BMO: Canada's Population Stagnation Is Not a Concern
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 18 2025
0mins
Should l Buy BMO?
Source: Yahoo Finance
Population Decline: Canada's population experienced a 0.2% decline leading up to the start of Q4, marking only the second quarterly decrease since the post-pandemic period.
Economic Implications: This decline may have significant implications for the economy, affecting labor markets and overall growth prospects.
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Analyst Views on BMO
Wall Street analysts forecast BMO stock price to fall
10 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
8 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 140.120
Low
128.13
Averages
133.97
High
144.69
Current: 140.120
Low
128.13
Averages
133.97
High
144.69
About BMO
Bank of Montreal (the Bank) is a North American bank. The Bank provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services. The Bank serves about 13 million customers across North America, and in select markets globally, through three integrated operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking (P&C), BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets. The P&C operating group represents the sum of its two retail and commercial operating segments, Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking (Canadian P&C) and U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking (U.S. P&C). BMO Wealth Management serves a full range of clients, from individuals and families to business owners and institutions, offering a wide spectrum of wealth, asset management and insurance products and services. BMO Capital Markets offers a comprehensive range of products and services to corporate, institutional and government clients.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Earnings Forecast Adjustment: BMO Capital reduced its EBITDA estimates for Brown & Brown by approximately 3% and projected a 2.4% organic growth in 2026, reflecting a cautious stance on the company's future growth prospects.
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- Investor Day Event: BMO Financial Group will host an all-bank Investor Day in Toronto on March 26, 2026, featuring presentations from CEO Darryl White and the senior executive team, aimed at enhancing investor engagement and transparency.
- Asset Scale: As of October 31, 2025, BMO's total assets reached $1.5 trillion, positioning it as the seventh largest bank in North America, which supports future growth and investor confidence through its robust asset base.
- Customer Service: BMO serves approximately 13 million customers with a diverse range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, and investment banking services, showcasing its extensive influence in North American and global markets.
- Sustainability Commitment: BMO is committed to driving positive change, supporting sustainable economic and community development, reflecting its corporate mission to 'Boldly Grow the Good in business and life,' which further enhances its brand image and market competitiveness.
See More
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- Rating Maintenance and Price Target Cut: Michael Zaremski from BMO Capital and Yaron Kinar from Mizuho Securities both maintained a Hold rating on Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO), lowering their price targets from $88 to $81 and from $90 to $84 respectively, indicating a cautious market outlook.
- Valuation Analysis: Zaremski noted that while P/E ratios are at discounted levels, the enterprise value to EBITDA and free cash flow yield remain expensive compared to the S&P 500, suggesting limited attractiveness for the stock.
- Earnings Forecast Adjustment: BMO Capital reduced its EBITDA estimates for Brown & Brown by approximately 3% and projected a 2.4% organic growth in 2026, reflecting a cautious stance on the company's future growth prospects.
- Lack of Positive Catalysts: Analysts believe there are no positive catalysts to drive the stock price higher in the near term, hence the Hold rating and reduced price target, indicating a pessimistic outlook for the stock's short-term performance.
See More
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- Stock Price Surge: SLB N.V. shares have risen 20% over the past year and year-to-date, indicating strong market performance and reflecting investor confidence in its future growth.
- Price Target Increase: BMO Capital raised SLB's price target from $53 to $55 while maintaining an Outperform rating, signaling optimism about the company's outlook for 2026.
- Positive Industry Outlook: JPMorgan also increased SLB's price target from $43 to $54, emphasizing that the company's 2026 outlook was a key factor in the rating upgrade, showcasing recognition of its long-term growth potential.
- Favorable Market Commentary: Jim Cramer praised SLB's earnings performance, suggesting that the stock might be one of the few worth buying following President Trump's actions in Venezuela, further bolstering market confidence in the company.
See More
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- Benchmark Bond Issuance: Municipality Finance Plc is set to issue a $500 million benchmark bond on January 21, 2026, maturing on February 4, 2030, with an interest rate of Compounded SOFR plus 100 basis points, indicating the company's active engagement in capital markets.
- Funding Program Context: This issuance is part of MuniFin's €50 billion debt issuance program, reflecting the company's ongoing strategy to leverage international capital markets to finance socially responsible investment projects.
- Exchange Listing Application: MuniFin has applied for the benchmark bond to be listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki, with public trading expected to commence on January 21, 2026, enhancing its market liquidity and attractiveness to investors.
- Joint Lead Managers: The bond issuance is managed by Bank of Montreal, Citigroup Global Markets, and RBC Capital Markets, demonstrating strong market confidence and support for MuniFin's debt instruments.
See More
The Potential Consequences of Attacking the Fed
Trump Administration's Influence: The Trump administration's attempts to pressure the Federal Reserve into lowering interest rates may not achieve the intended results.
Potential Backfire: These efforts could potentially backfire, delaying the anticipated rate cuts that both central bank officials and the markets expect for the year.
See More
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- Investor Day Announcement: BMO Financial Group will host an all-bank Investor Day in Toronto on March 26, 2026, featuring presentations from CEO Darryl White and senior executives, aimed at enhancing communication and transparency with investors.
- Asset Scale: As of October 31, 2025, BMO Financial Group boasts total assets of $1.5 trillion, positioning it as the seventh largest bank in North America, which supports future growth and investor confidence through its robust asset base.
- Customer Service Network: Serving approximately 13 million customers, BMO offers a diverse range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, and investment banking services, showcasing its extensive influence and service capabilities in North America and select global markets.
- Corporate Mission: Committed to driving positive change, BMO aims to contribute to a thriving economy, sustainable future, and stronger communities, a mission that will be further reinforced through the engagement at the Investor Day, enhancing its brand image and market positioning.
See More
BMO Financial Group to Host All-Bank Investor Day on March 26, 2026
- Investor Day Event: BMO Financial Group will host an all-bank Investor Day in Toronto on March 26, 2026, featuring presentations from CEO Darryl White and the senior executive team, aimed at enhancing investor engagement and transparency.
- Asset Scale: As of October 31, 2025, BMO's total assets reached $1.5 trillion, positioning it as the seventh largest bank in North America, which supports future growth and investor confidence through its robust asset base.
- Customer Service: BMO serves approximately 13 million customers with a diverse range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, and investment banking services, showcasing its extensive influence in North American and global markets.
- Sustainability Commitment: BMO is committed to driving positive change, supporting sustainable economic and community development, reflecting its corporate mission to 'Boldly Grow the Good in business and life,' which further enhances its brand image and market competitiveness.
See More
