BMO Financial Group (NYSE:BMO) (TSX:BMO), which includes the Bank of Montreal, exceeded market estimates for its fiscal fourth quarter results as it raked in profits from the company's US and Canadian businesses.
Canada’s fourth-largest bank said Tuesday it will now pay a quarterly dividend of C$1 per share, up C$0.04.
READ: Bank of Montreal zips past 3Q fiscal profit estimates on robust US and Canadian business
The bank reported its net income for the three months that ended October 31, rose to C$1.7 billion or C$2.57 per diluted share, up from to C$1.23 billion or C$1.81 in 2017.
“This year, we continued to make good progress against our strategic objectives,” said chief executive Darryl White.
“We grew our U.S. segment at an accelerated pace, increased momentum in our commercial banking business, adding relationships, loans and deposits, and delivered real value to our personal customers with new and enhanced digital capabilities.”
On an adjusted basis, BMO earned $1.53 billion or $2.32 per diluted share, compared with $1.31-billion or $1.94 per share a year ago.
Analysts from Thomson Reuters Eikon had expected a profit of $2.29 per share.
According to BMO, its domestic personal and commercial banking division reported 4Q net income of $675 million, up 8% from the same three-month period a year ago. The US personal and commercial banking arm reported net income of $372 million, a 37% increase.
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