Given the investor's beginner level, long-term strategy, and available capital, Bank of Nova Scotia is not a strong buy at this moment. The stock's technical indicators are neutral to bearish, recent analyst downgrades reflect concerns about its performance relative to peers, and options data suggests a balanced but cautious sentiment. While the company's Q1 financials show strong growth, the lack of recent proprietary trading signals and potential for further short-term declines make it prudent to hold off on buying.
The MACD is below 0 and negatively contracting, RSI is neutral at 35.581, and moving averages are converging. Support is at 68.078, and resistance is at 70.354. The stock is trading near support levels with no clear bullish signals.

The company reported strong Q1 financials with revenue up 6.82% YoY, net income up 110.24% YoY, and EPS up 162.12% YoY. Additionally, its strategic move to increase its stake in KeyCorp could enhance its U.S. market influence.
Recent analyst downgrades from Canaccord and TD Securities highlight concerns about lagging performance in key areas and modest ROE expectations. The stock has also experienced a recent decline, and technical indicators suggest potential for further short-term weakness.
In Q1 2026, revenue increased by 6.82% YoY to $9.84 billion, net income surged by 110.24% YoY to $2.16 billion, and EPS rose by 162.12% YoY to 1.73. These results indicate strong growth and profitability improvements.
Recent downgrades from Canaccord and TD Securities to Hold from Buy reflect concerns about the company's performance relative to peers. Price targets have been adjusted downward, with Canaccord lowering its target from C$118 to C$110 and TD Securities reducing its target from C$112 to C$111. However, earlier upgrades from RBC, BMO, and Barclays indicate mixed sentiment, with some analysts acknowledging strong Q1 results.