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BAC vs. BNS: Bank of America vs. Bank of Nova Scotia Stock Comparison

How do Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
Profile ItemBACBNS
NameBank of America CorporationBank of Nova Scotia
Country/RegionUnited StatesCanada
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified BanksDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization341.01 billion USD111.75 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973June 7, 2002
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAC
BNS
GSPC
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Bank of America (BAC) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBACBNS
Total Return (1Y)-2.73%44.24%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.52%35.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.08%12.57%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BAC
BNS
GSPC
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Bank of America (BAC) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBACBNS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.49%20.52%
Beta (5Y)1.181.14
Max Drawdown (5Y)-46.64%-40.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)37.08M1.76M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BAC and BNS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBACBNS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.311.95
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.412.99

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Bank of America (BAC) at 10.73% and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 11.46% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

BAC

Banks industry group

10.73%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
Median
11.49%
BAC
10.73%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%

BNS

Banks industry group

11.46%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
Median
11.49%
BNS
11.46%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%
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Bank of America (BAC) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their ROE against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Bank of America (BAC) at 28.06% and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 28.43% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

BAC

Banks industry group

28.06%

Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
Median
31.21%
BAC
28.06%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%

BNS

Banks industry group

28.43%

Max
47.19%
Q3
35.25%
Median
31.21%
BNS
28.43%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%
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Bank of America (BAC) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their net margin against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Bank of America (BAC) in Banks and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBACBNS
ROE (TTM)10.73%11.46%
ROA (TTM)0.94%0.68%
Net Margin (TTM)28.06%28.43%
Operating Margin (TTM)----
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Bank of America (BAC) at 6.84% and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 10.36% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Bank of America (BAC) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Bank of America (BAC) at 18.69% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at -3.41% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Bank of America (BAC) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBACBNS
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.84%10.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)6.00%5.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)18.69%-3.41%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.10%-10.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of America (BAC) in Banks and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Bank of America (BAC) in Banks and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBACBNS
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 4.84% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Bank of America (BAC) at 2.33% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BNS the richer one.

BAC

Banks industry group

2.33%

Max
5.79%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
BAC
2.33%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%

BNS

Banks industry group

4.84%

Max
5.79%
BNS
4.84%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%
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Bank of America (BAC) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Bank of America (BAC) at 27.62% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 58.04% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

BAC

Banks industry group

27.62%

Max
70.75%
Q3
41.28%
Median
29.26%
BAC
27.62%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%

BNS

Banks industry group

58.04%

Max
70.75%
BNS
58.04%
Q3
41.28%
Median
29.26%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%
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Bank of America (BAC) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBACBNS
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.33%4.84%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)27.62%58.04%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Bank of America (BAC) at 11.79 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 16.61 sits in the richer quartile — BNS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BAC

Banks industry group

11.79

Max
18.16
Q3
13.75
Median
11.81
BAC
11.79
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49

BNS

Banks industry group

16.61

Max
18.16
BNS
16.61
Q3
13.75
Median
11.81
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49
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Bank of America (BAC) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

P/S ratio is set aside for both Bank of America (BAC) in Banks and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks: without a conventional revenue line, pricing per dollar of sales isn’t meaningful, and book- or earnings-based multiples make the better comparison.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Bank of America (BAC) at 1.26 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 1.76 carries an above-peer premium to book — BNS is pricier on assets.

BAC

Banks industry group

1.26

Max
2.28
Q3
1.58
Median
1.32
BAC
1.26
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59

BNS

Banks industry group

1.76

Max
2.28
BNS
1.76
Q3
1.58
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59
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Bank of America (BAC) vs. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)
MetricBACBNS
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.7916.61
P/S Ratio (TTM)----
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.261.76
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----