Canadian Banks: Brace Yourself for Another Headwind

Issues in the Caribbean can impact the two worst-performing banks: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSX:CM)(NYSE:CM) and Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX:BNS)(NYSE:BNS).

| More on:

Canada’s Big Five banks haven’t exactly been lighting the market on fire. Despite rising interest rates, only two of the top five have posted positive returns in 2018. The others have all posted negative returns and have trailed the broader market.

Which are the worst performing of the group? That would be Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX:BNS)(NYSE:BNS) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSX:CM)(NYSE:CM).

Year to date (YTD), Bank of Nova Scotia has lost almost 7% of its value. CIBC is not far behind, with its share price dropping approximately 6% YTD. Both are almost a full 10 points behind the performance of leader Toronto Dominion Bank.

Downgrades rule the day

This past week, Bank of Nova Scotia was downgraded by three separate analysts. All three downgraded the company from a buy to a hold rating. The company now has nine buys and four holds.

CIBC has recently received both an upgrade and a downgrade. The company now has seven buys and five holds.

Can investors expect more downgrades? It’s possible, as they are facing another headwind.

Issues in the Caribbean

There is trouble brewing in Barbados. This past week, a pretty significant event flew under the radar. The Caribbean country is at risk of defaulting on its debt obligations.

What does this have to do with Canadian banks? Three of the Big Five banks have operations in the country; CIBC, Bank of Nova Scotia, and Royal Bank of Canada. They are the largest lenders in the Caribbean and are exposed to the region’s weak economy.

If the Caribbean countries start to default on loans, the banks could be subject to significant impairment charges.

Missed payment

This past week, Barbados missed its interest payment on external debt. Furthermore, the country has reached out to the International Monetary Fund for assistance. This is not a good sign.

Although the Barbados government has only suspended payments, a default on current debt obligations may not be far behind. Rating agency Standard & Poor’s is quoted as saying that “a default on its local currency debt obligations is a virtual certainty.”

Most exposed

At the moment, CIBC is the most vulnerable to a Barbados default. The company’s FirstCaribbean arm is headquartered in the country, whereas Royal Bank and Bank of Nova Scotia’s regional operations are based in other Caribbean countries.

Likewise, Royal Bank and Bank of Nova Scotia have not disclosed their exposure to government debt. CIBC has stated that it has US$506 million worth of exposure to the government of Barbados. This is no small number.

CIBC wrote down $420 million of impaired losses on its Caribbean operations back in 2014. It even tried selling its unit without any success.

Downward pressure

Investors are encouraged to monitor the situation in the Caribbean. Although there have been no official defaults, it is certainly a headwind worth watching.

In the meantime, I expect those with significant exposure to the region to experience further downward pressure — CIBC in particular.

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.

Fool Contributor Mat Litalien is long Toronto Dominion. 

More on Bank Stocks

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 »

analyze data
Bank Stocks

The Average Canadian Stock Investor Owns This 1 Stock: Do You?

This Canadian stock has about 49% ownership by the public, and with growth and dividends to consider, it's a top…

Read more »

falling red arrow and lifting
Stocks for Beginners

1 Dividend Stock Down 18% to Buy Right Now

CIBC (TSX:CM) is a strong dividend stock investors should certainly consider not just for passive income, but future growth as…

Read more »

edit Business accounting concept, Business man using calculator with computer laptop, budget and loan paper in office.
Tech Stocks

Forget TD Stock: 2 Tech Stocks to Buy Instead

TD remains a solid income stock but two outperforming tech stocks are better buys for their strong growth and upside…

Read more »

Question marks in a pile
Bank Stocks

Where Will Royal Bank of Canada Stock Be in 5 Years?

Royal Bank's continued focus on a strong capital position plus its acquisition of HSBC will likely ensure prosperous times ahead.

Read more »

Payday ringed on a calendar
Bank Stocks

How to Build a Bulletproof Monthly Passive-Income Portfolio With Just $10,000 and TD Stock

TD (TSX:TD) stock has been a poor performer over the last few years, but could be a big passive-income winner…

Read more »

Man considering whether to sell or buy
Bank Stocks

Is RBC Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold?

Shares of Royal Bank of Canada have delivered game-changing returns to shareholders in the last two decades. Is RBC stock…

Read more »

Dice engraved with the words buy and sell
Bank Stocks

Is Scotiabank (BNS) Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold?

Let's dive into whether the Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX:BNS) remains a solid buy or if it's more of a…

Read more »