BNS vs. KB: Bank of Nova Scotia vs. KB Financial Stock Comparison
How do Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and KB Financial (KB) 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 KB Financial (KB) 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 KB Financial (KB) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | BNS | KB |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bank of Nova Scotia | KB Financial Group Inc. ADR |
| Country/Region | Canada | South Korea |
| 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 | 38.60 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 7, 2002 | November 13, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BNS | KB |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 44.24% | 34.70% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 35.89% | 45.50% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.57% | 23.53% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BNS | KB |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.52% | 36.91% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.14 | 1.06 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.53% | -42.89% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.76M | 194.61K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BNS | KB |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.95 | 0.82 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.99 | 1.30 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) earns 11.46% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; KB Financial (KB) has no ROE this period.
BNS
Banks industry group
11.46%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- BNS
- 11.46%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
KB
Banks industry group
--
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
- KB
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 28.43% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while KB Financial (KB) at 17.25% 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%
KB
Banks industry group
17.25%
- Max
- 47.19%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- Median
- 31.21%
- Q1
- 27.11%
- KB
- 17.25%
- Min
- 14.93%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and KB Financial (KB) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BNS | KB |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.46% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.68% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.43% | 17.25% |
| 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 KB Financial (KB) at 5.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
KB Financial (KB) at 27.83% 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 | KB |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.36% | 5.61% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.59% | 8.97% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -3.41% | 27.83% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -10.92% | 14.97% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and KB Financial (KB) 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 KB Financial (KB) 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 | KB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 4.84% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; KB Financial (KB) at 1,434.96% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
BNS
Banks industry group
4.84%
- Max
- 5.79%
- BNS
- 4.84%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
KB
Banks industry group
1,434.96%
- KB
- 1,434.96%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
KB Financial (KB) at 26.89% 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%
KB
Banks industry group
26.89%
- Max
- 70.75%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- KB
- 26.89%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BNS | KB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.84% | 1,434.96% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 58.04% | 26.89% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
KB Financial (KB) at 9.55 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 16.61 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
BNS
Banks industry group
16.61
- Max
- 18.16
- BNS
- 16.61
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- Min
- 6.49
KB
Banks industry group
9.55
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- KB
- 9.55
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and KB Financial (KB) 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 KB Financial (KB) at 3.68 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
KB
Banks industry group
3.68
- KB
- 3.68
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BNS | KB |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.61 | 9.55 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.76 | 3.68 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |