Future dividend hikes on hold

Article Excerpt

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $54 is a buy. The bank (Toronto symbol BNS; Income-Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $64.8 billion; Dividend yield: 6.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.scotiabank.com) raised its quarterly dividend by 3.4% with the October 2019 payment. The new annual rate of $3.60 yields a very high 6.7%. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, regulators have relaxed their capitalization requirements for Canada’s banks in an effort to promote lending. However, they have also directed all federally-regulated banks to suspend their share buyback programs. They must also hold their dividends steady. Meanwhile, Bank of Nova Scotia has agreed to settle charges by U.S. securities regulators that its traders manipulated precious metals markets. It will pay fines totalling $127.5 million U.S. To put that fine amount in context, the bank earned $1.31 billion (Canadian), or $1.04 a share, in the three months ended July 31, 2020. Bank of Nova Scotia is a buy. buy…