Bank of Nova Scotia vs iShares Gold Trust — how do they compare? Bank of Nova Scotia trades at $89.03 (market cap $108.32B), while iShares Gold Trust trades at $82.88. The key difference: Bank of Nova Scotia pays a 3.64% dividend while iShares Gold Trust pays none, and Bank of Nova Scotia is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares Gold Trust nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BNS | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $108.32B | — |
Sector | Financials | Commodities - Metals/Agriculture |
52-Week High | $90.29 | $101.57 |
52-Week Low | $56.41 | $62.49 |
Dividend Yield | 3.64% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) trades at $90.34, up 2.01% with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The bank has delivered three consecutive earnings beats, with Q2 2026 EPS expected at $1.53. Recent acquisition of MapleMark Bank and dividend increase to $1.14 demonstrate strategic growth initiatives. Valuation metrics show P/E of 17.1 and P/B of 1.96, while maintaining strong profitability with 24.86% net income margin.
BNS presents a compelling investment case with strong fundamentals and analyst support (52.63% buy ratings), though revenue growth has been modest and interest expenses remain elevated. The stock faces risks from economic uncertainty and credit quality concerns, but dividend stability and improving ROE to 11.87% provide downside protection. Upside potential exists if the bank maintains earnings momentum.
IAU, the iShares Gold Trust ETF, trades at $82.98 with a 0.57% daily gain amid bullish technical signals from moving averages. The ETF benefits from gold's recent momentum as spot gold reached two-month highs above $4,430/oz following cooling CPI data. While oscillators show bearish signals with RSI at overbought levels, institutional interest remains strong with Deane Retirement Strategies increasing its stake by 36.5% in the latest quarter.
Outlook remains positive as gold gains support from inflation dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and central bank buying. Key risks include potential Fed policy shifts and dollar strength. The 0.25% expense ratio makes IAU attractive for conservative investors seeking gold exposure with lower volatility compared to mining stocks.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Bank of Nova Scotia is a global financial services provider. The bank has five business segments: Canadian banking, international banking, global wealth management, global banking and markets, and other. It offers a range of advice, products, and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. The bank's international operations span numerous countries and are more concentrated in Central and South America.
Read more on BNS →IAU is a physically backed ETF that seeks to reflect the performance of the price of gold. It provides a convenient and liquid way for investors to include gold in their portfolios as a potential hedge.
Read more on IAU →