WFC
Wells Fargo & Company
Banks - Diversified
Market Cap$247.08B
5Y Perf.+203.7%
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Stock Comparison
WFC vs C
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
C
Citigroup Inc.
Banks - Diversified
Market Cap$223.75B
5Y Perf.+166.3%
WFC vs C — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | WFC | C |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Banks - Diversified | Banks - Diversified |
| Market Cap | $247.08B | $223.75B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $125.40B | $170.71B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $21.06B | $14.69B |
| Gross Margin | 62.2% | 41.7% |
| Operating Margin | 18.6% | 10.0% |
| Forward P/E | 11.4x | 11.8x |
| Total Debt | $281.88B | $590.56B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $203.36B | $276.53B |
WFC vs C — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
WFC
C
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo & Compa… (WFC) | 100 | 303.7 | +203.7% |
| Citigroup Inc. (C) | 100 | 266.3 | +166.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: WFC vs C
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: C leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Wells Fargo & Company is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
WFC
Wells Fargo & Company
The Banking Pick
WFC is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 1.00, yield 1.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.00, current ratio 0.27x
- NIM 2.5% vs C's 2.3%
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
C
Citigroup Inc.
The Banking Pick
C carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 9.9%, EPS growth 47.3%
- 231.6% 10Y total return vs WFC's 91.2%
- Beta 1.51, yield 2.1%, current ratio 0.31x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | C | 9.9% NII/revenue growth vs WFC's 8.7% |
| Value | WFC | Lower P/E (11.4x vs 11.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | C | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs WFC's 0.4% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | WFC | Beta 1.00 vs C's 1.51, lower leverage |
| Dividends | C | 2.1% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs WFC's 1.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | C | +86.5% vs WFC's +10.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | C | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs WFC's 0.4% |
WFC vs C — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2024
WFC vs C — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWFCLAGGINGC
CCitigroup Inc.
2leads
WFCWells Fargo & Company
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
WFC4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
WFC3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
WFC9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
C6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
C1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WFC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
C and WFC operate at a comparable scale, with $170.7B and $125.4B in trailing revenue. WFC is the more profitable business, keeping 15.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to C's 7.4%.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $125.4B | $170.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $31.6B | $24.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $21.1B | $14.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$14.2B | -$76.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +62.2% | +41.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.6% | +10.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.7% | +7.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.4% | -15.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +16.9% | +23.2% |
WFC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
WFC leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.9x trailing earnings, WFC trades at a 31% valuation discount to C's 21.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, WFC's 10.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than C's 25.2x.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $247.1B | $223.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $325.6B | $537.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.88x | 21.52x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.43x | 11.84x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.66x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.53x | 25.18x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.97x | 1.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.53x | 1.16x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 81.41x | — |
WFC leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WFC leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WFC delivers a 11.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $7 for C. WFC carries lower financial leverage with a 1.56x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to C's 2.82x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WFC scores 6/9 vs C's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.5% | +6.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.7% | +1.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.0% | +3.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.56x | 2.82x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $78.5B | $314.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $203.4B | $276.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $281.9B | $590.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.60x | 0.24x |
WFC leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
C leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in C five years ago would be worth $18,841 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $18,817 for WFC. Over the past 12 months, C leads with a +86.5% total return vs WFC's +10.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors C at 42.8% vs WFC's 30.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -15.6% | +8.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +10.6% | +86.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +122.0% | +191.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +88.2% | +88.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.2% | +231.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +30.5% | +42.8% |
C leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — WFC and C each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WFC is the less volatile stock with a 1.00 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 94.6% from its 52-week high vs WFC's 81.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.00x | 1.51x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $97.76 | $135.29 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $71.90 | $69.17 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.7% | +94.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.8 | 53.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 15.2M | 11.5M |
Evenly matched — WFC and C each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
C leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WFC as "Hold" and C as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 22.8% upside for WFC (target: $98) vs 9.7% for C (target: $140). For income investors, C offers the higher dividend yield at 2.14% vs WFC's 1.85%.
| Metric | WFCWells Fargo & Com… | CCitigroup Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $98.13 | $140.42 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 60 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.9% | +2.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.48 | $2.73 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +9.0% | +3.4% |
C leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
WFC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). C leads in 2 (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallWells Fargo & Company (WFC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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WFC vs C: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WFC or C a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Citigroup Inc.
(C) is the stronger pick with 9. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 7% for Wells Fargo & Company (WFC). Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) offers the better valuation at 14. 9x trailing P/E (11. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Citigroup Inc. (C) a "Buy" — based on 27 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 C?
On trailing P/E, Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) is the cheapest at 14.
9x versus Citigroup Inc. at 21. 5x. On forward P/E, Wells Fargo & Company is actually cheaper at 11. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WFC or C?
Over the past 5 years, Citigroup Inc.
(C) delivered a total return of +88. 4%, compared to +88. 2% for Wells Fargo & Company (WFC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: C returned +231. 6% versus WFC's +91. 2%. 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 C?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
00β versus Citigroup Inc. 's 1. 51β — meaning C is approximately 51% more volatile than WFC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 156% versus 3% for Citigroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — WFC or C?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Citigroup Inc.
(C) is pulling ahead at 9. 9% versus 8. 7% for Wells Fargo & Company (WFC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Citigroup Inc. grew EPS 47. 3% year-over-year, compared to 11. 2% for Wells Fargo & Company. 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 — WFC or C?
Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) is the more profitable company, earning 15.
7% net margin versus 7. 4% for Citigroup Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WFC leads at 18. 6% versus 10. 0% for C. 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.
07Is WFC or C more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) trades at 11.
4x forward P/E versus 11. 8x for Citigroup Inc. — 0. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WFC: 22. 8% to $98. 13.
08Which pays a better dividend — WFC or C?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Citigroup Inc. (C) offers the highest yield at 2. 1%, versus 1. 9% for Wells Fargo & Company (WFC).
09Is WFC or C better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
00), 1. 9% yield). 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 (WFC: +91. 2%, C: +231. 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.
10What are the main differences between WFC 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: WFC is a large-cap deep-value 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(WFC: 8.7% · C: 9.9%)Net Margin>
%
(WFC: 15.7% · C: 7.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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