CIBC benefits from falling rates

Article Excerpt

CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE $83 is a buy. The shares of this bank (Toronto symbol CM; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 937.2 million; Market cap: $77.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.1; Dividend yield: 4.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.cibc.com) are up about 60% in the past year. That’s largely because falling interest rates should reduce the threat of loan defaults and so loan-loss provisions. Lower rates should also spur demand for new loans. Moreover, the bank continues to reduce its exposure to the U.S. commercial real estate market. CIBC’s earnings should rise 8% to $7.24 a share for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2024, and the stock trades at just 11.5 times that estimate. The bank also raised your quarterly dividend with the January 2024 payment by 3.4%; the new annual rate of $3.60 yields a high 4.3%. CIBC is a buy. buy…