BNS vs. CFG: Bank of Nova Scotia vs. Citizens Financial Stock Comparison
How do Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and Citizens Financial (CFG) 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 Nova Scotia (BNS) and Citizens Financial (CFG) both belong to the Banks industry, though BNS is classified under Diversified Banks while CFG falls under Regional Banks.
| Profile Item | BNS | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bank of Nova Scotia | Citizens Financial Group 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 | 111.75 billion USD | 26.51 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 7, 2002 | September 24, 2014 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 44.24% | 30.28% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 35.89% | 42.95% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.57% | 10.93% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.52% | 25.87% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.14 | 1.07 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.53% | -56.19% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.76M | 3.99M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.95 | 1.00 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.99 | 1.50 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 11.46% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Citizens Financial (CFG) at 8.90% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.
BNS
Banks industry group
11.46%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- BNS
- 11.46%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
CFG
Banks industry group
8.90%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- CFG
- 8.90%
- 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 Citizens Financial (CFG) at 27.02% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
BNS
Banks industry group
28.43%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- BNS
- 28.43%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
CFG
Banks industry group
27.02%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- CFG
- 27.02%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and Citizens Financial (CFG) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.46% | 8.90% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.68% | 0.99% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.43% | 27.02% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 10.36% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Citizens Financial (CFG) at 5.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Citizens Financial (CFG) at 27.39% 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 | BNS | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.36% | 5.61% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.59% | 0.93% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -3.41% | 27.39% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -10.92% | -1.99% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and Citizens Financial (CFG) 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 Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and Citizens Financial (CFG) 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 | BNS | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Citizens Financial (CFG) at 2.88% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BNS the richer one.
BNS
Banks industry group
4.84%
- Max
- 5.79%
- BNS
- 4.84%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
CFG
Banks industry group
2.88%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- CFG
- 2.88%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Citizens Financial (CFG) at 37.17% 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.
BNS
Banks industry group
58.04%
- Max
- 70.75%
- BNS
- 58.04%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
CFG
Banks industry group
37.17%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- CFG
- 37.17%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.84% | 2.88% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 58.04% | 37.17% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Citizens Financial (CFG) at 12.78 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.
BNS
Banks industry group
16.61
- Max
- 18.16
- BNS
- 16.61
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
CFG
Banks industry group
12.78
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- CFG
- 12.78
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and Citizens Financial (CFG) 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)
Citizens Financial (CFG) at 1.16 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.
BNS
Banks industry group
1.76
- Max
- 2.28
- BNS
- 1.76
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
CFG
Banks industry group
1.16
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- CFG
- 1.16
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CFG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.61 | 12.78 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.76 | 1.16 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |