Stock fact sheet · data as of
The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Financial Services · Banks - Diversified · Canada · Value
Is BNS undervalued?
BNS has a margin of safety of 46%: the stock closed at 91.12 on 16 Oct 2026 against a GLS average fair value of 169.08. 5 of the 9 valuation models that produced a number sit above the price. Our screens treat a discount this large as a strong starting point for a cash-secured put, not as a verdict - the fair value is a model output, and a wide gap can mean the models are missing something the market knows.
There is a wide gap between GLS Growth (6.00) and 10 Cap (411.12). When the models are this far apart the "fair value" is really a range, and the margin of safety above should be read with that range in mind.
The nightly engine files BNS under Value: positive earnings at a P/E of 18 or less.
Nine valuation models for BNS
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 375.86 | +312% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | 115.86 | +27% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 170.29 | +87% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 62.55 | -31% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 6.00 | -93% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | 411.12 | +351% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | 249.97 | +174% | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself |
| DDM | 65.92 | -28% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | 64.12 | -30% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -1,024.25 | -1224% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 72.15 | -21% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
The Bank of Nova Scotia scores 7 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score, the nine yes/no tests of profitability, leverage and efficiency on the latest annual accounts - a strong reading that passes the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule with room to spare. A GLS Moat score of 4.4/10 is a weak reading: the ten-year history the score grades (revenue, EPS, book value, margins, cash flow, share count, ROIC) has not been steady, so the Moat part of the Wheel Score contributes little.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC 1.3%, ROE 9.0%, ROA 0.5% - with debt at 5.80 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 14.3%. Debt of 5.80 times equity is on the high side for the sector and is worth checking against the cash flow before treating the stock as a long-term hold.
The dividend yield is 3.47% at a payout ratio of 60%; for a wheel trader holding assigned shares the dividend adds to the covered-call premium, and the ex-dividend date is worth knowing before a call is sold. Revenue comes mainly from Trading Related Revenue NonTEB 100% (fiscal year FY2021).
Institutional ownership scores 8/10, insider activity 5/10 and Congressional trading 6/10 on the GLS smart-money scales; the last recorded Congressional buy was on 1 Sep 2026.
| Piotroski F-score | 7 / 9 | ROIC | 1.3% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 4.4 / 10 | ROE | 9.0% |
| Debt / equity | 5.80 | ROA | 0.5% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 14.3% | Payout ratio | 60% |
| Institutions | 8 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 5 · 6 / 10 |
Wheel Score 74: Good
With a Wheel Score of 74 - the Good band - The Bank of Nova Scotia clears the Sunday Scan's "70 or higher" rule. The parts: Value 25/25, Health 16/20, Moat 7/15, Premium 9/20, Stability 18/20; Premium (9/20) scores lowest.
Implied volatility is 24% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out: some premium, but under the 35-60% range the Wheel Score pays full marks for (9 of 20 points). Chain open interest is 17,465 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 957k shares a day on a market cap of $111.1B, with a beta of 1.19; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 18 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 25 / 25 | 46% margin of safety | |
| Health | 16 / 20 | Piotroski 7/9 | |
| Moat | 7 / 15 | moat 4.4/10 | |
| Premium | 9 / 20 | implied volatility 24% | |
| Stability | 18 / 20 | 957k shares/day, $111.1B cap, beta 1.19 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 2 Dec 2026, 47 days away - outside the window of a 30-45-day put sold today.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Banks - Diversified
The 12 companies below are the closest to The Bank of Nova Scotia by market cap within the Banks - Diversified industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMO Bank of Montreal | 166.05 | 311.77 | +47% | 74Good | $115.4B |
| CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | 112.26 | 148.21 | +24% | 70Good | $101.9B |
| SMFG Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | 24.75 | 4,921.66 | +99% | 86Prime | $95.9B |
| ING ING Groep N.V. | 33.27 | 46.09 | +28% | 82Prime | $94.0B |
| BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. | 25.95 | 91.89 | +72% | 82Prime | $144.3B |
| UBS UBS Group AG | 47.15 | 75.19 | +37% | 85Prime | $144.4B |
| BCS Barclays PLC | 22.81 | 78.16 | +71% | 84Prime | $77.3B |
| SAN Banco Santander, S.A. | 13.41 | 37.09 | +64% | 80Prime | $196.9B |
| TD The Toronto-Dominion Bank | 117.63 | 158.47 | +26% | 75Good | $198.7B |
| C Citigroup Inc. | 123.19 | 162.45 | +24% | 71Good | $206.6B |
| WFC Wells Fargo & Company | 80.91 | 139.23 | +42% | 77Good | $244.7B |
| MUFG Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | 21.86 | 703.78 | +97% | 94Prime | $250.5B |
⚖ Compare BNS with 7 of them All Financial Services stocks →
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about BNS
Is BNS undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, yes: at 91.12 the stock is 46% below the average fair value of 169.08 (data as of 16 Oct 2026). Whether the discount is deserved is the question to research next.
What is the Wheel Score of BNS and what does it mean?
BNS scores 74 out of 100 (Good). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for BNS?
169.08 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 9 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does The Bank of Nova Scotia report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 2 Dec 2026 (before the open), 47 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does BNS have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 234 listed contracts with 17,465 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 24% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.