Scotiabank is still our top bank stock

Article Excerpt

Bank of Nova Scotia is still our favourite pick for safety-conscious investors among the big-five banks. Its record earnings in the latest quarter reflect its focus on lower-risk lending, and it has avoided large investments in the U.S. in favour of developing markets. That has resulted in strong gains for investors — including a dividend increase. BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA $59.55 (Toronto symbol BNS: Shares outstanding: 1.0 billion; Market cap: $61.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Div. yield: 3.5%, www.scotiabank.com) is the third largest of Canada’s five big banks, with assets of $541.3 billion. In the three months ended January 31, 2011, the bank earned a record $1.2 billion, or $1.07 a share. That’s up 18.8% from $988 million, or $0.91 a share, a year earlier. Bank of Nova Scotia continues to set aside less money to cover bad loans because of the improving economy. Loan-loss provisions fell 27.5%, to $269 million from $371 million a year earlier. Earnings at the Canadian banking division…