BNP Paribas (BNP.PA): analysis in plain words
Is BNP Paribas cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
BNP Paribas (BNP.PA) is listed on Euronext Paris and we classify it in banking. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against BNP Paribas according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
BNP Paribas (BNP.PA) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | €91.70 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 8.0x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +9.7% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 26.6% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | Not meaningful (financial company) | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 7.37% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | €100.5 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The BNP Paribas figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any BNP.PA figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How BNP Paribas makes money
BNP Paribas earns interest and fees across three divisions: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services (branch networks in France, Belgium and Italy, consumer lending and Arval car leasing), the largest; Corporate & Institutional Banking, covering investment banking and markets; and Investment & Protection Services, with Cardif insurance and asset management.
Over the last 12 months, BNP Paribas brought in revenue of €52.7 billion. Its operating margin, what BNP Paribas keeps from every 100 of sales after running costs, is 37.2%. With 180,000 full-time employees, that is about €293,000 of revenue per employee.
BNP Paribas against its sector
To know whether a BNP Paribas figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares BNP Paribas with the median of the 20 banking companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | BNP Paribas | banking median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 8.0x | 12.2x (20) |
| Revenue growth | +9.7% | +7.3% (20) |
| Net margin | 26.6% | 32.6% (20) |
| Dividend yield | 7.37% | 3.55% (20) |
| ROE | 10.9% | 13.1% (19) |
In short, against the typical banking company, BNP Paribas trades on a lower P/E, grows faster and earns a thinner margin. By size, BNP Paribas ranks number 5 of 12 banking companies quoted in EUR on Fintols.
The bull case for BNP Paribas
These are the strengths in the BNP Paribas figures as of November 4, 2026:
- For income seekers, BNP Paribas pays a dividend yielding 7.37% at today's price, using 51% of its profit to fund it.
- On a P/E basis BNP Paribas trades cheaper than its sector: 8.0x its annual earnings, against 12.2x for the banking median (20 companies with data).
- Its net margin over the last 12 months is 26.6% (sector median: 32.6%): BNP Paribas turns a large share of its sales into profit.
The main risk for BNP Paribas
The BNP Paribas figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: falling interest rates (which squeeze what it earns on loans) or rising bad loans if the economy weakens.
Frequently asked questions about BNP Paribas
Is it a good time to buy BNP Paribas stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell BNP Paribas, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, BNP Paribas stock trades at €91.70, 19% below its 52-week high (€113.82) and 41% above its low (€65.12). Its P/E is 8.0x against a banking median of 12.2x, and 7.0x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With BNP Paribas, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does BNP Paribas pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, BNP Paribas pays €6.46 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 7.37%. It uses 51% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 6.60%. The banking median on Fintols is 3.55%.
Is BNP Paribas stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, BNP Paribas trades at 8.0x its last 12 months of earnings: cheaper than the banking median (12.2x). For a financial company you also look at price to book value: 0.8x (banking median: 1.7x). A high P/E alone does not make BNP Paribas expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are BNP Paribas's competitors?
On Fintols we compare BNP Paribas with Banco Santander, BBVA and PNC, which are also in banking. As of November 4, 2026, Banco Santander is worth €154.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 11.8; BBVA is worth €123.4 billion and trades on a P/E of 11.4; PNC is worth $92.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 12.4. Each has a side-by-side comparison with BNP Paribas below.
BNP Paribas competitors
- Banco Santander (SAN) analysis · BNP Paribas vs Banco Santander comparison
- BBVA (BBVA) analysis · BNP Paribas vs BBVA comparison
- PNC (PNC) analysis · BNP Paribas vs PNC comparison
To understand BNP Paribas better
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
More companies like BNP Paribas: banking stocks and Euro Stoxx 50 companies. Open the full BNP.PA analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about BNP Paribas, not investment advice.