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National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA)
TSX:NA

National Bank of Canada (NA) AI Stock Analysis

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TSE:NA

National Bank of Canada

(TSX:NA)

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Neutral 58 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:58Neutral
Price Target:
C$198.00
â–²(3.68% Upside)
Action:DowngradedDate:03/03/26
The score is held back primarily by balance-sheet leverage rising materially and volatile/negative TTM cash flow, despite solid profitability and ROE. Technicals are supportive due to a strong uptrend, but overbought indicators increase near-term risk. Valuation is reasonable with a moderate P/E and a modest dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Strong Profitability & ROE
Sustained high net margins and above-average ROE indicate the bank earns attractive returns on equity and has pricing power across core businesses. This underpins long-term capacity to reinvest, support dividends and fund strategic initiatives even through economic cycles.
Recent Revenue Momentum
Material TTM revenue acceleration reflects stronger client activity and successful growth initiatives, which can drive scale benefits and higher fee income. If sustained, this bolsters recurring earnings and improves operating leverage over the coming 2–6 months.
Diversified Business Mix
A broad revenue base across retail, commercial, wealth and investment banking reduces single-cycle dependence, produces recurring fee streams, and enables cross-sell. This structural diversification supports more stable earnings and resilience to sector-specific shocks.
Negative Factors
Elevated Leverage
A materially higher leverage ratio increases sensitivity to rising funding costs and market stress, tightening capital flexibility. Persistently elevated leverage can constrain lending, heighten regulatory and funding risk, and amplify earnings volatility over the medium term.
Weak and Volatile Cash Generation
Recent negative operating and free cash flow after prior positive years signals weaker cash conversion and higher uncertainty. Persistent cash volatility undermines self-funding for dividends, buybacks and investments, potentially forcing external funding or balance-sheet adjustments.
Inconsistent Revenue & Margin Trends
Despite strong TTM gains, uneven annual revenue growth and fluctuating margins reduce confidence in trend durability. Structural inconsistency complicates planning and capital allocation, increasing execution risk for sustaining recent profitability levels over the medium term.

National Bank of Canada (NA) vs. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC)

National Bank of Canada Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNational Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, and savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services comprise credit, and deposit and investment solutions, as well as international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services. The Wealth Management segment comprises investment solutions, trust services, banking services, lending services, and other wealth management solutions. The Financial Markets segment offers corporate banking, advisory, and capital markets services; and project financing, debt, and equity underwriting; advisory services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and financing. The U.S. Specialty Finance and International segment provides specialty finance products; financial products and services to individuals and businesses in Cambodia; and investment solutions, guaranteed investment certificates, mutual funds, notes, structured products, and monetization. It provides its services through a network of 384 branches and 927 banking machines. National Bank of Canada was founded in 1859 and is based in Montreal, Canada.
How the Company Makes MoneyNational Bank of Canada generates revenue through several key streams, primarily from interest income on loans and mortgages issued to customers, as well as fees from various banking services such as account maintenance, transactions, and financial advisory services. Additionally, the bank earns income from wealth management services, including asset management and investment advisory fees. Investment banking activities, such as underwriting and advisory services for corporate clients, also contribute significantly to its earnings. The bank's strong relationships with corporate clients and its commitment to expanding its digital banking capabilities further enhance its revenue potential. Overall, the diverse range of services and a robust customer base play a crucial role in the bank's financial performance.

