BNS

We rate BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA (BNS) as a Hold with a composite score of 60.4/100 at a current price of $75.40. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (86th percentile) and momentum (85th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in quality (32th percentile) and investment (57th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (58/100), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation.

Key items to watch: quarterly earnings execution and sector-level competitive dynamics. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA holds a mid-tier position (#30 of 50) within the Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 60.4/100 places it at rank #649 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $80.8B market capitalization, BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA operates at meaningful scale within the Finance, Insurance, And Real Estate sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

The outlook is moderately positive, with revenue expanding at 13% and favorable momentum (85th percentile) reflecting constructive market sentiment. The business shows steady execution, though the growth rate is below the levels typically associated with high-conviction growth stories. Momentum confirmation provides support for the current price level.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 67% (-9.9pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 33% (+16.3pp vs sector) and net margins of 27.3%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 41%. This efficient conversion suggests well-controlled operating costs and limited margin leakage between the gross and net levels.

At a current price of $75.40, BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 62/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at EV/EBITDA of 2.2x (discounted to peers), P/B of 1.5x, P/S of 1.2x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.40, conservative leverage (44% D/E), and a stability factor in the 86th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: weak quality scores (32th percentile); low beta of 0.40 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 86th percentile and quality factor at the 32th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 67% provide a buffer against cost pressures; above-average stability (86th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; large-cap scale ($80.8B) provides resilience. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA's capital allocation as Exemplary. Management demonstrates a strong track record of balancing reinvestment with shareholder returns, evidenced by returns on equity of 35.7%, disciplined leverage (44% D/E), a 4.73% dividend yield. Exemplary allocators typically generate returns on equity above 20% while maintaining debt-to-equity below 50% — BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA meets this high bar.

The balance sheet remains conservatively managed, providing financial flexibility for opportunistic investments while maintaining a margin of safety for shareholders. The company returns capital via a 4.73% dividend yield, and the combination of 2.1% return on assets and controlled leverage suggests management is deploying capital at rates well above the cost of capital — the hallmark of exemplary stewardship.

In summary, BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 60.4/100 (rank #649 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (58/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 64/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.