BNS vs. CM: Bank of Nova Scotia vs. Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Comparison
How do Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) 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 Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | BNS | CM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bank of Nova Scotia | Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce |
| 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 | 111.75 billion USD | 104.58 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 7, 2002 | November 13, 1997 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 44.24% | 41.10% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 35.89% | 51.34% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.57% | 19.22% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.52% | 22.16% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.14 | 0.99 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.53% | -41.86% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.76M | 1.09M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.95 | 1.66 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.99 | 2.44 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) at 15.58% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 11.46% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CM.
BNS
Banks industry group
11.46%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- BNS
- 11.46%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
CM
Banks industry group
15.58%
- Max
- 19.84%
- CM
- 15.58%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 28.43% and Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) at 33.74% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
BNS
Banks industry group
28.43%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- BNS
- 28.43%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
CM
Banks industry group
33.74%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- CM
- 33.74%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.46% | 15.58% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.68% | 0.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.43% | 33.74% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 10.36% and Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) at 13.66% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) at 17.72% 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 | CM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.36% | 13.66% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.59% | 10.06% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -3.41% | 17.72% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -10.92% | 8.66% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) 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 Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) 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 | CM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 4.84% and Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) at 3.62% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
BNS
Banks industry group
4.84%
- Max
- 5.79%
- BNS
- 4.84%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
CM
Banks industry group
3.62%
- Max
- 5.79%
- CM
- 3.62%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) at 40.12% 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%
CM
Banks industry group
40.12%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- CM
- 40.12%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.84% | 3.62% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 58.04% | 40.12% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 16.61 and Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) at 15.32 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.
BNS
Banks industry group
16.61
- Max
- 18.16
- BNS
- 16.61
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
CM
Banks industry group
15.32
- Max
- 18.16
- CM
- 15.32
- 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 Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) 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 Nova Scotia (BNS) at 1.76 and Cdn Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) at 2.24 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
BNS
Banks industry group
1.76
- Max
- 2.28
- BNS
- 1.76
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
CM
Banks industry group
2.24
- Max
- 2.28
- CM
- 2.24
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BNS | CM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.61 | 15.32 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.76 | 2.24 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |