Aug 20, 2007 -- The enterance for National Bank Financial on the corner of King St. West and York St. in Toronto's Financial district. Story in ROB how the National Bank of Canada is buying back shares. Photo by Charla JonesCharla Jones/The Globe and Mail
National Bank of Canada has reported a first-quarter profit of $332-million, up from $322-million a year ago, helped by growth in personal and commercial banking as well as performance in its financial markets business.
"In addition, the credit quality is excellent and the bank continues to prudently manage its expenses and maintain a sound capital position," National Bank president and chief executive Louis Vachon said in a statement accompanying the results, which were issued after markets closed on Thursday.
The bank said the profit amounted to $1.99 per diluted share for the quarter ended Jan. 31, up from $1.86 a year ago. Revenue totalled $1.24-billion, up from $1.16-billion.
Excluding one-time items, the bank said it earned $334-million, or $2 per diluted share, up from $322-million, or $1.86 per share a year ago.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of $1.82 per share on $1.15-billion in revenue, according to those polled by Thomson Reuters.
National Bank's personal and commercial banking business saw its earnings increase 9 per cent in the quarter to $170-million for the quarter, while it also saw an increase in home mortgages.
The financial markets division earned $129-million for the quarter, up from $114-million in the same quarter of 2011, helped by higher revenue from fixed-income securities trading, offset by lower revenues from the trading of equities, commodity securities and foreign exchange transactions.
Wealth management saw its earnings slip to $33-million for the quarter, down from $48-million.
Last week, National Bank signed a deal to sell its asset management business to Fiera Sceptre Inc. in a $309.5-million agreement that will see it take a large stake in the business.
National Bank will swap Natcan Investment Management Inc. for a 35 per cent stake in Fiera, a Montreal-based independent investment firm.
Natcan will be incorporated into Fiera's existing business, a move the company said will position it as one of Canada's top five independent asset managers.
Fiera also plans to change its name to Fiera Capital when the deal closes.
Banks see wealth management, which provides advice on investments like retirement savings, as a growing business as the population ages.
Canada's sixth-largest bank is also part of the consortium that formed Maple Group to bid for TMX Group Inc. , owner of the Toronto Stock Exchange.
National Bank's vice-chairman, Luc Bertrand, is spokesman for the group.