
TSE:RY
He just picked this up for one of his funds. When banks sell off more than 10%, as the Candian ones have over the past year, he pays attention. There's been talk of a housing slowdown, which of course effects banks, since credit could slow down. He likes RY among the Canadian banks, because RY has U.S. exposure, and is doing a lot in technology. Safe to hold.
He generally favors US banks over Canadian. As a long-term investments, well-run Canadian banks are attractive. There is concern about competition from companies like Amazon. The American banks are benefitting from raises in interest rates that he expects to be more rapid than Canada, and the housing recovery is stronger there because housing prices are already high here. So he prefers a Citigroup or a JP Morgan to Royal. However, he doesn’t think an investor would go too far wrong with Royal because it is fairly safe and it has a high dividend.
(A Past Top Pick on May 16, 2017, Up 6.5%) Still likes it. Valuations for Canadian banks have all come bank after some richness, based on 10-year historical averages. See high earnings growth around 9% for RY. She considers Canadian banks as income stocks. With the current pullback, she sees double-digit total returns for this sector.
He thinks it is the most expensive bank in North America, although it is the most profitable too. A good long term hold, but looking pricey compared to other banks. As mortgage rates go higher, it could be a signal for consumers to buy real estate, which would be a good bump to their earnings. He went into US banks instead.
RY has been moving up in a stair step formation. This correction is just part of the normal process for that type of long-term increase. After the TSX settles out from this correction, the TSX might rally well in the spring and a rally in the TSX will include the bank stocks. Their best season is into December, but they can continue to do well into the spring.
Long-term investors who have just held Canadian banks have made out like bandits. They’ve compounded rates of double digits and dividend growth, and he doesn't see that ending. Canadian banks should trade at more than 13X earnings. The overall market is trading at 19X earnings. He likes Canadian banks and feels you should overweight them in your portfolio.
It has the lowest yield of the bank stocks. They are not all that differentiable for the long term. He is just not that enthralled at these levels of yield. He is not going to chase it at these prices.