CIBC hikes dividend as it reports third quarter profit rise, beating estimates

CIBC reported net income of $1.4 billion for the quarter ended July 31, compared with $1.37 billion during the same period a year ago.

“In the third quarter, we delivered solid results through the continued execution of our client-focused strategy,” CIBC chief executive Victor Dodig said in a statement.

CIBC also said Thursday it will now pay a quarterly dividend of $1.44 per share, up four cents.

The lender said it earned $3.06 per diluted share for the quarter ended July 31 compared with $3.01 a year ago. On an adjusted basis, CIBC earned $3.10 per diluted share for the quarter, compared with an adjusted profit of $3.08 during the same quarter in 2018.

Analysts on average had expected earnings of $3.06 per share for the quarter, according to the financial markets data firm Refinitiv.

The bank’s latest earnings were also impacted by certain items that resulted in a negative impact of four cents per share. The charges included $27 million in amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets and $6 million in purchase accounting adjustments net of transaction and integration-related costs associated with the acquisitions of The PrivateBank and Geneva Advisors.

“CIBC’s earnings came in ahead of expectations on a strong performance in its domestic consumer bank,” said John Aiken, an analyst with Barclays in Toronto. “Capital markets performance was weak but offset by ongoing growth in its U.S. commercial banking platform. After commentary last quarter about higher run-rate expenses fuelling strategic initiatives, revenue growth outpaced expense growth both sequentially and from a year ago.”

CIBC’s Canadian personal and small business banking unit reported net income of $657 million, up $18 million or 3% from the prior year as higher revenue was partially offset by an increase in expenses and provision for credit losses, or money set aside for bad loans.

Its Canadian commercial banking and wealth management arm saw net income drop by 1%, or $2 million, to $348 million during its third quarter. The division’s revenue rose on volume growth, higher fees and higher assets under management ($248.4 billion in Q3, up from $242.7 billion in the previous quarter) but this was offset by a higher provision for credit losses as well as higher non-interest expenses.

U.S. commercial banking and wealth management, meanwhile, reported a 6% or $10 million jump in net income to $172 million for the quarter, primarily due to higher revenue but offset by a rise in expenses and provision for credit losses.

Capital markets, however, reported a 13% or $34 million drop in third-quarter net income to $231 million, primarily due to a higher provision for credit losses, CIBC said.

Total provisions for credit losses amounted to $291 million, up from $241 million during the third quarter of 2018.

A key measure of the bank’s financial health, the common equity tier 1 ratio, was 11.4% as of July 31, up from 11.2% in the previous quarter and 11.3% a year ago.

CIBC also announced Thursday that chief financial officer Kevin Glass will be retiring after 10 years with the bank, effective Jan. 1. He will serve as CFO until Oct. 31, and stay on as a special adviser until his retirement.

CIBC has appointed Hratch Panossian, currently executive vice-president, global controller and investor relations for the bank, as chief financial officer, effective Nov. 1.