Consumer Lending Stats Lining Up Against the Canadian Banks

Bank stocks and consumer lending stats are going in opposite directions. Something’s gotta give.

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The Motley Fool

A recently released Royal Bank of Canada report added fuel to the fire that is slowly but surely enveloping the consumer lending departments of the Canadian banks.

The study indicated that Canadian consumers continue to temper their desire to borrow at historically high levels.  Several relevant stats from the piece include:

  • Household debt in February stood 4.5% higher than it did last February.  This compares to the 4.7% year over year growth that was experienced in the previous month and is down from the 6% year over year increase last January.  Growth exists, but is clearly slowing.
  • Residential mortgage debt increased 5.4% in February from one year ago to $1.16 trillion.  This is down from the 7.3% growth experienced in the last February to February period and is the slowest growth in mortgage accumulation since November 2001.  Growth exists, but is clearly slowing.
  • Consumer credit increased by 2.5% on a year-over-year basis in February, the slowest growth rate since July 1993.  Growth exists, but is clearly slowing.

Consumer lending over the past decade or so has been a huge tailwind for the Canadian banks.  With shares trading near their 52-week highs, as the table below illustrates, investors appear willing to believe that either this tailwind will continue or at worst, a replacement is waiting in the wings.  Consumer lending stats are increasingly making it look like a replacement is going to be needed.

Company

Current Price

52-week high

Difference

Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO)

$64.30

$64.70

-1.0%

TD Bank (TSX:TD)

$84.18

$86.20

-2.3%

Royal Bank (TSX:RY)

$62.01

$64.92

-4.5%

Bank of Nova Scotia   (TSX:BNS)

$59.04

$61.84

-4.5%

CIBC (TSX:CM)

$80.51

$84.99

-5.3%

Source:  Capital IQ

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Fool contributor Iain Butler does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this report at this time.  The Motley Fool has no positions in the stocks mentioned above.

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.

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