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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) Stock Analysis

This is a peer-relative look at Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Banks peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
Profile ItemBNS
NameBank of Nova Scotia
Country/RegionCanada
GICS SectorFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanks
GICS IndustryBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization111.75 billion USD
CurrencyUSD
ExchangeNYSE
Listing DateJune 7, 2002
Security TypeCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BNS
GSPC
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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) metric values compared with Banks industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: BNSIndustry group median
Total Return (1Y)44.24%30.28%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)35.89%26.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.57%9.43%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BNS
GSPC
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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) metric values compared with Banks industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: BNSIndustry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.52%24.34%
Beta (5Y)1.140.72
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.53%-43.36%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. BNS is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) metric values compared with Banks industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: BNSIndustry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.951.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.991.61

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) posts ROE of 11.46%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

BNS

Banks industry group

11.46%

Group distribution
Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
Median
11.49%
BNS
11.46%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%
Largest peers
JPM
18.01%
RY
16.21%
HSBC
14.22%
WFC
12.91%
BNS
11.46%
BAC
10.73%
MUFG
9.46%
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Where Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) stands on ROE within its Banks peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) keeps 28.43% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

BNS

Banks industry group

28.43%

Group distribution
Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
Median
31.21%
BNS
28.43%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%
Largest peers
HSBC
41.16%
JPM
34.59%
RY
33.87%
BNS
28.43%
BAC
28.06%
WFC
27.64%
MUFG
27.45%
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Where Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) stands on net margin within its Banks peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

operating margin is set aside for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks: the operating-income line is not a clean boundary for this business model, so net margin, ROE, FFO, or industry-specific measures may be more useful.

Profitability Metrics

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) metric values compared with Banks industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: BNSIndustry group median
ROE (TTM)11.46%11.49%
ROA (TTM)0.68%1.24%
Net Margin (TTM)28.43%31.21%
Operating Margin (TTM)----
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) grew revenue 10.36%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Banks industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) grew earnings per share -3.41%, in the lower peer quartile. Per-share profits are advancing more slowly than at most peers, so margins, costs, or share count deserve a closer look.

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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Banks industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) metric values compared with Banks industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: BNSIndustry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.36%11.23%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.59%6.33%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.41%16.14%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-10.92%3.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio is set aside for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks: these balance sheets are not best read through a current/non-current split, so regulatory, funding, or liquidity-coverage measures usually matter more.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks: leverage is part of the business model itself, so capital adequacy, funding mix, and regulatory measures are usually better risk gauges.

Financial Strength Metrics

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) metric values compared with Banks industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: BNSIndustry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) has dividend yield of 4.84%, in the upper peer-yield quartile while still inside the industry range. The dividend offers more cash income per dollar of share price than most peers, though payout coverage still matters.

BNS

Banks industry group

4.84%

Group distribution
Max
5.79%
BNS
4.84%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%
Largest peers
MUFG
406.81%
BNS
4.84%
RY
3.23%
BAC
2.33%
WFC
2.19%
JPM
1.82%
HSBC
0.86%
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Where Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) stands on dividend yield within its Banks peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) has payout ratio of 58.04%, above the industry’s usual payout band. A larger share of earnings is going to dividends, so the cushion narrows if profit weakens.

BNS

Banks industry group

58.04%

Group distribution
Max
70.75%
BNS
58.04%
Q3
41.28%
Median
29.26%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%
Largest peers
BNS
58.04%
HSBC
53.57%
RY
41.49%
MUFG
34.74%
BAC
27.62%
WFC
26.09%
JPM
25.80%
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Where Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) stands on payout ratio within its Banks peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) metric values compared with Banks industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: BNSIndustry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.84%2.39%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.04%29.26%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) trades at P/E ratio of 16.61, in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. That premium needs support from growth, durable earnings, or stronger business quality.

BNS

Banks industry group

16.61

Group distribution
Max
18.16
BNS
16.61
Q3
13.75
Median
11.81
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49
Largest peers
RY
17.58
BNS
16.61
JPM
14.03
MUFG
13.71
WFC
11.84
BAC
11.79
HSBC
11.38
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Where Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) stands on P/E ratio within its Banks peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

P/S ratio is not assessed for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks: the revenue line is driven by spread economics rather than conventional product or service sales, so book value or earnings usually carry more weight.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) trades at 1.76 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.

BNS

Banks industry group

1.76

Group distribution
Max
2.28
BNS
1.76
Q3
1.58
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59
Largest peers
HSBC
6.87
RY
2.92
JPM
2.53
BNS
1.76
MUFG
1.64
WFC
1.59
BAC
1.26
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Where Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) stands on P/B ratio within its Banks peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) metric values compared with Banks industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: BNSIndustry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)16.6111.81
P/S Ratio (TTM)----
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.761.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----