The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: BNSAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

BNS AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

The Bank of Nova Scotia is a major Canadian financial institution providing global retail, commercial, wealth management, and banking services. In the trailing twelve months, the bank generated $35.20B in revenue with a net profit margin of 28.4%. Its shares have gained 49.1% over the past year, trading at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 16.6x.

Market cap
$111.46B
Revenue (TTM)
$35.20B
P/E
16.6x
fwd 13.8x
1Y return
49.1%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$91.38
-0.2% vs last close

Bull case

  • The stock delivered a 49.1% one-year total return, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
  • Latest quarterly earnings rose 23.4% year-over-year alongside quarterly revenue growth of 11.7%.
  • The bank features a solid dividend record with 25 consecutive years of payments and a forward yield of 3.51%.

Bear case

  • The forward P/E of 13.8x reflects a premium relative to the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers at 10.8x.
  • Free cash flow dropped from $15.16B in FY2024 to $5.06B in FY2025.
  • The mean analyst price target of $91.38 sits 0.2% below the stock's closing price of $91.60.

What Bank of Nova Scotia does

Established in 1832 and based in Toronto, Canada, The Bank of Nova Scotia operates across four principal business segments: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets. The institution serves individuals, commercial clients, and institutions across Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean, Central America, and other international markets. Products and services range from personal mortgages, loans, insurance, and automotive financing to transaction services, corporate lending, investment banking advisory, online brokerage, and asset management funds.

Growth and profitability

For FY2025, revenue increased 148.2% to $73.18B, up from $29.48B in FY2024, while net income totaled $7.79B compared to $7.76B in the prior year. Net margin for FY2025 stood at 10.6%, down from 26.3% in FY2024 and 31.1% in FY2021. Over the five-year period from FY2020 to FY2025, revenue expanded at a compound annual growth rate of 18.5%. In the trailing twelve months ending July 31, 2026, revenue stood at $35.20B with an operating margin of 41.2% and diluted EPS of $5.52. For the latest quarter ended July 31, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 11.7% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings grew 23.4% year-over-year.

BNS income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of July 31, 2026, The Bank of Nova Scotia held $10.33B in cash and short-term investments alongside total assets of $1.55T. Total debt was $272.60B, resulting in net debt of $262.27B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.06 relative to shareholders' equity of $89.20B. In FY2025, the bank generated $5.41B in operating cash flow and $5.06B in free cash flow. Capital deployment in FY2025 included $347.0M in capital expenditures, $895.0M in share buybacks, and $5.88B in dividends paid.

BNS balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

With a market capitalization of $111.46B, the stock trades at a trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 16.6x and a forward P/E of 13.8x, both higher than the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers at 12.1x and 10.8x, respectively. The company's price-to-sales ratio of 3.2x matches the peer median of 3.2x, while its price-to-book ratio is 2.0x. Over the past year, the stock returned 49.1%, outperforming the 16.8% return of the S&P 500 benchmark.

BNS dividend

The Bank of Nova Scotia offers a forward annual dividend of $3.21 per share, representing a dividend yield of 3.51%. Dividends are distributed on a quarterly basis with a payout ratio of 44.3%. The institution has maintained dividend payments for 25 consecutive years and achieved a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 2.9%, with its most recent ex-dividend date on October 6, 2026.

BNS dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 2 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, 8 Hold, and 1 Sell ratings. The average analyst price target is $91.38, representing a 0.2% decline from the last closing price of $91.60. For the fiscal year ending October 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $8.55 on revenue of $40.63B. The bank beat earnings estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with next earnings scheduled for December 1, 2026.

BNS forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • The bank carries $272.60B in total debt with a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.06 as of July 31, 2026.
  • Net profit margin contracted from 26.3% in FY2024 to 10.6% in FY2025.
  • The stock trades with a beta of 1.19, indicating higher volatility than the broader equity market.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this BNS AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: BNS income statement, BNS balance sheet, BNS analyst forecast, BNS chart. See the BNS stock overview for the latest quote and news.

BNS AI stock analysis FAQ

What is The Bank of Nova Scotia's dividend yield and payout schedule?

The stock pays an annualized forward dividend of $3.21 per share, which equates to a yield of 3.51%. Distributions are paid quarterly, supported by a payout ratio of 44.3%.

How did The Bank of Nova Scotia perform in its most recent quarter?

For the quarter ended July 31, 2026, the bank delivered year-over-year revenue growth of 11.7% and quarterly earnings growth of 23.4%.

How does BNS stock valuation compare to its industry peers?

BNS trades at a forward P/E of 13.8x, compared to the median of 10.8x for US-listed Financial Services peers, and has a price-to-sales multiple of 3.2x.

When is the next earnings report date for BNS?

The bank's next earnings report date is scheduled for December 1, 2026.

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