BNS vs. NWG: Bank of Nova Scotia vs. NatWest Stock Comparison
How do Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and NatWest (NWG) 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 NatWest (NWG) 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 NatWest (NWG) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | BNS | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bank of Nova Scotia | NatWest Group plc Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | Canada | United Kingdom |
| 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 | 61.54 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 7, 2002 | October 18, 2007 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BNS | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 44.24% | 7.03% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 35.89% | 59.12% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.57% | 30.15% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BNS | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.52% | 33.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.14 | 0.96 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.53% | -40.66% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.76M | 3.73M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BNS | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.95 | 0.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.99 | 0.12 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
NatWest (NWG) at 14.58% 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 NWG.
BNS
Banks industry group
11.46%
- Max
- 19.84%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- BNS
- 11.46%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
NWG
Banks industry group
14.58%
- Max
- 19.84%
- NWG
- 14.58%
- Q3
- 13.67%
- Median
- 11.49%
- Q1
- 9.50%
- Min
- 3.64%
Net Margin (TTM)
NatWest (NWG) at 36.93% 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%
NWG
Banks industry group
36.93%
- Max
- 47.19%
- NWG
- 36.93%
- Q3
- 35.25%
- 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 NatWest (NWG) in Banks, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BNS | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.46% | 14.58% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.68% | 0.85% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.43% | 36.93% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 10.36% and NatWest (NWG) at 13.35% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
NatWest (NWG) at 26.93% 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 | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.36% | 13.35% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.59% | 7.55% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -3.41% | 26.93% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -10.92% | 26.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and NatWest (NWG) 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 NatWest (NWG) 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 | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| 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 NatWest (NWG) at 2.19% 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%
NWG
Banks industry group
2.19%
- Max
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.39%
- NWG
- 2.19%
- Q1
- 1.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) at 58.04% and NatWest (NWG) at 47.43% 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%
NWG
Banks industry group
47.43%
- Max
- 70.75%
- NWG
- 47.43%
- Q3
- 41.28%
- Median
- 29.26%
- Q1
- 18.98%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BNS | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.84% | 2.19% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 58.04% | 47.43% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
NatWest (NWG) at 7.84 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
NWG
Banks industry group
7.84
- Max
- 18.16
- Q3
- 13.75
- Median
- 11.81
- Q1
- 10.64
- NWG
- 7.84
- Min
- 6.49
P/S Ratio (TTM)
P/S ratio is set aside for both Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Banks and NatWest (NWG) 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)
NatWest (NWG) at 1.20 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
NWG
Banks industry group
1.20
- Max
- 2.28
- Q3
- 1.58
- Median
- 1.32
- NWG
- 1.20
- Q1
- 1.10
- Min
- 0.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BNS | NWG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 16.61 | 7.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | -- |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.76 | 1.20 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |