NWG vs. BCS
NWG (NatWest Group plc) and BCS (Barclays PLC) are both stocks. Both operate in the Banks - Diversified industry within the Financial Services sector. Over the past 10 years, NWG returned 19.52%/yr vs 16.52%/yr for BCS. A 0.76 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
NWG vs. BCS - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NWG achieves a 5.37% return, which is significantly lower than BCS's 8.32% return. Over the past 10 years, NWG has outperformed BCS with an annualized return of 19.52%, while BCS has yielded a comparatively lower 16.52% annualized return.
NWG
- 1D
- -1.34%
- 1M
- 5.43%
- 6M
- 5.25%
- YTD
- 5.37%
- 1Y
- 40.87%
- 3Y*
- 49.46%
- 5Y*
- 34.45%
- 10Y*
- 19.52%
- ALL TIME*
- -5.82%
BCS
- 1D
- -2.08%
- 1M
- 3.53%
- 6M
- 5.34%
- YTD
- 8.32%
- 1Y
- 47.20%
- 3Y*
- 52.81%
- 5Y*
- 28.43%
- 10Y*
- 16.52%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.91%
NWG vs. BCS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NWG NatWest Group plc | 5.37% | 81.29% | 92.31% | -4.69% | 11.23% | 39.24% | -24.92% | 29.18% | -26.25% | 38.16% |
BCS Barclays PLC | 8.32% | 96.49% | 76.26% | 6.01% | -21.90% | 31.71% | -12.84% | 31.90% | -29.25% | 0.44% |
Correlation
The correlation between NWG and BCS is 0.83, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.83 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.81 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 18, 2007 | 0.76 |
The correlation between NWG and BCS has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.76 to 0.83 - a consistent structural relationship.
Fundamentals
NWG:
$35.17B
BCS:
$91.84B
NWG:
£2.96
BCS:
£2.07
NWG:
4.44
BCS:
9.78
NWG:
0.17
BCS:
1.77
NWG:
0.90
BCS:
2.46
NWG:
0.61
BCS:
0.91
NWG:
£29.58B
BCS:
£28.57B
NWG:
£16.97B
BCS:
£26.96B
NWG:
£9.10B
BCS:
£9.15B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
NWG vs. BCS — Risk / Return Rank
NWG
BCS
NWG vs. BCS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for NatWest Group plc (NWG) and Barclays PLC (BCS). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| NWG | BCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.28 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.29 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.27 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.71 | 1.81 | -0.10 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.25 | 5.11 | -0.86 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
NWG vs. BCS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NWG drawdown since its inception was -96.96%, roughly equal to the maximum BCS drawdown of -94.36%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NWG and BCS.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| NWG | BCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -96.96% | -94.36% | -2.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.03% | -26.20% | +2.17% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -32.12% | -26.20% | -5.92% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -40.56% | -48.14% | +7.58% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -67.34% | -66.10% | -1.24% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -68.27% | -19.45% | -48.82% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -86.10% | -38.37% | -47.73% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.64% | 9.27% | +0.37% |
Volatility
NWG vs. BCS - Volatility Comparison
NatWest Group plc (NWG) and Barclays PLC (BCS) have volatilities of 8.82% and 8.99%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| NWG | BCS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.82% | 8.99% | -0.17% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 24.99% | 25.14% | -0.15% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 31.39% | 29.82% | +1.57% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 33.48% | 34.01% | -0.53% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 36.64% | 36.34% | +0.30% |
Dividends
NWG vs. BCS - Dividend Comparison
NWG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.96%, more than BCS's 1.71% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BCS Barclays PLC | 1.71% | 1.70% | 3.13% | 4.86% | 4.18% | 1.61% | 3.91% | 3.68% | 3.21% | 1.37% | 2.26% | 2.95% |
NWG NatWest Group plc | 4.96% | 3.69% | 4.36% | 9.42% | 11.57% | 2.74% | 4.59% | 9.75% | 0.91% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Financials
NWG vs. BCS - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between NatWest Group plc and Barclays PLC. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
NWG vs. BCS - Profitability Comparison
NWG - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, NatWest Group plc reported a gross profit of 4.36B and revenue of 7.39B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 59.0%.
BCS - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Barclays PLC reported a gross profit of 8.16B and revenue of 8.16B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 100.0%.
NWG - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, NatWest Group plc reported an operating income of 2.03B and revenue of 7.39B, resulting in an operating margin of 27.5%.
BCS - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Barclays PLC reported an operating income of 2.81B and revenue of 8.16B, resulting in an operating margin of 34.5%.
NWG - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, NatWest Group plc reported a net income of 1.51B and revenue of 7.39B, resulting in a net margin of 20.4%.
BCS - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Barclays PLC reported a net income of 2.18B and revenue of 8.16B, resulting in a net margin of 26.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions
NWG and BCS have a correlation of 0.83, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BCS has higher volatility (8.99%) compared to NWG (8.82%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NWG dropped -96.96% vs BCS's -94.36%.
BCS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.59 vs 1.31), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for NWG and BCS
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer