Blue Chip Stocks: Strong earnings lift TD Bank

Toronto-Dominion Bank continues to gain from an improving U.S. economy, while the weak Canadian dollar enhances earnings from that market.

The bank has expanded its position in the U.S., with more branches there than in Canada. TD’s U.S. business also helps to offset higher loan losses because of the slowdown in Canada’s oil industry. Its shares are now close to all-time highs—and we think they will move even higher.

TD BANK (Toronto symbol TD; www.td.com) is Canada’s largest bank, with $1.1 trillion in assets. It operates 1,265 branches in the U.S.—compared to 1,152 in Canada—and owns 41.01% of TD Ameritrade (New York symbol AMTD), a leading online brokerage.


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TD’s revenue stood at $8.3 billion for the second quarter ended April 30, 2016. That’s a 6.4% increase from the $7.8 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 5.3%, to $1.20 from $1.14.

Earnings from U.S. banking (30% of the total) jumped 21.0% thanks to the higher U.S. dollar and stronger loan demand. Partly offsetting that was the $584 million TD set aside to cover any future loan losses. It was up 55.7% from $375 million a year ago.

Blue Chip Stocks: Oil and gas producers less than 1% of portfolio

Low oil and gas prices could hurt the ability of energy producers to repay their loans. However, those borrowers now represent less than 1% of TD’s overall loan portfolio.

The stock trades at 11.7 times the bank’s forecast earnings of $4.90 a share for fiscal 2016. It yields 3.8%

Recommendation in Canadian Wealth Advisor: BUY

For our advice on making the right choices among blue chip stocks, read The best blue chip stocks are often the least talked about.

For our recent report on a U.S. blue chip that keeps adapting to a changing market, read Earnings jump to fuel buybacks at McDonald’s Corp.

Scott is an associate editor at TSI Network. He is the lead reporter and analyst for Dividend Advisor, Power Growth Investor and Canadian Wealth Advisor and a member of the Investment Planning Committee. Scott began his investment and financial career working with Pat McKeough at The Investment Reporter in the 1980s. Subsequently, he worked at the Financial Post Corporation Service for 10 years. He joined TSI Network in 1998. He is a Bachelor of Economics graduate of York University, and he also has an M.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business.