TD makes gains on multiple fronts

Article Excerpt

Toronto-Dominion Bank reported higher earnings in the latest quarter, for both its Canadian and U.S. businesses. Stronger economic growth and lower unemployment continue to lift demand for its loans. More generally, profit for banks in the U.S. and Canada tends to increase following interest rate hikes. That’s because the rates they charge their borrowers usually rise faster than the interest the banks pay depositors. TD BANK $66.56 (Toronto symbol TD; Shares outstanding: 1.8 billion; Market cap: $123.0 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 3.6%; www.td.com) earned $2.9 billion, or $1.51 a share, in the quarter ended July 31, 2017. That’s an 18.6% increase over the $2.4 billion, or $1.27, a year earlier. Earnings from Canadian banking (59% of the total) rose 14.3% in the quarter. The gain is the result of higher demand for mortgages, growth for TD’s wealth-management operations and lower insurance claims. Earnings from U.S. banking (31%) also rose 14.3% thanks to stronger loan demand. However, profit from wholesale banking…