Key Takeaways
- The Bank of Nova Scotia reported second-quarter earnings that narrowly beat analyst estimates, but profits fell year-over-year.
- Uncertainty around interest rate cuts and inflation in the U.S. and abroad has impacted bank earnings in recent quarters.
- Scotiabank also declared a quarterly dividend of C$1.06 per share.
The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) reported second-quarter earnings that narrowly beat analyst expectations Tuesday amid what the bank’s chief executive called a “backdrop of ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.”
Total revenue increased year-over-year to 8.35 billion Canadian dollars ($6.13 billion), up from last year’s mark of C$7.91 billion and narrowly above the C$8.30 billion analysts expected, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha.
While still beating analyst estimates, profit fell to C$2.09 billion, or C$1.57 per share, from the C$2.15 billion and C$1.68 per share Scotiabank reported last year. Analysts expected net income of C$2.05 billion, or C$1.55 per share.
Wealth Management, International Profits Grow
Scotiabank saw net income increase in its wealth management division and its international operations, while profit dropped about 4% year-over-year in the bank’s Canadian operations thanks to higher provision for credit losses (PCL) and expenses.
“The Bank delivered solid results this quarter against a backdrop of ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, reporting positive operating leverage driven by revenue growth and continued expense discipline,” Scotiabank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Thomson said in a statement.
Analysts from Bank of America wrote in a note earlier this month that a number of factors like uncertainty on the future of inflation, rising credit card debt, and interest rates in the U.S. and abroad have led many investors to be cautious when it comes to investing in bank stocks.
Scotiabank Declares Quarterly Dividend
The bank also declared a quarterly dividend of C$1.06 per share, set to be paid out July 29 to shareholders of record on July 3 . This will be the fourth consecutive quarter in which Scotiabank pays out a C$1.06-per-share dividend.
Scotiabank and a number of other Canadian banks report earnings to close out the month. Last week, Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) reported earnings that also beat estimates.
Scotiabank shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) were up 0.9% to $48.23 about 90 minutes before the opening bell but are down slightly since the start of 2024.