Bank Of Montreal (BMO) vs Bank Nova Scotia Halifax Pfd 3 (BNS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Bank Nova Scotia Halifax Pfd 3 (BNS) has outperformed Bank Of Montreal (BMO) over the past year, gaining 36.6% versus a gain of 26.1%. Over five years, BMO leads with a +51.4% price change compared with +36.1% for BNS. Bank Of Montreal is the larger company by market cap ($112.43 billion vs $106.32 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Bank Nova Scotia Halifax Pfd 3 trades at a lower forward P/E (13.1x vs 14.0x for Bank Of Montreal). Bank Nova Scotia Halifax Pfd 3 offers the higher dividend yield (5.09% vs 4.13%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BMO | BNS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $161.75 | $87.23 |
| Market cap | $112.43B | $106.32B |
| 1-day change | -2.61% | -3.31% |
| YTD return | +25.03% | +19.00% |
| 1-year return | +26.09% | +36.63% |
| 5-year return | +51.36% | +36.06% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.28 | 15.80 |
| Forward P/E | 14.01 | 13.06 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.85 | $5.52 |
| Dividend yield | 4.13% | 5.09% |
| Annual dividend | $6.68 | $4.44 |
| 52-week high | $187.22 | $95.74 |
| 52-week low | $119.84 | $62.98 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.60% | -8.89% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +2.34% | +2.74% |
| Average volume | 772.47K | 2.17M |
| Shares outstanding | 695.09M | 1.22B |
| Employees | 53,234 | 81,734 |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Banks - Diversified | Banks - Diversified |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- BNS has outperformed BMO by 10.5 percentage points over the past year.
About Bank Of Montreal
BMO stock →Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking; U.S.
Financial Services · Banks - Diversified · 53,234 employees
About Bank Nova Scotia Halifax Pfd 3
BNS stock →The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various banking products and services in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets segments.
Financial Services · Banks - Diversified · 81,734 employees
BMO vs BNS FAQ
Which is bigger, Bank Of Montreal or Bank Nova Scotia Halifax Pfd 3?
Bank Of Montreal (BMO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $112.43B compared with $106.32B for Bank Nova Scotia Halifax Pfd 3 (BNS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BMO or BNS?
BNS returned +36.63% over the past 12 months, compared with +26.09% for BMO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BMO or BNS?
BNS has the lower trailing P/E at 15.8, versus 18.3 for BMO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Bank Of Montreal or Bank Nova Scotia Halifax Pfd 3?
Bank Nova Scotia Halifax Pfd 3 has the higher yield at 5.09%, compared with 4.13% for Bank Of Montreal.
Are Bank Of Montreal and Bank Nova Scotia Halifax Pfd 3 in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Banks - Diversified industry within the Financial Services sector.