The Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages

Shares of The Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS) (NYSE:BNS) have been given an average rating of “Hold” by the thirteen research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$78.55.

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. TD Securities set a C$81.00 price target on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Accountability Research set a C$82.00 price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Cibc World Mkts lowered shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$83.00 to C$81.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Bank of Nova Scotia from C$81.00 to C$77.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th.

Bank of Nova Scotia Price Performance

Bank of Nova Scotia stock opened at C$69.68 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of C$85.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.97. Bank of Nova Scotia has a 12 month low of C$60.68 and a 12 month high of C$80.14. The stock’s 50-day moving average is C$71.84 and its 200-day moving average is C$73.62.

Bank of Nova Scotia Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 7th were issued a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.08%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 7th. Bank of Nova Scotia’s dividend payout ratio is presently 67.00%.

Bank of Nova Scotia Company Profile

The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various banking products and services in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets segments.