National Bank of Canada Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 27, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jun 03, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects strong financial performance with significant growth in key segments and successful integration of CWB. However, challenges such as economic uncertainty and flat noninterest revenue in certain areas temper the optimism.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Earnings and Return on Equity
The bank reported earnings per share of $2.68 and a return on equity of 14% for the third quarter of 2025, reflecting strong revenue fundamentals across segments.
Robust Capital Position
The bank ended the quarter with a CET1 ratio of 13.9%, providing ample flexibility and optionality for future growth and share buybacks.
Successful CWB Integration
The integration of CWB is progressing well with the first client migrations completed, contributing to funding and cost synergies at a rapid pace.
Growth in Wealth Management and Financial Markets
Wealth Management saw a 13% year-over-year increase in net income, while Financial Markets reported strong quarterly results with a 5% growth in net income.
Positive Credit Performance
Total PCLs were $203 million, down 17 basis points sequentially, with strong performing allowances and a gross impaired loan ratio of 102 basis points.
ABA Bank Performance
ABA Bank's net income increased by 16% year-over-year, deposits were up 21%, and loans grew by 8%.
Negative Updates
Economic Challenges and Tariff Uncertainty
The Canadian economy is strained by tariff uncertainty, resulting in job losses in certain industries and a softer labor market.
Noninterest Revenue Flat in Canadian Banking
Noninterest revenue in Canadian Banking was flat due to nonrecurring elements and lower commercial client activities compared to last year.
Challenges in Commercial Loan Growth
CWB's commercial loan book remained stable with no significant growth due to the integration process and a quiet commercial loan growth environment.
Company Guidance
In the National Bank of Canada's third-quarter earnings call for fiscal year 2025, the bank reported a strong performance with an earnings per share of $2.68 and a return on equity of 14%. Key metrics highlighted included a CET1 ratio of 13.9%, reflecting a solid capital position. The bank plans to repurchase up to 8 million shares and review its dividend in the next quarter. P&C Banking net income was reported at $386 million, with the commercial loan book growing by 13% year-over-year. Wealth Management showed a 13% increase in net income, while Financial Markets and ABA Bank also reported growth. The integration of Canadian Western Bank (CWB) is progressing well, with notable synergies realized. The bank ended the quarter with total PCLs of $203 million, or 28 basis points, and a gross impaired loan ratio of 102 basis points. Overall, the bank demonstrated robust revenue growth across segments, with cautious optimism for future economic conditions.

National Bank of Canada Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Profitability and ROE are solid (TTM net margin ~15.8%, ROE ~13.5%) and TTM revenue growth is strong (+22.8%), but this is offset by materially higher leverage (debt-to-equity ~4.44 in 2025, elevated in TTM) and a sharp TTM cash flow deterioration (negative operating and free cash flow), which raises risk and reduces confidence in sustainability.
Income Statement
74
Positive
Profitability is solid and improving in the most recent period: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) net margin is ~15.8% with operating profitability around ~20%, and revenue growth is strong (+22.8% in TTM). However, the annual revenue trend is not consistently strong (only ~1.8% growth in 2025 vs. prior year), and margins appear more volatile across years (including an anomalous annual operating margin print in 2023), which reduces confidence in trend stability.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
Returns on shareholder capital are healthy for a bank (ROE ~11.9% in 2025 and ~13.5% in TTM), but leverage has risen materially: debt-to-equity increased from ~2.1–2.9 (2022–2024) to ~4.44 in 2025 and remains elevated in TTM. Assets have grown steadily, yet the higher leverage profile increases sensitivity to funding costs, credit shocks, and capital market conditions.
Cash Flow
41
Neutral
Cash generation is inconsistent. After strong positive operating and free cash flow in 2023–2025 (including 2025 free cash flow of ~$4.1B), TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) shows negative operating cash flow (-$0.6B) and negative free cash flow (-$1.0B) alongside sharply negative free cash flow growth. This volatility suggests weaker near-term cash conversion and higher uncertainty around the sustainability of recent cash generation.
BreakdownTTMOct 2025Oct 2024Oct 2023Oct 2022Oct 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue26.97B30.80B10.83B9.77B9.62B8.90B
Gross Profit13.68B13.01B10.84B10.16B9.62B8.90B
EBITDA6.07B5.79B5.06B0.004.73B4.46B
Net Income4.27B4.02B3.82B3.34B3.38B3.14B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets605.87B576.92B462.23B423.58B403.74B355.62B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments36.77B33.20B35.75B39.14B36.34B36.81B
Total Debt97.51B149.84B74.78B53.51B44.88B43.64B
Total Liabilities572.65B543.15B436.68B399.90B381.99B336.94B
Stockholders Equity33.22B33.77B25.55B23.68B21.74B18.68B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-1.04B4.13B3.95B4.51B-2.59B5.55B
Operating Cash Flow-638.00M4.63B4.65B5.17B-1.92B9.31B
Investing Cash Flow-27.66B-7.08B-7.34B-80.00M-1.46B1.39B
Financing Cash Flow31.81B-1.18B-1.10B19.51B-381.00M-1.74B

National Bank of Canada Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price190.98
Price Trends
50DMA
173.04
Positive
100DMA
166.66
Positive
200DMA
153.42
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
5.73
Negative
RSI
76.59
Negative
STOCH
85.14
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:NA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 190.98 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 177.44, above the 50-day MA of 173.04, and above the 200-day MA of 153.42, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 5.73 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 76.59 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 85.14 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TSE:NA.

