Banco Santander tops €12, becomes Spain’s most valuable firm

Banco Santander's shares rose to around €12, pushing the bank's market capitalization past €176 billion. The surge, supported by solid first‑quarter earnings, higher European interest rates and an enhanced shareholder‑payout policy, made Santander the largest listed company in Spain.

The market‑cap jump also saw the bank overtake textile group Inditex, ending a four‑year run and placing Santander at the top of the Ibex 35 index. Analysts note the bank’s strong profit growth, cost control and attractive margins as key drivers, while warning that further gains may be limited if interest‑rate conditions change. Santander now ranks sixth in the Eurostoxx 50, highlighting its growing weight in European equity markets.