Bank of Nova Scotia logo

Bank of Nova Scotia(BNS)

Top Performer Top performer
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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
5-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$93.29
10/26/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for BNS

10/26/2026: BNS (5-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

The Bank of Nova Scotia is a major Canadian financial institution that distinguishes itself through a focused international strategy in the Americas. The bank’s main strengths include a stable domestic retail presence, a consistent dividend track record, and a strategic geographic focus on high-growth Latin American markets. Investors are attracted to its reliability and yield, while the primary growth story centers on digital transformation and regional trade finance. Risks are tied to macroeconomic volatility in emerging markets, regulatory pressures, and competitive banking dynamics. This stock is best suited for long-term income and value-oriented investors who should monitor the execution of the bank's regional trade-linkage strategy and shifts in interest rate policy.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitGrowth is moderate, driven more by cyclical economic conditions than high-growth disruption.
Momentum investorMixed fitThe stock tends to trade based on interest rate cycles and regional economic health rather than short-term price momentum.
Value investorStrong fitOften trades at a reasonable price-to-earnings multiple compared to its historical averages and peer group.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe bank is known for a long track record of consistent dividend payments and reliable yield.
Low-risk investorStrong fitAs a highly regulated and stable Canadian financial institution, it presents a lower risk profile compared to growth stocks.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumBank stocks can fluctuate significantly during economic downturns or interest rate shifts.
Valuation riskLowThe stock typically trades at stable, predictable multiples related to book value and earnings.
Competition risk (Banking)Medium / highThe sector faces intense competition for mortgage and investment customers from established peers and fintechs.
Business qualityStrongThe bank possesses a well-established franchise and strong regulatory backing as a systemically important institution.
Dividend incomeStrongThe commitment to dividend payouts is a cornerstone of the bank's appeal to long-term investors.
Execution riskMediumThe bank must execute its international strategy effectively to offset slower domestic growth.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 106.16%
Avg. Invested days 104
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 5.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 5.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/26/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
BNS receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid quantitative characteristics. The rating is constrained by soft unit economics, weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
BNS has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, moderate earnings growth (+0.4%) and solid cash generation (FCF margin 6.9%) are partially offset by very low insider ownership of 0.02%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
BNS's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $5.1B (6.9% of revenue). Liquidity is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is BNS's strongest growth driver at +148.2% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (+0.4%, moderate) and free-cash-flow growth (-66.6%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 50.9% and approximately 98.8% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.02%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Royal Bank of Canada 5.41%
Bank of Montreal 4.27%
BMO Capital Markets Corp. 4.27%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 2.93%
CIBC World Markets Inc. 2.07%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
BNS generates approximately $443 of gross profit, $144 of operating income, and $69 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Moderate margins explain the 2-star rating, with soft cash conversion and weak capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 26.18%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
BNS has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 113.23B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 16.83
1Y Target Price 92.06
Price to earnings Ratio 16.83
1Y Target Price 92.06
Volume (30-day avg) 1.7M shares
Beta 1.19
52 Weeks Range 62.21 - 94.87
Updated Date 10/25/2026
52 Weeks Range 62.21 - 94.87
Updated Date 10/25/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 4.75%
Basic EPS (TTM) 5.52

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Canadian BankingRetail deposits, mortgages, and commercial loans.This is the primary reliable revenue engine of the bank.
International BankingRetail and corporate banking in Latin America.This provides geographic diversity but comes with higher economic risk.
Global Wealth ManagementAsset management and brokerage.This generates stable fee-based income regardless of interest rate cycles.
Global Banking and MarketsCapital markets and investment banking.This area is more cyclical and dependent on financial market health.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 16.83
Forward PE 13.83
Enterprise Value -84.04B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.22
Enterprise Value -84.04B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.22
Enterprise Value to Revenue 13.21
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 1.22B
Shares Floating 1.20B
Shares Outstanding 1.22B
Shares Floating 1.20B
Percent Insiders 0.02
Percent Institutions 50.89

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.