Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS) Rating Increased to Outperform at National Bank Financial

Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS) (NYSE:BNS) was upgraded by stock analysts at National Bank Financial from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note issued on Wednesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a C$142.00 price target on the bank’s stock, up from their prior price target of C$128.00. National Bank Financial’s price target would indicate a potential upside of 8.97% from the stock’s current price.

BNS has been the subject of a number of other reports. TD Securities raised Bank of Nova Scotia from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday. TD upgraded Bank of Nova Scotia from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the company from C$124.00 to C$141.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$121.00 to C$127.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$112.00 to C$117.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$110.00 to C$130.00 in a report on Friday, August 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of C$128.86.

Bank of Nova Scotia Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of Bank of Nova Scotia stock traded up C$1.58 during trading on Wednesday, hitting C$130.31. 2,769,630 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,175,932. The company has a fifty day moving average price of C$123.36 and a 200-day moving average price of C$110.70. The stock has a market capitalization of C$158.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.30. Bank of Nova Scotia has a 1-year low of C$84.88 and a 1-year high of C$131.72.

Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS) (NYSE:BNS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 25th. The bank reported C$2.28 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$10.54 billion during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia had a return on equity of 11.06% and a net margin of 15.64%. Equities research analysts forecast that Bank of Nova Scotia will post 7.1286267 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Key Headlines Impacting Bank of Nova Scotia

Here are the key news stories impacting Bank of Nova Scotia this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Record quarterly performance: Canadian Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets all delivered strong results. Margin expansion, fee growth, and stronger underwriting and advisory activity helped drive the earnings beat. BMO, Scotiabank top estimates as capital-markets units surge
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades support sentiment: National Bank upgraded Scotiabank to “Outperform,” arguing that the shares offer more than a value opportunity, while TD Securities raised its rating from “Hold” to “Strong Buy.” Scotiabank upgraded to Outperform at National Bank
• Positive Sentiment: Capital returns and balance sheet remain supportive: BNS reported a 13.1% CET1 ratio, repurchased 8.6 million shares during the quarter, and said it had returned C$6.3 billion to shareholders year to date through dividends and buybacks. Why Bank of Nova Scotia Stock Is Up Today
• Neutral Sentiment: Trade uncertainty remains a risk: BNS and BMO cautioned that tariff and trade disruptions could weigh on business activity, although companies appear to be adapting relatively well. BMO, Scotia signal caution, but say businesses adapting well to trade unrest
• Negative Sentiment: One valuation signal is less bullish: National Bank Financial assigned a C$128 price target with a “Sector Perform” rating, slightly below the recent trading level, suggesting limited near-term upside under that view. Bank of Nova Scotia Given a C$128 Price Target

About Bank of Nova Scotia

Scotiabank’s vision is to be our clients’ most trusted financial partner and deliver sustainable, profitable growth. Guided by our purpose: ‘for every future,’ we help our clients, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products, and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With assets of approximately $1.5 trillion (as at January 31, 2026), Scotiabank is one of the largest banks in North America by assets, and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS).