Toronto, May 25, 2026, 13:13 (EDT)
- BMO was trading close to a new 52-week high on the TSX with Canada’s main index reaching a record.
- The bank is set to announce fiscal second-quarter results on May 27. Its common dividend is due for payment on May 26.
- U.S.-listed BMO didn’t trade as the NYSE remained closed for Memorial Day.
Shares of Bank of Montreal climbed in Toronto on Monday, hovering close to a new 52-week high. Investors were setting up for Canadian bank earnings later this week while a wider rally lifted the S&P/TSX Composite to a record.
BMO traded at C$224.37, up 0.86%, at 12:57 p.m. EDT. The shares touched a session and 52-week high of C$225.69 earlier. The stock opened at C$223.67. Volume was around 460,000 shares so far.
BMO’s decision lands just two days ahead of its fiscal Q2 results. The bank plans to put out numbers at around 6:00 a.m. ET on May 27, then hold an investor call at 8:15 a.m. ET.
Canadian stocks traded higher, with the S&P/TSX Composite up 0.7% at 34,778.98 as of 10:21 a.m. ET, according to Reuters. Materials saw buyers after signs of U.S.-Iran talks offered some relief to investors. Financials remain the best-performing TSX sector in May, gaining 5.5%. BMO, Royal Bank of Canada and Toronto-Dominion Bank all report quarterly results later this week.
BMO moved higher with other Canadian banks this session. Google Finance had Toronto-Dominion up 1.04%, Bank of Nova Scotia up 0.59% and Royal Bank of Canada adding 0.28%. The moves point to a broader bid for Canadian banks, not just BMO.
BMO’s New York shares were inactive Monday, with the NYSE and Nasdaq closed for Memorial Day. The stock last changed hands at $160.93 on Friday, up 0.75%, according to market data.
BMO’s board set a quarterly common-share dividend of C$1.67, with payment due May 26 to shareholders on record April 29, the company said.
BMO’s bigger U.S. operation is in focus as analysts look for signs of steadier earnings growth. S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Visible Alpha data show consensus calls for about 25% net income growth year-over-year in BMO’s fiscal Q2. That’s seen coming from cost synergies and scale efficiencies after the Bank of the West deal in 2023.
The note also pointed to pressure on return on equity and net interest margin. Return on equity tracks how much profit banks make for shareholders. Net interest margin is the difference between what banks earn from loans and securities and what they pay out for deposits and other funding.
BMO wants to hit bigger targets. At a March investor day, CEO Darryl White told investors the bank sees “a clear line of sight to 15% ROE” by 2028. White called North American capital markets a “growth engine.” Capital markets include BMO’s trading, underwriting, and deal-advisory. Reuters
The setup carries risk. Back in February, RBC Capital Markets analyst Darko Mihelic told investors to be “cautious ahead of results” for Canadian banks, mentioning high valuations and soft Canadian data. Canaccord Genuity’s Matthew Lee also flagged weak consumers and a slower housing market that could hit credit quality, so provisions for credit losses may still come in higher than expected. Reuters
Market sentiment could shift if optimism over geopolitics unwinds. “There have been repeated false hopes of a resolution,” Brian Madden, chief investment officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel, told Reuters on Monday. He said he was “not 100% convinced this is the real deal.” Reuters
BMO is trading like investors are buying Canadian banks ahead of earnings. Results due Wednesday will tell if the stock’s fresh high has support from margins, credit, and U.S. efficiency, or if it’s just riding momentum.