National Bank of Canada Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
69
Neutral
C$317.02B13.7115.48%2.58%2.13%25.16%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
67
Neutral
C$227.58B13.2217.76%3.34%3.07%144.41%
64
Neutral
C$127.22B9.4114.85%3.07%-3.13%18.22%
62
Neutral
C$138.87B16.3510.53%3.61%-1.30%20.41%
62
Neutral
C$123.81B14.7010.39%4.32%-3.65%-1.73%
58
Neutral
C$74.17B12.6213.53%2.64%7.50%-5.28%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:NA
National Bank of Canada
190.98
78.45
69.71%
TSE:BMO
Bank Of Montreal
196.65
59.74
43.63%
TSE:BNS
Bank Of Nova Scotia
100.45
34.37
52.00%
TSE:CM
Canadian Bank of Commerce
137.30
57.02
71.02%
TSE:RY
Royal Bank Of Canada
226.77
66.44
41.44%
TSE:TD
Toronto Dominion Bank
133.60
52.03
63.79%

National Bank of Canada Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresM&A Transactions
National Bank of Canada Starts 2026 With 26% Profit Surge on CWB Acquisition
Positive
Feb 25, 2026

National Bank of Canada posted a strong start to fiscal 2026, with first-quarter net income rising 26% year over year to $1.254 billion, driven by solid performance across all segments and the consolidation of Canadian Western Bank. Diluted earnings per share increased 11% to $3.08, while adjusted net income climbed 26% to $1.32 billion and adjusted EPS reached $3.25, reflecting disciplined execution on growth and efficiency.

Return on common shareholders’ equity remained robust at 15.7% on a reported basis and 16.6% on an adjusted basis, with capital ratios staying strong as the CET1 ratio came in at 13.7% under Basel III. In the Personal and Commercial segment, net income jumped 47% to $427 million, supported by the inclusion of CWB, double-digit growth in personal lending and a 54% surge in commercial lending, even as net interest margins edged slightly lower and expenses rose with the expanded franchise.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:NA) stock is a Hold with a C$177.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on National Bank of Canada stock, see the TSE:NA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
National Bank of Canada Moves to Expand Share Buyback Program
Positive
Feb 25, 2026

National Bank of Canada plans to amend its existing normal course issuer bid to significantly increase the number of common shares it can buy back and cancel, subject to regulatory approvals. The proposed change would raise the maximum repurchase limit from 8,000,000 to 14,500,000 shares, or 3.70% of its outstanding common stock, with the program running through September 24, 2026 and executed on Canadian trading venues at prevailing market prices, enhancing the Bank’s capital management flexibility.

The move underscores the Bank’s intent to use share buybacks as a tool to optimize its capital structure, which may support earnings per share and signal confidence in its financial position to investors. All repurchased shares will be cancelled, and while the timing and actual volume of purchases will be determined by the Bank, no other terms of the current buyback program are being altered, maintaining continuity for shareholders and market participants.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:NA) stock is a Hold with a C$177.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on National Bank of Canada stock, see the TSE:NA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
National Bank of Canada Moves to Boost Share Buyback Capacity
Positive
Feb 25, 2026

National Bank of Canada plans to significantly expand its ongoing share repurchase program by seeking approval to increase the maximum number of common shares it can buy back for cancellation to 14,500,000, or 3.70% of its outstanding float. The current program, launched in September 2025, authorizes repurchases of up to 8,000,000 shares, and the amended limit, expected to take effect around March 12, 2026, will run unchanged in all other respects until its scheduled expiry on September 24, 2026.

The buyback will be conducted through the Toronto Stock Exchange and Canadian alternative trading systems at prevailing market prices, with all repurchased shares to be cancelled. By enlarging the scope of its normal course issuer bid, the bank is bolstering its flexibility in capital management, a move that could support capital ratios, signal confidence in its valuation and potentially enhance returns for shareholders through reduced share count.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:NA) stock is a Hold with a C$177.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on National Bank of Canada stock, see the TSE:NA Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 03, 2026