CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE $82 - Toronto symbol CM

CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE $82 (Toronto symbol CM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 400.0 million; Market cap: $32.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.9; Dividend yield: 4.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.cibc.com) earned a record $943 million in its fiscal 2013 third quarter, which ended July 31, 2013. That’s up 8.9% from $866 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 11.2%, to $2.29 from $2.06, on fewer shares outstanding. Revenue gained 3.6%, to $3.3 billion from $3.15 billion.

Low interest rates continue to spur loan demand at CIBC’s retail banking division. As well, acquisitions pushed up earnings at its wealth management business. Earnings at its security-trading operations also improved thanks to higher trading volumes. However, loan-loss provisions rose 0.9%, to $320 million from $317 million, partly to cover potential losses caused by flooding in Alberta.

The bank also announced that it plans to buy back 2% of its outstanding shares over the next year.

CIBC is a buy.

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