Bank of Montreal (BMO) Could Be a Great Choice

Company Overview - Bank of Montreal (BMO) is based in Toronto and operates in the Finance sector, with shares experiencing a price change of 34.92% this year [3] Dividend Information - BMO currently pays a dividend of $1.17 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.58%, which is higher than the Banks - Foreign industry's yield of 2.65% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.4% [3] - The company's annualized dividend of $4.68 has increased by 2.2% from the previous year, with an average annual increase of 8.50% over the last 5 years [4] - BMO's current payout ratio is 54%, indicating that it pays out 54% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate predicts earnings of $9.74 per share, reflecting an expected increase of 12.21% from the previous year [5] Investment Appeal - BMO is considered an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]