Are the Banks Really as Safe as We Think?

How can bank stocks be considered so reliable?

| More on:
The Motley Fool

It’s quite remarkable when you think about it: When Canadians are looking for safe, reliable, dividend payers, they often turn to the banks. How would that sound to Americans, or Europeans for that matter, who watched many of their banks collapse less than 10 years ago? Are we crazy for believing that banking is one of the safest sectors for parking our money, especially given the frothy state of the Canadian housing market, or the high consumer debt levels?

Not necessarily. After all, there are numerous differences between Canadian banks and those of the rest of the world. Below we look at some of them.

1. High capital ratios

Any bank can make plenty of money during the good times by taking on too much risk. The sign of a truly strong financial institution, however, one that can stand the test of time, is the ability to earn high returns without levering up too much.

That is exactly what our banks are able to do. Take Royal Bank of Canada (TSX: RY)(NYSE: RY). The bank may be regarded as one of Canada’s most aggressive — after all, it has massive capital markets and wealth management operations, and is always pursuing additional market share in these lines of business. But it still has a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 9.7%, a very strong number by international standards.

2. The right kind of diversification

You’ll often hear executives talk about how their company is “diversified”, simply because they do many different things. But there are two issues with this. First of all, the business can lack focus. Secondly, these different activities may be interrelated — so this diversification doesn’t really reduce risk at all.

The Canadian banks are different, and the best example is Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX: BNS)(NYSE: BNS). This bank has operations in many countries, especially in Latin America. Meanwhile, only about half of net income comes from Canada, so it’s not overly reliant on any one country, while at the same time continuing to do what it does best.

3. Less risk-taking

Perhaps most importantly, Canadian banks simply don’t feel the need to take risks like their American counterparts did. Maybe this is a by-product of Canadian culture; we simply don’t expect our banks to take over the world.

The best example of this is Toronto Dominion Bank (TSX: TD)(NYSE: TD), which in 2005 exited the subprime mortgage market. This was despite the fact that the bank had just entered the United States and was looking to gain market share. This move saved the bank billions of dollars, and helped show the world just how safe Canada’s banks are.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

More on Investing

Plane on runway, aircraft
Stocks for Beginners

Up 53% From its 52-Week Low, Is Cargojet Stock Still a Buy?

Cargojet (TSX:CJT) stock is up a whopping 53%, nearing closer to 52-week highs from 52-week lows, so what's next for…

Read more »

Question marks in a pile
Bank Stocks

Should You Buy Canadian Western Bank for its 4.8% Dividend Yield?

Down 35% from all-time highs, Canadian Western Bank offers a tasty dividend yield of 4.8%. Is the TSX bank stock…

Read more »

Gold bars
Metals and Mining Stocks

Why Alamos Gold Jumped 7% on Wednesday

Alamos (TSX:AGI) stock and Argonaut Gold (TSX:AR) surged after the companies announced a friendly acquisition for $325 million.

Read more »

tsx today
Stock Market

TSX Today: Why Record-Breaking Rally Could Extend on Thursday, March 28

The main TSX index closed above the 22,000 level for the first time yesterday and remains on track to post…

Read more »

Nuclear power station cooling tower
Metals and Mining Stocks

If You’d Invested $1,000 in Cameco Stock 5 Years Ago, This Is How Much You’d Have Now

Cameco (TSX:CCO) stock still looks undervalued, despite a 258% rally. Can the uranium miner deliver more capital gains to shareholders?

Read more »

Businessman holding tablet and showing a growing virtual hologram of statistics, graph and chart with arrow up on dark background. Stock market. Business growth, planning and strategy concept
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Magic: Earn Enormous Passive Income That the CRA Can’t Touch

If you're seeking out passive income, with zero taxes involved, then get on board with a TFSA and this portfolio…

Read more »

Man with no money. Businessman holding empty wallet
Dividend Stocks

2 Stocks Under $50 New Investors Can Confidently Buy

There are some great stocks under $50 that every investor needs to know about. Here’s a look at two great…

Read more »

potted green plant grows up in arrow shape
Stocks for Beginners

3 Growth Stocks I’m Buying in April

These three growth stocks are up in the last year, and that is likely to continue on as we keep…

Read more »