TD Bank is reviewing its next steps after disappointing Q4 earnings

The news: TD Bank suspended its medium-term financial targets amid a strategic review under incoming CEO Raymond Chun, per Bloomberg.

  • The review is focused on profitability, risk-adjusted returns, and investment or divestment opportunities.

How we got here: TD’s Q4 profits missed analyst estimates, per Investopedia. As we expected, this is largely because of its record $3 billion fine levied by US financial regulators for major anti-money-laundering-related violations.

  • The US Department of Justice found that TD Bank allowed three different criminal groups to move $670 million through its accounts over the last several years.

What’s next for the bank: TD’s incoming CEO told analysts, “We are looking at our business mix, including profitability and risk-adjusted return on capital, and where we need to invest and divest to improve.”

The bank plans to provide updated guidance after the strategic review, with an investor day scheduled for late 2025.

Meanwhile, the bank is already in the process of shrinking its US assets by 10%, per Bloomberg.

  • This move will help it comply with the asset cap imposed by US financial regulators.

Our take: TD’s step back in the US could present competitors with a potential growth opportunity. 

Because of its divestment, it’ll likely lose some customers, who will be looking for a new place to invest, and business. Banks trying to acquire these customers need to understand why they chose  TD Bank—e.g., were they young investors attracted by the partial stock ownership campaign? This research could inform campaigns about why your bank would be the best replacement.

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