CIBC poised to gain from lower rates

Article Excerpt

Elevated interest rates and inflation continue to force CIBC to put aside higher amounts to cover potential loan defaults. However, actual loan losses remain small. As well, it looks like interest rates will come down in 2024, which will let it reverse some of those provisions. That will spur its earnings and give the bank more room for dividend increases. CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE $66 is a buy. The bank (Toronto symbol CM; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 937.2 million; Market cap: $61.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.6; Dividend yield: 5.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.cibc.com) is the smallest of Canada’s Big Five banks by market cap. To cut its overall reliance on Canada, which accounts for about 85% of its revenue, CIBC paid $6.6 billion in cash and stock for Chicago’s PrivateBancorp in June 2017. That firm mainly lends to small and medium-sized businesses. As a result of that purchase, the U.S. now supplies 11% of its revenue. The bank is…