Banca

Spanish banks’ exposure to public debt has increased more sharply than the EU average, reaching 15.4% of total assets in 2024. Amortised cost accounting and international diversification help risk mitigation, while higher interest rates on public debt holdings have significantly boosted returns for the domestic business.

After years of trading below book value despite solid fundamentals, Spanish and European banks have seen a marked revaluation since late 2024, surpassing price to book value (P/BV) ratios of 1x. Improved margins have supported a strong recovery in valuations, narrowing the profitability gap with U.S. peers; however, structural and regulatory differences continue to explain the persistent valuation gap between European and U.S. banks.