BNS vs. FHN: Bank of Nova Scotia vs. First Horizon Stock Comparison
How do Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and First Horizon (FHN) 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 First Horizon (FHN) both belong to the Banks industry, though BNS is classified under Diversified Banks while FHN falls under Regional Banks.
| Profile Item | BNS | FHN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bank of Nova Scotia | First Horizon Corporation |
| 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 | 10.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 7, 2002 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BNS | FHN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 44.24% | 12.96% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 35.89% | 32.94% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.57% | 10.16% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BNS | FHN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.52% | 22.55% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.14 | 0.61 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.53% | -60.76% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.76M | 5.55M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BNS | FHN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.95 | 0.38 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.99 | 0.56 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 11.46% is around its peer norm for ROE, while First Horizon (FHN) at 7.92% 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%
FHN
Banks industry group
7.92%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- FHN
- 7.92%
- 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 First Horizon (FHN) at 23.43% 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%
FHN
Banks industry group
23.43%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- FHN
- 23.43%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and First Horizon (FHN) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BNS | FHN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.46% | 7.92% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.68% | 0.87% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.43% | 23.43% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 10.36% and First Horizon (FHN) at 7.33% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
First Horizon (FHN) at 37.50% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at -3.41% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BNS | FHN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.36% | 7.33% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.59% | 2.12% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -3.41% | 37.50% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -10.92% | 6.92% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and First Horizon (FHN) 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 First Horizon (FHN) 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 | FHN |
|---|---|---|
| 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 First Horizon (FHN) at 2.85% 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%
FHN
Banks industry group
2.85%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- FHN
- 2.85%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 58.04% and First Horizon (FHN) at 47.48% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
BNS
Banks industry group
58.04%
- Max
- 70.75%
- BNS
- 58.04%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
FHN
Banks industry group
47.48%
- Max
- 70.75%
- FHN
- 47.48%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BNS | FHN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.84% | 2.85% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 58.04% | 47.48% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 16.61 and First Horizon (FHN) at 16.58 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
FHN
Banks industry group
16.58
- Max
- 18.16
- FHN
- 16.58
- 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 First Horizon (FHN) 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)
First Horizon (FHN) at 1.34 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
FHN
Banks industry group
1.34
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- FHN
- 1.34
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BNS | FHN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.61 | 16.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.76 | 1.34 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |