Go Pro

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) Stock Forecast & Price Target

Bank of Nova Scotia logo
C$131.57 -0.77 (-0.58%)
As of 04:00 PM Eastern

Bank of Nova Scotia - Analysts' Recommendations and Stock Price Forecast (2026)

Consensus Rating

Sell
0
Hold
7
Buy
5

Based on 12 Wall Street analysts who have issued ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia in the last 12 months, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy." Out of the 12 analysts, 7 have given a hold rating, 4 have given a buy rating, and 1 has given a strong buy rating for BNS.

Consensus Price Target

C$129.50
-1.57% Downside
According to the 12 analysts' twelve-month price targets for Bank of Nova Scotia, the average price target is C$129.50. The highest price target for BNS is C$152.00, while the lowest price target for BNS is C$101.00. The average price target represents a forecasted downside of -1.57% from the current price of C$131.57.
MarketBeat calculates consensus analyst ratings for stocks using the most recent rating from each Wall Street analyst that has rated a stock within the last twelve months. Each analyst's rating is normalized to a standardized rating score of 1 (sell), 2 (hold), 3 (buy) or 4 (strong buy). Analyst consensus ratings scores are calculated using the mean average of the number of normalized sell, hold, buy and strong buy ratings from Wall Street analysts. Each stock's consensus analyst rating is derived from its calculated consensus ratings score (0 to .5 = Strong Sell, .5 to 1 = Sell, 1 to 1.5 = Reduce, 1.5 to 2.5 = Hold, 2.5 to 3.0 = Moderate Buy, 3.0 to 3.5 = Buy, >3.5 = Strong Buy). MarketBeat's consensus price targets are a mean average of the most recent available price targets set by each analyst that has set a price target for the stock in the last twelve months. MarketBeat's consensus ratings and consensus price targets may differ from those calculated by other firms due to differences in methodology and available data.
Get the Latest News and Ratings for BNS and Related Stocks

Enter your email address to receive the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia and its competitors.

Sign Up
SMS is currently available in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. By entering your phone number and clicking the sign-up button, you agree to receive periodic text messages from MarketBeat at the phone number you submitted, including texts that may be sent using an automatic telephone dialing system. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency will vary. Messages will consist of stock alerts, news stories, and partner advertisements/offers. Consent is not a condition of the purchase of any goods or services. Text HELP for help/customer support. Unsubscribe at any time by replying "STOP" to any text message that you receive from MarketBeat or by visiting our mailing preferences page. Read our full terms of service and privacy policy.

BNS Analyst Ratings Over Time

TypeCurrent Forecast
9/28/25 to 9/28/26
1 Month Ago
8/29/25 to 8/29/26
3 Months Ago
6/30/25 to 6/30/26
1 Year Ago
9/28/24 to 9/28/25
Strong Buy
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
Buy
4 Buy rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
Hold
7 Hold rating(s)
7 Hold rating(s)
9 Hold rating(s)
7 Hold rating(s)
Sell
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Sell rating(s)
Consensus Price TargetC$129.50C$128.86C$110.77C$86.00
Forecasted Upside-1.57% Downside0.39% Upside-10.14% Downside-4.18% Downside
Consensus RatingModerate BuyModerate BuyHoldHold

BNS Analyst Recommendations By Month

The chart below shows how a company's ratings by analysts have changed over time. Each bar represents the previous year of ratings for that month. Within each bar, the sell ratings are shown in red, the hold ratings are shown in yellow, the buy ratings are shown in green, and the strong buy ratings are shown in dark green.
Skip Chart & View Analyst Rating History

BNS Price Targets by Month

The chart below shows how a company's share price and consensus price target have changed over time. The dark blue line represents the company's actual price. The lighter blue line represents the stock's consensus price target. The even lighter blue range in the background of the two lines represents the low price target and the high price target for each stock.
Skip Chart and View Analyst Price Target HistorySkip Chart & View Price History Table

Bank of Nova Scotia Stock vs. The Competition

TypeBank of Nova ScotiaFinance Companies
Consensus Rating Score
2.50
2.27
Consensus RatingModerate BuyHold
News Sentiment Rating
Neutral News

See Recent BNS News
Positive News
DateBrokerageAnalystActionRatingPrice TargetReport Date
Upside/Downside
Details
9/3/2026 Boost TargetC$119.00 ➝ C$120.00-8.28%
9/3/2026 Boost TargetNeutralC$136.00 ➝ C$137.00+4.71%
9/2/2026
Desjardins logo
Desjardins
4 of 5 stars
 Set TargetHoldC$130.00+1.18%
8/26/2026 Boost TargetC$131.00 ➝ C$134.00+2.83%
8/26/2026 Boost TargetOutperformC$148.00 ➝ C$152.00+16.64%
8/26/2026 UpgradeHold ➝ OutperformC$128.00 ➝ C$142.00+8.97%
8/26/2026 UpgradeHold ➝ BuyC$124.00 ➝ C$141.00+8.20%
8/26/2026 Boost TargetSector PerformC$117.00 ➝ C$129.00-1.01%
8/26/2026 Boost TargetOutperformC$137.00 ➝ C$139.00+6.67%
8/26/2026 Boost TargetHoldC$121.00 ➝ C$127.00-2.54%
8/25/2026 UpgradeHold ➝ Strong-Buy
8/21/2026 Boost TargetC$110.00 ➝ C$130.00+7.62%
2/25/2026 Boost TargetC$118.00 ➝ C$120.00+16.20%
2/25/2026 Boost TargetMarket PerformC$98.00 ➝ C$101.00-2.20%
1/9/2025 Set TargetBuyC$82.00+10.11%

Analyst ratings data on MarketBeat is provided by Benzinga and other data providers. This page was last refreshed on Tuesday at 12:39 AM ET.


Should I Buy Bank of Nova Scotia Stock? BNS Pros and Cons Explained

These pros and cons were generated based on recent news and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate insights. They were last updated on Friday, September 25, 2026. Please send any questions or comments about these Bank of Nova Scotia pros and cons to contact@marketbeat.com.

Bank of Nova Scotia
Bull Case

green Wall Street bull icon

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in The Bank of Nova Scotia:

  • The Bank of Nova Scotia recently reported record third-quarter results, with earnings per share of C$2.28 and revenue of C$10.54 billion, demonstrating strong fundamental performance that has led some analysts to suggest the stock may be undervalued relative to its growth trajectory.
  • With the current stock price at $132.34, the bank offers a dividend yield of 3.45%, supported by a recent increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.14 per share, which provides a reliable income stream for investors seeking consistent cash flow from a stable financial institution.
  • The company has launched the Scotia Growth Institute and committed over $100 billion in financing to support Canada's growth agenda, signaling a strategic push into new market opportunities that could drive future revenue expansion and solidify its position as a trusted financial partner.
  • Analyst sentiment has shifted positively, with the consensus rating upgrading to Moderate Buy and price targets being raised by major firms like TD Securities and Bank of America, reflecting increased confidence in the bank's ability to deliver sustainable and profitable growth in the current economic environment.
  • The Bank of Nova Scotia has successfully issued various debt instruments, including a first defence bond in the Canadian market and a GBP 2 billion covered bond issuance, showcasing its robust capital management and ability to access diverse funding sources to support its operations and strategic initiatives.

Bank of Nova Scotia
Bear Case

red Wall Street bear icon

Investors should be bearish about investing in The Bank of Nova Scotia for these reasons:

  • The stock's beta of 1.27 indicates higher volatility than the broader market, meaning investors may experience more significant price swings, which could be concerning for those seeking stability, especially as the stock approaches its 52-week high of $134.50.
  • Despite recent upgrades, the consensus price target of C$128.857 is slightly below the current stock price of $132.34, suggesting that some analysts believe the stock may be overvalued in the short term, limiting the potential for immediate upside gains.
  • The bank's dividend payout ratio stands at 58.04%, which, while sustainable, leaves less room for aggressive capital reinvestment or share buybacks compared to peers with lower payout ratios, potentially limiting long-term capital appreciation strategies.
  • Recent insider activity, including sales by Julie Walsh in December 2025, may signal caution among company insiders, although this is a single data point and should be weighed against the broader positive analyst sentiment and recent earnings growth.
  • The Bank of Nova Scotia faces potential regulatory and market risks, as evidenced by analyst wariness over proposed regulatory changes in Nova Scotia, which could impact operational costs or strategic flexibility, adding a layer of uncertainty to its otherwise strong performance.

BNS Forecast - Frequently Asked Questions

According to the research reports of 12 Wall Street equities research analysts, the average twelve-month stock price forecast for Bank of Nova Scotia is C$129.50, with a high forecast of C$152.00 and a low forecast of C$101.00.

12 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia in the last year. There are currently 7 hold ratings, 4 buy ratings and 1 strong buy rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "moderate buy" BNS shares.

According to analysts, Bank of Nova Scotia's stock has a predicted downside of -1.57% based on their 12-month stock forecasts.

Over the previous 90 days, Bank of Nova Scotia's stock had 3 upgrades by analysts.

Analysts like Bank of Nova Scotia more than other "finance" companies. The consensus rating for Bank of Nova Scotia is Moderate Buy while the average consensus rating for "finance" companies is Hold. Learn more on how BNS compares to other companies.


MarketBeat monitors more than a dozen sources for Bank of Nova Scotia analyst ratings, with the most recent rating issued on 9/3/2026.
From Our Partners