BMO vs. EWBC: Bank of Montreal vs. East West Bancorp Stock Comparison
How do Bank of Montreal (BMO) and East West Bancorp (EWBC) 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 East West Bancorp (EWBC) both belong to the Banks industry, though BMO is classified under Diversified Banks while EWBC falls under Regional Banks.
| Profile Item | BMO | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bank of Montreal | East West Bancorp Inc. |
| Country/Region | Canada | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Industry | Banks | Banks |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Banks | Regional Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 118.95 billion USD | 17.65 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | October 27, 1994 | February 3, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BMO | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 44.12% | 30.57% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 35.66% | 36.90% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.54% | 12.56% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BMO | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.96% | 23.01% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.93 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -34.29% | -54.06% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 728.11K | 807.94K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BMO | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.90 | 1.14 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.79 | 1.69 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 16.57% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 10.57% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for EWBC.
BMO
Banks industry group
10.57%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- BMO
- 10.57%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
EWBC
Banks industry group
16.57%
- Max
- 19.84%
- EWBC
- 16.57%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 50.06% retains an above-range share of revenue as profit, while Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 25.66% keeps a bottom-quartile share — a wide gap in how much each sales dollar survives to the bottom line.
BMO
Banks industry group
25.66%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- BMO
- 25.66%
- Min
- 14.93%
EWBC
Banks industry group
50.06%
- EWBC
- 50.06%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Bank of Montreal (BMO) in Banks and East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BMO | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.57% | 16.57% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.62% | 1.76% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 25.66% | 50.06% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 12.67% and East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 12.86% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 20.29% and East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 14.29% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BMO | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.67% | 12.86% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.19% | 7.70% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 20.29% | 14.29% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -16.98% | 6.33% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of Montreal (BMO) in Banks and East West Bancorp (EWBC) 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 East West Bancorp (EWBC) 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 | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 3.87% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 2.32% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BMO the richer one.
BMO
Banks industry group
3.87%
- Max
- 5.79%
- BMO
- 3.87%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
EWBC
Banks industry group
2.32%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- EWBC
- 2.32%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 28.52% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 54.44% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
BMO
Banks industry group
54.44%
- Max
- 70.75%
- BMO
- 54.44%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
EWBC
Banks industry group
28.52%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- EWBC
- 28.52%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BMO | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.87% | 2.32% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 54.44% | 28.52% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 12.25 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Bank of Montreal (BMO) at 19.34 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for BMO’s trailing earnings.
BMO
Banks industry group
19.34
- BMO
- 19.34
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
EWBC
Banks industry group
12.25
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- EWBC
- 12.25
- 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 East West Bancorp (EWBC) 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 East West Bancorp (EWBC) at 1.95 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
EWBC
Banks industry group
1.95
- Max
- 2.28
- EWBC
- 1.95
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BMO | EWBC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.34 | 12.25 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.97 | 1.95 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |