Banks looking for bargains after crisis

Article Excerpt

Canada’s big five banks have posted strong results since the 2007-2009 financial crisis. All five should have no trouble complying with new international regulations aimed at avoiding another crisis. As well, their strength is helping them buy other financial companies in the U.S. and other countries, often at bargain prices. ROYAL BANK OF CANADA $53 (Toronto symbol RY; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 1.4 billion; Market cap: $74.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.1; Dividend yield: 3.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.rbc.com) is Canada’s largest bank, with total assets of $726.2 billion. In its 2010 fiscal year, which ended October 31, 2010, Royal earned $5.2 billion, or $3.46 a share. That’s up 35.4% from $3.9 billion, or $2.57 a share, in fiscal 2009. The fiscal 2010 earnings figure includes a $116-million loss on the sale of one of the bank’s main holdings, U.S.-based Liberty Life Insurance Co. Without unusual items, such as the loss on Liberty Life, Royal would have…