Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) has earned an “A+” credit rating from analysts at Morningstar. The investment research firm’s “A+” rating indicates that the company is a low default risk. They also gave their stock a four star rating.

Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) opened at 38.45 on Monday. Bank of Nova Scotia has a 12 month low of $35.01 and a 12 month high of $56.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $46.26 billion and a PE ratio of 9.68. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $39.97 and its 200-day moving average is $44.72.

Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, December 1st. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.01. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.32 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Bank of Nova Scotia will post $5.95 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 27th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 5th will be issued a $0.5265 dividend. This represents a $2.11 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 31st.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on BNS. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $53.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, November 2nd. Canaccord Genuity reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia in a report on Tuesday, December 1st. RBC Capital lowered their price target on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from $73.00 to $72.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 2nd. National Bank Financial reiterated a “sector perform” rating and set a $67.00 price target (up from $65.00) on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia in a report on Thursday, December 3rd. Finally, Scotiabank reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $70.00 price target (down from $72.00) on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia in a report on Thursday, December 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $65.25.

The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) is a Canada-based diversified financial institution. The Bank offered a range of products and services, including retail, commercial, corporate and investment banking to more than 21 million customers in more than 55 countries around the world. The Bank has four business lines: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Scotia Capital and Global Wealth Management. The Canadian Banking segment provided a range of banking and investing services to more than 7.7 million customers across Canada, through a network of 1,190 branches, 3,869 automated banking machine (ABMs), as well as telephone, Internet banking and third-party channels. International Banking includes Scotiabank’s retail and commercial banking operations in more than 55 countries outside Canada. Global Wealth Management (GWM) consists of wealth management insurance and Global Transaction Banking businesses.

12 Month Chart for NYSE:BNS

To view more credit ratings from Morningstar, visit www.jdoqocy.comclick-7674909-10651170.

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