Higher rates lift BMO’s outlook

Article Excerpt

Rising interest rates are generally good news for banks, as higher rates increase the income from new and renewing loans. On the other hand, higher rates also increase the risk that borrowers will fall behind in their loan payments. We feel that Bank of Montreal will ultimately benefit from higher rates, as more-stringent lending standards since the 2008 financial crisis greatly reduce the risk of big loan losses. An upcoming acquisition will also strengthen the bank’s operations in the U.S. and fuel its earnings for years to come. BANK OF MONTREAL $127 is a buy. The bank (Toronto symbol BMO; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 674.1 million; Market cap: $85.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.2; Dividend yield: 4.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.bmo.com) originally began operating in 1817, making it Canada’s oldest chartered bank. With assets of $1.07 trillion as of July 31, 2022, it’s now the fourth-largest Canadian bank; it’s also the eighth-largest in North America. Bank of Montreal currently provides a wide…