Topic: How To Invest

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $54.80 – Toronto symbol BNS

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $54.80 (Toronto symbol BNS: Shares outstanding: 1.0 billion; Market cap: $56.9 billion; SI Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 3.6%) is the third largest of Canada’s five big banks, with assets of $523.4 billion.

In the three months ended July 31, 2010, Bank of Nova Scotia earned $1.1 billion. That’s up 14.1% from $931 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 12.6%, to $0.98 from $0.87, on more shares outstanding.

The bank set aside less money to cover bad loans because of the improving economy. In the latest quarter, loan-loss provisions fell 50.2%, to $276 million from $554 million a year earlier.

Earnings at the Canadian banking division rose 21%, to a record $604 million, on stronger demand for loans and wealth-management services. International-banking earnings rose just 2%, to $317 million, mostly because the higher Canadian dollar hurt their contribution. Without that, this division’s earnings would have risen 11%.

Bank of Nova Scotia has the largest international operations of the big-five banks The bank prefers to focus on developing countries in Caribbean, Latin America and Asia, where it can quickly increase its earnings and market share.

Bank of Nova Scotia is still a safety-conscious buy.

Comments

Tell Us What YOU Think

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Please be respectful with your comments and help us keep this an area that everyone can enjoy. If you believe a comment is abusive or otherwise violates our Terms of Use, please click here to report it to the administrator.