Big banks go shopping as economy recovers

Article Excerpt

Canada’s top banks continue to rebound from their pandemic lows, as an expected surge in loan writeoffs failed to materialize. The recent increase in the Bank of Canada’s benchmark lending rate, as well as more hikes likely this year, will also lift their earnings. What’s more, the banks are using their improving earnings to make acquisitions to fuel future growth. We recommend all investors hold at least two to three bank stocks in their portfolios. ROYAL BANK OF CANADA $137 is a buy. The bank (Toronto symbol RY; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 1.4 billion; Market cap: $191.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.3; Dividend yield: 3.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.rbc.com) will now acquire U.K.-based wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin Holdings Plc for $2.6 billion. The acquisition will make Royal the third-largest wealth management firm in the U.K. and Ireland, with assets under management of 64 billion British pounds and annual revenue of 500 million pounds. The new operations should also…