52-week high vs WFC's 83.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.04x | 0.99x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $97.76 | $57.55 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.42 | $33.07 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.3% | +86.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.7 | 45.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 12.4M | 30.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WFC as "Hold" and BAC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 22.8% upside for WFC (target: $100) vs 21.1% for BAC (target: $60). For income investors, BAC offers the higher dividend yield at 2.54% vs WFC's 1.82%.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | BACBank of America C… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $100.00 | $60.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 59 | 53 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.8% | +2.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 6 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.48 | $1.27 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +8.8% | +5.7% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo & Compa… (WFC) | 100 | 225.88 | +125.9% |
| Bank of America Cor… (BAC) | 100 | 189.58 | +89.6% |
Wells Fargo & Compa… (WFC) returned +137% over 5 years vs Bank of America Cor… (BAC)'s +52%. A $10,000 investment in WFC 5 years ago would be worth $23,722 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo & Compa… (WFC) | $94.2B | $125.4B | +33.2% |
| Bank of America Cor… (BAC) | $93.7B | $188.8B | +101.5% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo & Compa… (WFC) | 23.3% | 15.7% | -32.5% |
| Bank of America Cor… (BAC) | 19.0% | 16.2% | -14.7% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo & Compa… (WFC) | 14.8 | 13.1 | -11.5% |
| Bank of America Cor… (BAC) | 18.9 | 14.4 | -23.8% |
Wells Fargo & Company has traded in a 10x–74x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~15x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo & Compa… (WFC) | 3.99 | 5.37 | +34.6% |
| Bank of America Cor… (BAC) | 1.5 | 3.82 | +154.7% |
Bank of America Corporation's EPS grew from $1.50 (2016) to $3.82 (2025) — a 11% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Wells Fargo & Company generated $3B FCF in 2024 (+126% vs 2021). Bank of America Corporation generated $13B FCF in 2025 (+275% vs 2021).
WFC vs BAC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WFC or BAC a better buy right now?
Bank of America Corporation (BAC) offers the better valuation at 13.0x trailing P/E (11.5x 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 — WFC or BAC?
On trailing P/E, Bank of America Corporation (BAC) is the cheapest at 13.0x versus Wells Fargo & Company at 15.2x. On forward P/E, Bank of America Corporation is actually cheaper at 11.5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Bank of America Corporation wins at 0.75x versus Wells Fargo & Company's 2.07x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WFC or BAC?
Over the past 5 years, Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) delivered a total return of +137.2%, compared to +52.2% for Bank of America Corporation (BAC). A $10,000 investment in WFC five years ago would be worth approximately $24K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BAC returned +355.5% versus WFC's +103.6%. 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 — WFC or BAC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Bank of America Corporation (BAC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.99β versus Wells Fargo & Company's 1.04β — meaning WFC is approximately 5% 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 156% for Wells Fargo & Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — WFC or BAC?
Bank of America Corporation (BAC) is the more profitable company, earning 16.2% net margin versus 15.7% for Wells Fargo & Company — meaning it keeps 16.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WFC leads at 18.6% versus 18.5% for BAC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WFC leads at 62.2%, 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 WFC 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, Bank of America Corporation (BAC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.75x versus Wells Fargo & Company's 2.07x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Bank of America Corporation (BAC) trades at 11.5x forward P/E versus 11.6x for Wells Fargo & Company — 0.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WFC: 22.8% to $100.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — WFC or BAC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Bank of America Corporation (BAC) offers the highest yield at 2.5%, versus 1.8% for Wells Fargo & Company (WFC).
08Is WFC 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%, WFC: +103.6%), 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 WFC 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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