Trailing Dividend / Share
$4.31
The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) Dividend History
Income profile from 2002 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
4.2%
Payout Ratio
68.9%
Watch
Dividend Streak
1 years
3-Second Income Check
Safety
68.9% payout ratio with watch safety profile.
Consistency
1 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 5.8% and trend is rising.
Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield4.2%
Trailing DPS$4.31
FrequencySemi-Annual
Payments / 12M5
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout68.9%
Earnings SafetyWatch
FCF Payout106.1%
FCF SafetyStretched
Piotroski F-Score3/9
Growth
Growth Streak1 years
3Y CAGR9.4%
5Y CAGR2.9%
Yield on Cost (5Y)5.8%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield0.7%
Total Shareholder Yield4.9%
1Y Total Return58.9%
5Y Total Return52.6%
Div Contribution (5Y)25.8%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$15,25810Y ago$25,92320Y ago$29,413
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (25 years of payments)
Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
The Bank of Nova Scotia distributes 68.9% of earnings as dividends (Watch). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 106.1%, rated "Stretched".
Piotroski F-Score: 3/9 — weak financial health.
Growth Track Record
BNS has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive year, with a 3-year CAGR of 9.4% and 5-year CAGR of 2.9%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, BNS returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 4.2% dividend yield, 0.7% buyback yield, 4.9% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 5.8% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 52.6%, with dividends contributing 25.8% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $25,923 today.
FCF payout is stretched — the dividend consumes a large share of free cash flow.
Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
TTM Total$15.49
Avg/Payment$0.7743
Latest Change+0.5%
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7, 2026Latest | $0.8000 | ↑ +0.5% | 4.21% | Apr 28, 2026 |
| Jan 6, 2026 | $0.7960 | ↑ +1.0% | 4.33% | Jan 28, 2026 |
| Oct 7, 2025 | $0.7882 | ↓ -2.2% | 4.79% | Oct 29, 2025 |
| Jul 2, 2025 | $0.8060 | ↑ +8.9% | 5.57% | Jul 29, 2025 |
| Apr 1, 2025 | $0.7404 | ↑ +0.4% | 6.48% | Apr 28, 2025 |
| Jan 7, 2025 | $0.7371 | ↓ -6.2% | 5.92% | Jan 29, 2025 |
| Oct 2, 2024 | $0.7860 | ↑ +1.4% | 5.90% | Oct 29, 2024 |
| Jul 3, 2024 | $0.7750 | ↓ -1.0% | 6.91% | Jul 29, 2024 |
Dividend Peer Comparison
Peer group: North American universal banks
#1 yield in peer group
Div Yield
4.2%
#1 of 9
Safety
Watch
68.9% payout
Streak
1Y
2.9% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
4.9%
#9 of 9
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st BNSThe Bank of Nova Sco… | $93.7B | 4.2% | 68.9% | 1 | Watch |
JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co. | $809.7B | 1.7% | 25.3% | 14 | Sustainable |
BACBank of America Corp… | $379.2B | 2.5% | 31.2% | 6 | Sustainable |
WFCWells Fargo & Compan… | $251.8B | 1.8% | 26.0% | 3 | Sustainable |
RYRoyal Bank of Canada | $234.2B | 2.7% | 43.2% | 2 | Sustainable |
CCitigroup Inc. | $192.6B | 2.5% | 41.0% | 3 | Sustainable |
3rd TDThe Toronto-Dominion… | $163.3B | 3.3% | 37.3% | 2 | Sustainable |
2nd BMOBank of Montreal | $102.0B | 3.5% | 57.8% | 2 | Sustainable |
CMCanadian Imperial Ba… | $93.6B | 3.1% | 47.4% | 2 | Sustainable |
Annual Dividend History
32 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $1.60 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 3.0% |
| 2025 | $3.07 | -2.2% | 4 | $5.69 | 54.0% | 1.85x | 5.8% |
| 2024 | $3.14 | 1.0% | 4 | $5.86 | 53.6% | 1.87x | 5.9% |
| 2023 | $3.11 | 32.6% | 4 | $5.81 | 53.5% | 1.87x | 5.9% |
| 2022 | $2.34 | -35.7% | 3 | $8.02 | 29.2% | 3.42x | 4.4% |
| 2021 | $3.65 | 36.9% | 5 | $7.70 | 47.4% | 2.11x | 6.9% |
| 2020 | $2.67 | 33.6% | 4 | $5.30 | 50.3% | 1.99x | 5.0% |
| 2019 | $2.00 | -21.4% | 3 | $6.67 | 29.9% | 3.34x | 3.8% |
| 2018 | $2.54 | 5.1% | 4 | $6.96 | 36.5% | 2.74x | 4.8% |
| 2017 | $2.41 | 8.7% | 4 | $6.49 | 37.2% | 2.69x | 4.6% |
See BNS's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
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See how BNS stacks up against sector leader JPMorgan Chase & Co..
Start ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions
How much dividend does BNS pay per share?
The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $4.31 per share, with a current dividend yield of +4.2%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is BNS's next ex-dividend date?
BNS's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. BNS typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is BNS's dividend safe?
BNS's dividend safety is rated "Watch" based on an earnings payout ratio of +68.9% and FCF payout ratio of +106.1%. The 1-year growth streak provides moderate confidence.
How many years has BNS increased its dividend?
BNS has 1 consecutive years of dividend growth. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +2.9%.
How often does BNS pay dividends?
The Bank of Nova Scotia pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $4.31 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 24+ years from 2002 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in BNS grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in BNS five years ago would be worth approximately $15,258 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is BNS's yield on cost for long-term holders?
BNS's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +5.8% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +4.2% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.