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BNS vs. HSBC: Bank of Nova Scotia vs. HSBC Stock Comparison

How do Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC) 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 HSBC (HSBC) are both classified in the Diversified Banks sub-industry within the broader Banks industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) trades as ordinary local shares, while HSBC (HSBC) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC)
Profile ItemBNSHSBC
NameBank of Nova ScotiaHSBC Holdings plc Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionCanadaUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupBanksBanks
GICS IndustryBanksBanks
GICS Sub-IndustryDiversified BanksDiversified Banks
Market Capitalization111.75 billion USD297.66 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 7, 2002July 16, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BNS
HSBC
GSPC
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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. HSBC (HSBC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC)
MetricBNSHSBC
Total Return (1Y)44.24%32.02%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)35.89%43.61%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.57%33.35%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BNS
HSBC
GSPC
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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. HSBC (HSBC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC)
MetricBNSHSBC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.52%28.54%
Beta (5Y)1.140.54
Max Drawdown (5Y)-40.53%-31.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.76M1.58M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BNS and HSBC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC)
MetricBNSHSBC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.950.97
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.991.52

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

HSBC (HSBC) at 14.22% 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 HSBC.

BNS

Banks industry group

11.46%

Max
19.84%
Q3
13.67%
Median
11.49%
BNS
11.46%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%

HSBC

Banks industry group

14.22%

Max
19.84%
HSBC
14.22%
Q3
13.67%
Median
11.49%
Q1
9.50%
Min
3.64%
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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. HSBC (HSBC): A comparison of their ROE against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

HSBC (HSBC) at 41.16% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 28.43%, which keeps about the industry-typical 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%

HSBC

Banks industry group

41.16%

Max
47.19%
HSBC
41.16%
Q3
35.25%
Median
31.21%
Q1
27.11%
Min
14.93%
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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. HSBC (HSBC): A comparison of their net margin against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and HSBC (HSBC) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC)
MetricBNSHSBC
ROE (TTM)11.46%14.22%
ROA (TTM)0.68%0.84%
Net Margin (TTM)28.43%41.16%
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 HSBC (HSBC) at 5.38% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. HSBC (HSBC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at -3.41% and HSBC (HSBC) at -3.23% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.

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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. HSBC (HSBC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC)
MetricBNSHSBC
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.36%5.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.59%9.75%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.41%-3.23%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-10.92%17.49%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and HSBC (HSBC) 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 HSBC (HSBC) 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

Financial strength metrics for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC)
MetricBNSHSBC
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 4.84% offers top-quartile income, while HSBC (HSBC) at 0.86% sits in the bottom quartile — a wide gap in cash returned to shareholders.

BNS

Banks industry group

4.84%

Max
5.79%
BNS
4.84%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
Q1
1.20%
Min
0.00%

HSBC

Banks industry group

0.86%

Max
5.79%
Q3
3.18%
Median
2.39%
Q1
1.20%
HSBC
0.86%
Min
0.00%
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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. HSBC (HSBC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 58.04% and HSBC (HSBC) at 53.57% 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%

HSBC

Banks industry group

53.57%

Max
70.75%
HSBC
53.57%
Q3
41.28%
Median
29.26%
Q1
18.98%
Min
0.00%
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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. HSBC (HSBC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC)
MetricBNSHSBC
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.84%0.86%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.04%53.57%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

HSBC (HSBC) at 11.38 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

HSBC

Banks industry group

11.38

Max
18.16
Q3
13.75
Median
11.81
HSBC
11.38
Q1
10.64
Min
6.49
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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. HSBC (HSBC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

P/S ratio is set aside for both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and HSBC (HSBC) 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 look rich against book: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 1.76 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and HSBC (HSBC) at 6.87 prices even higher, above its industry range.

BNS

Banks industry group

1.76

Max
2.28
BNS
1.76
Q3
1.58
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59

HSBC

Banks industry group

6.87

HSBC
6.87
Max
2.28
Q3
1.58
Median
1.32
Q1
1.10
Min
0.59
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Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) vs. HSBC (HSBC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Banks industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and HSBC (HSBC)
MetricBNSHSBC
P/E Ratio (TTM)16.6111.38
P/S Ratio (TTM)----
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.766.87
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----