BMO vs. BNS: Bank of Montreal vs. Bank of Nova Scotia Stock Comparison
How do Bank of Montreal (BMO) 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 Montreal (BMO) 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.
| Profile Item | BMO | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bank of Montreal | Bank of Nova Scotia |
| Country/Region | Canada | Canada |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Diversified Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 118.95 billion USD | 111.75 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 27, 1994 | June 7, 2002 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BMO | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 44.12% | 44.24% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 35.66% | 35.89% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.54% | 12.57% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BMO | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.96% | 20.52% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.93 | 1.14 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -34.29% | -40.53% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 728.11K | 1.76M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BMO | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.90 | 1.95 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.79 | 2.99 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 10.57% 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.
BMO
Banks industry group
10.57%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- BMO
- 10.57%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 28.43% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 25.66% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
BMO
Banks industry group
25.66%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- BMO
- 25.66%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Bank of Montreal (BMO) 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
| Metric | BMO | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.57% | 11.46% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.62% | 0.68% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 25.66% | 28.43% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 12.67% 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.
EPS Growth
Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 20.29% 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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BMO | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.67% | 10.36% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.19% | 5.59% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 20.29% | -3.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -16.98% | -10.92% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of Montreal (BMO) 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 Montreal (BMO) 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
| Metric | BMO | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 3.87% and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 4.84% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
BMO
Banks industry group
3.87%
- Max
- 5.79%
- BMO
- 3.87%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 54.44% and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 58.04% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
BMO
Banks industry group
54.44%
- Max
- 70.75%
- BMO
- 54.44%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BMO | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.87% | 4.84% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 54.44% | 58.04% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 16.61 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 19.34 is richer still, above its industry range.
BMO
Banks industry group
19.34
- BMO
- 19.34
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Bank of Montreal (BMO) 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)
Both Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 1.97 and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 1.76 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
BMO
Banks industry group
1.97
- Max
- 2.28
- BMO
- 1.97
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BMO | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.34 | 16.61 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.97 | 1.76 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |