Latin America powers BNS growth

Article Excerpt

Bank of Nova Scotia’s international operations remain a key part of its growth plans. In fact, the bank continues to expand in Latin America and recently agreed to buy 68.19% of BBVA Chile for $2.9 billion. With total assets of $29 billion (Canadian), BBVA is the sixth-largest bank in Chile. Bank of Nova Scotia’s purchase of that majority stake should make it the third-largest private-sector lender in Chile, with 14% of the market. BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $81.64 (Toronto symbol BNS; Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $97.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 3.9%) is Canada’s third largest bank. Bank of Nova Scotia earned $2.01 billion in its fiscal 2017 fourth quarter, ended October 31, 2017. That’s up 3.3% from $1.94 billion a year earlier. Due to fewer shares outstanding, per-share earnings rose 4.4%, to $1.65 from $1.58. That missed the consensus estimate of $1.66. In the quarter, earnings from Canadian banking operations (52% of the total) rose 11.8%….