Where can I buy Bank of Nova Scotia shares?

Through a CIRO-regulated broker offering access to the TSX, holding the share in Canadian dollars in a registered account such as a TFSA or RRSP, or in a non-registered account. Some international brokers also offer the share as a CFD, but they are not registered with CIRO and serve Canadian clients cross-border.

Is Bank of Nova Scotia listed on the TSX?

Yes. Bank of Nova Scotia trades under the symbol BNS on the Toronto Stock Exchange and is quoted in Canadian dollars (CAD).

How are gains on Canadian shares taxed?

In a non-registered account, capital gains are taxed in Canada under the standard 50% inclusion rate as per Canadian tax law (CRA): half of a realised gain is added to your taxable income. Gains inside a TFSA are generally tax-free and inside an RRSP are tax-deferred. This is not tax advice.

Does HelloBrokers publish a price target for Bank of Nova Scotia?

No. We do not publish price targets and we refuse to invent figures or a fake consensus. Where a credible, dated analyst view exists we cite the named source; otherwise we say there is none.

Share · TSX

Should you buy Bank of Nova Scotia shares?

One of Canada's Big Six banks, known as Scotiabank, with a distinctive international footprint in Latin America and a long-standing dividend. Here is our rating, the honest trade-offs, and how to buy the share from Canada.

Roch de Montesquieu Updated July 27, 2026

6.9/10 HelloBrokers rating

Key points

One of Canada's Big Six banks, widely known as Scotiabank.
A distinctive international footprint, with meaningful exposure to Latin America.
A long-standing dividend that anchors the income case.
Trade-offs: credit-cycle risk, exposure to emerging-market economies and currencies.

The Bank of Nova Scotia, widely known as Scotiabank, is one of Canada's Big Six banks, with domestic retail and commercial banking, wealth management and capital markets, plus a distinctive international arm concentrated in Latin America. It is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and quoted in Canadian dollars. Like its Big Six peers it has a long dividend history that anchors the income case, but its international exposure adds both diversification and additional credit and currency risk, and its earnings move with the credit cycle. Our rating follows the HelloBrokers methodology: we weigh the fundamentals, the competitive position and the risks, and we do not publish made-up price targets or a fabricated analyst consensus. Below we set out what we like, the risks to keep in mind, and the practical ways to buy the share from Canada through a CIRO-regulated broker.

Strengths

One of Canada's Big Six banks with a strong domestic franchise
A distinctive international footprint in Latin America
A long-standing dividend that anchors the income case
Diversified across retail, commercial, wealth and capital markets

Watch-outs

Earnings move with the credit cycle and loan-loss provisions
International exposure adds emerging-market credit and currency risk
Sensitive to interest rates and the health of the Canadian housing market
Competitive, mature domestic banking market

Country 🇨🇦 Canada Listed on the TSX, quoted in CAD.

Market / ticker TSX: BNS Standard TSX symbol; also listed in the US.

Brand Scotiabank Big Six bank with Latin American operations as publicly reported.

Sector Financials · Banking Business classification.

6.9/10

Big Six bank with international tilt

A Big Six Canadian bank with a solid domestic franchise, a distinctive Latin American footprint and a long-standing dividend, offset by credit-cycle and emerging-market risk. Our view weighs the income and diversification appeal against those risks, without hype and without invented targets.

Best for Income-oriented investors who want Big Six bank exposure with an international tilt, and accept credit-cycle risk. Not for Investors seeking high growth, or those who want to avoid emerging-market and credit-cycle exposure.

This is analysis, not investment advice. The bull case: one of Canada's Big Six banks with a strong domestic franchise and a distinctive international footprint in Latin America, plus a long-standing dividend that anchors the income case.

The bear case: earnings move with the credit cycle and loan-loss provisions, and the international arm adds emerging-market credit and currency risk on top of sensitivity to interest rates and the Canadian housing market. As with any single stock, returns are also affected by the broader economic cycle.

Overall we see Bank of Nova Scotia as a Big Six bank with an international tilt. It can suit an income-focused, long-term investor who understands the credit-cycle and emerging-market risks. As always, we do not publish made-up price targets.

There are two main routes. For most Canadian investors the cash share through a regulated broker is the more suitable one. A broker comparison is below.

Cash / spot

Buy the cash share through a broker

Open an account with a CIRO-regulated broker and hold the share directly in Canadian dollars, with full shareholder rights and any dividends. You can hold it in a registered account such as a TFSA or RRSP, or in a non-registered account. In a non-registered account, capital gains are taxed in Canada under the standard 50% inclusion rate as per Canadian tax law (CRA), meaning half of a realised gain is added to your taxable income. This is the most direct way to invest for the long term. This is not tax advice.

CFD (leveraged)

Trade it as a CFD (leverage)

Some international brokers offer share CFDs. Leverage amplifies both gains and losses, the cost is the spread plus overnight financing, and you do not own the share. These international brokers are not registered with CIRO and serve Canadian clients cross-border. CFDs suit short-term traders who understand the risk; most retail CFD accounts lose money.

For most investors, buying the cash share through a CIRO-regulated broker and holding for the long term is the most suitable approach. Compare brokers below.

To buy Bank of Nova Scotia, favour a CIRO-regulated broker with low fees and good coverage of Canadian shares. Compare them side by side below.

Compare brokers

: Through a CIRO-regulated broker offering access to the TSX, holding the share in Canadian dollars in a registered account such as a TFSA or RRSP, or in a non-registered account. Some international brokers also offer the share as a CFD, but they are not registered with CIRO and serve Canadian clients cross-border.
: Yes. Bank of Nova Scotia trades under the symbol BNS on the Toronto Stock Exchange and is quoted in Canadian dollars (CAD).
: In a non-registered account, capital gains are taxed in Canada under the standard 50% inclusion rate as per Canadian tax law (CRA): half of a realised gain is added to your taxable income. Gains inside a TFSA are generally tax-free and inside an RRSP are tax-deferred. This is not tax advice.
: No. We do not publish price targets and we refuse to invent figures or a fake consensus. Where a credible, dated analyst view exists we cite the named source; otherwise we say there is none.

Why trust the HelloBrokers view on this share

We are an independent editorial team. Bank of Nova Scotia does not pay us, and we do not publish invented price targets or a fake analyst consensus. The rating follows our methodology; affiliate links to brokers fund our work but never change the conclusion.

This content is for information only and is not investment advice, a recommendation or an offer. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing in shares carries a risk of capital loss; CFDs amplify that risk. Do your own research and consult a qualified professional where needed.

Should you buy Bank of Nova Scotia shares?

Bank of Nova Scotia overview

Bank of Nova Scotia at a glance