The Super Traders of Toronto-Dominion Bank and Royal Bank of Canada

How important are considerable trading profits and few loss-making trading days for Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) and Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY)(NYSE:RY)?

| More on:
The Motley Fool

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX: TD) (NYSE: TD) and Royal Bank of Canada (TSX: RY)(NYSE: RY) both have considerable trading operations that contribute meaningfully to the revenues of their overall banking operations. These trading activities seem to be very profitable and rarely to lose money. Thus the importance of these operations to the banks.

So far in the 2014 financial year, the trading activities in TD Bank generated revenue of $1,098 million, or 5% of total bank revenue. Since 2011, this amounted to $3.7 billion, or about 5% of total banking revenue. In the case of Royal Bank, the contribution is more substantive, with trading revenue of $2.8 billion, or 11% of total revenue so far this year. Since 2012, trading revenue amounted to $9.0 billion, or around 11% of total banking revenue.

Even more impressive is the fact that these trading activities do not often lose money. So far this financial year (nine months), the trading activities at TD Bank made losses on only 10 trading days while those at Royal Bank fared even better with only one day of trading losses — truly formidable performances.

How do they do it?

The question obviously arises whether the traders at these banks discovered the ultimate trading strategies or is there something else to the excellent outcomes?

The publicly available information on the trading activities of the banks is limited but the financial statements and supplementary information provide some information.

In the case of TD Bank, the trading related income includes net interest income on trading positions and normal trading income. Interest rate and credit trading (which includes interest income) makes up the bulk of trading income, averaging about 43% over the past three years with further equal contributions from foreign exchange and equity and commodity trading. Interestingly, the actual “normal” trading activities (excluding interest income) seem to be rather unprofitable, with a loss of $148 million so far this year on top of losses in every year since 2011. However, the considerable interest income earned on the instruments held in the trading portfolios is more than adequate to cover the trading losses.

TD manages the trading risk exposures fairly tightly with an average daily “value at risk” over the past quarter indicated at $17.7 million, which implies that the bank estimates that it could lose this amount of money daily on the current trading positions under negative market conditions.

The balance sheet also provides clues as to the trading positions held by the traders at the end of the previous quarter. As expected, the bulk of the trading exposure is to interest rate and credit instruments, with a smaller exposure to equities, foreign exchange and commodities.

Royal Bank breaks its revenues from trading up as around 50% from interest rate and credit trading, 40% from equities, and 10% from foreign exchange and commodities. As indicated above, the total trading revenue for the first nine months of the current financial year amounted to $2.8 billion, of which $895 million was “normal” trading revenue rather than interest earned on the trading portfolio. In contrast to the loss-making trading operations at TD Bank (excluding interest), the Royal Bank operations seem to be very profitable having booked trading profits (excluding interest) every year since 2008, when a small loss was recorded. Nevertheless, considerable swings in the quarter on quarter profits of the trading operations are evident, making the outcomes unpredictable.

Royal Bank indicates an average value at risk for the past quarter at $26 million, which implies that the bank estimates that it could lose this amount of money daily on the current trading positions under negative market conditions.

Given the importance of the trading operations for Royal Bank, it is not surprising that the bank is in the process of reorganising certain U.S. trading activities to ensure compliance by the July 2015 deadline with U.S. prohibitions on banking entities engaging in proprietary trading (the so-called “Volcker Rule”). The bank does not expect the impact of these changes to materially affect the overall results.

Trading profits are unpredictable and is valued at a lower multiple than recurring income

Both these banks are high-quality operations with substantial capabilities to operate successful trading operations. However, given the unpredictable and volatile nature of trading profits, it will not be considered as valuable to shareholders as more sustainable income such as interest income or income from banking services.

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 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 »