Markets
Scotiabank shares edged higher as investors focused on the February 24 earnings release and a headline divestment by its asset-management arm.
Scotiabank stock (NYSE: BNS; TSX: BNS) traded near $76.26, up about +0.74% on the day, as attention narrowed on the bank’s first-quarter 2026 results due on Tuesday, February 24. The move kept the shares close to the upper end of the past year’s range, with the stock still just under its 52-week high of $78.28.
With Scotiabank’s market value around $95.0 billion, investors are treating the next update as a “tone-setter” for Canadian bank sentiment: margin direction, credit quality, and capital plans tend to matter as much as the headline profit line.
Earnings release and conference call details
Scotiabank said it will publish financial results at approximately 6:15 a.m. ET on February 24, 2026, followed by a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET, expected to run about one hour. The call is set to include a presentation by executives and a question-and-answer session with analysts. Official release and webcast access details are posted on Scotiabank’s Investor Relations page.
For income and value investors, the timing is important because Scotiabank is still priced like a “steady cash-return story,” meaning any change in confidence around credit costs or growth can shift the market’s willingness to pay for the dividend stream.
Dividend and valuation in focus
Scotiabank’s forward dividend was listed at $3.24, implying a forward yield near 4.28%. On trailing metrics, the stock showed a P/E (TTM) of 18.33 and EPS (TTM) of $4.16. For investors, the key issue is whether February’s earnings update supports a stable outlook for profitability and balance-sheet strength while maintaining shareholder returns.
The market’s near-term test is straightforward: if guidance and credit commentary come in cleaner than feared, the stock has room to challenge the upper end of its annual band; if not, investors may demand a lower entry point despite the yield.
1832 Asset Management exits Elbit stake
A Reuters report said Scotiabank’s 1832 Asset Management subsidiary dissolved its stake in Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, based on regulatory filings, after the Canadian bank faced criticism tied to the investment. The report said the unit no longer held shares, a change from a previously reported holding of about 165,000 shares. The Reuters coverage is available via Reuters.
Financially, the move is unlikely to be material to Scotiabank’s earnings power. Strategically, it reduces a reputational distraction that had generated protests and public attention, allowing management to keep the focus on banking fundamentals going into earnings week.
Trading levels investors are watching
The stock traded within a tight intraday band of roughly $75.54 to $76.49, with the previous close near $75.70. Volume was around 663,232 shares versus an average near 1,973,665, pointing to measured positioning rather than aggressive chasing.
With the 52-week high at $78.28 still intact, momentum investors typically watch for a decisive push through that level after earnings. On the downside, a slip below the mid-$75 area can invite a cautious reset into more conservative support zones, especially if outlook language turns guarded.
What February 24 could decide
The earnings call should clarify whether net interest income is holding up, whether provisions for credit losses are rising or easing, and how Scotiabank views capital deployment into 2026. Investors will also listen for commentary on business momentum across personal and commercial banking, wealth management, and capital markets.
With the stock trading near the upper end of its annual range and yielding more than 4%, the next update could either validate the “steady bank” narrative — or force a repricing if the confidence signal changes.
