Bank Of Montreal Stock Price, News & Analysis

BMO has announced the upcoming release of its second annual Wine Market Report in Q2 2025, expanding its coverage to include both United States and Canada markets. The report, developed in partnership with WineBusiness and bw166, will provide comprehensive analysis of the North American wine industry during a period of significant market changes.

The expanded report will focus on key areas including: comprehensive surveys of winery owners and operators across North America, current market conditions, volume and value trends, impact of economic factors like interest rates, competition from other beverage categories, and production and supply dynamics. This initiative aims to help wine industry professionals navigate challenges and identify growth opportunities through data-driven insights.

Bank of Montreal (BMO) has received regulatory approvals from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and OSFI to proceed with its normal course issuer bid to purchase and cancel up to 20 million common shares. The share buyback program will run from January 22, 2025, to January 21, 2026, representing approximately 2.7% of BMO's public float.

The bank established an automatic securities purchase plan on January 9, 2025, through BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. The timing and price of purchases will depend on management discretion, market conditions, and capital adequacy. As of January 6, 2025, BMO had 729,953,297 common shares outstanding, with a public float of 729,689,561 shares. The average daily trading volume for the six months ended December 31, 2024, was 3,072,276 shares, with a daily maximum purchase limit of 768,069 shares.

BMO announced that 90% of its employees have donated $31 million to United Way and other community organizations across North America during its 14th annual Employee Giving campaign, exceeding the $27 million goal. Additionally, BMO pledged $18 million in corporate donations to United Way chapters in Toronto, Chicago, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and Montreal, bringing the total to $49 million.

The campaign, launched on Giving Tuesday (December 3, 2024), included 21 community kit packing events across 17 locations, where over 1,200 BMO employee volunteers assembled nearly 11,000 care kits. Over the past five years, BMO employees have personally contributed more than $130 million to North American charities through the annual campaign. In 2023, BMO's social impact included over $84 million in donations, with employees contributing 62,000 volunteer hours.

BMO (NYSE: BMO) and Canal Road Group (CRG) announced a strategic partnership where BMO will enable CRG to invest up to $1 billion in capital for direct lending operations. The partnership combines BMO's banking relationships and capital markets expertise with CRG's investment management capabilities in senior secured corporate debt investments.

As part of the arrangement, BMO will acquire a non-voting minority stake in CRG's management company. The collaboration aims to expand access to private lending capital for sponsor and corporate clients, leveraging BMO's extensive banking network and CRG's growing capital base. BMO will provide credit facilities to support CRG's strategy long-term, while benefiting from access to CRG's network of borrowers, lenders, sponsors, and management teams.

Bank of Montreal (BMO) has announced entering into an automatic securities purchase plan (ASPP) with BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. to facilitate the repurchase of up to 20 million common shares under a normal course issuer bid. The implementation of purchases is pending approval from both the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

The timing, quantity, and price of share purchases will be determined by management based on factors including market conditions and capital adequacy. Share purchases will be made at market price, and BMO will consult with OSFI before making purchases. The buyback program is expected to run for up to one year after receiving TSX acceptance.

Bank of Montreal (BMO) has announced plans to repurchase and cancel up to 20 million common shares through a normal course issuer bid, pending regulatory approvals. The proposed repurchase represents approximately 2.7% of BMO's public float as of November 30, 2024.

The share buyback will be conducted through the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and other designated exchanges, with various purchase methods including automatic purchase plans and block purchases. The program will run for up to one year after TSX acceptance. As of November 30, 2024, BMO had 729,664,893 common shares outstanding, with a public float of 729,409,604 shares.

BMO Financial Group has announced a dividend increase for Q1 2025. The quarterly dividend on common shares will be $1.59 per share, representing a 4-cent (3%) increase from the previous quarter and a 5% increase year-over-year. The bank also declared dividends of $0.190875 per share on Class B Preferred Shares Series 33 and $0.426 per share on Class B Preferred Shares Series 44.

Common share dividends will be payable on February 26, 2025, to shareholders of record on January 30, 2025. Preferred share dividends will be paid on February 25, 2025. Shareholders can participate in the Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan, with enrollment forms due by February 3, 2025.

BMO Financial Group reported Q4 2024 net income of $2,304 million ($2.94 per share), compared to $1,710 million in Q4 2023. Adjusted net income was $1,542 million ($1.90 per share), down from $2,243 million year-over-year. The bank's Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) Ratio strengthened to 13.6% from 12.5%.

Key highlights include a provision for credit losses of $1,523 million, customer deposit growth of $61 billion (9% increase), and a quarterly dividend increase to $1.59 per share (5% year-over-year). BMO announced plans for a normal course issuer bid for up to 20 million common shares, subject to regulatory approval.

For fiscal 2024, BMO achieved net income of $7,327 million ($9.51 per share), compared to $4,437 million in 2023, while delivering positive operating leverage across all operating groups.

BMO has launched its annual Wrap the Good campaign for the 2024 holiday season, featuring gift ideas from businesses owned by traditionally underrepresented communities. The campaign introduces a new augmented reality experience called Unwrap the Good, allowing shoppers to scan and reveal promotional codes through their phones at BMOWrapTheGood.com. Featured businesses include Sḵwálwen Botanicals and Niffy Signature from Canada, and Sol Sister Sport and Not Just Cookies Wholesale Bakery from the United States. The initiative includes complimentary holiday wrapping paper with QR codes in select BMO branches across North America.