Topic: How To Invest

What is Pat’s commentary for the week of February 15, 2022

Article Excerpt

Shares of the Royal Bank of Canada—the country’s largest bank by market cap—plunged from around $109 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, to a low around $72. After that, it reversed course and climbed to a recent peak near $150. That recovery owes a great deal to government pandemic supports for individuals and businesses. These supports helped personal and business clients keep their loan repayments on track, and helped Royal avoid a surge in writeoffs. The bank’s earnings should continue to improve as the pandemic eases and the economy further recovers. Royal is also in a strong position to reward investors now that Canada’s banking regulator has ended the ban that it imposed in March 2020 on dividend increases and share buybacks. Moreover, Royal continues to expand its online and mobile banking platforms. These investments will help lower its long-term operating costs. They should also spur its long-term profit growth, particularly as the Bank of Canada begins to…