Strong U.S. earnings lift TD Bank

Article Excerpt

Toronto-Dominion Bank has expanded its position in the U.S., with more branches there than in Canada. It continues to gain from an improving U.S. economy, while the weak Canadian dollar enhances earnings from that market. TD’s U.S. business also helps to offset higher loan losses because of the slowdown in Canada’s oil industry. Its shares are now close to all-time highs—and we think they will move even higher. TD BANK $57.36 (Toronto symbol TD; Shares outstanding: 1.9 billion; Market cap: $105.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 3.8%; www.td.com) is Canada’s largest bank, with $1.1 trillion in assets. It operates 1,265 branches in the U.S.—compared to 1,152 in Canada—and owns 41.01% of TD Ameritrade (New York symbol AMTD), a leading online brokerage. TD’s revenue stood at $8.3 billion for the second quarter ended April 30, 2016. That’s a 6.4% increase from the $7.8 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 5.3%, to $1.20 from $1.14. Earnings from U.S….