Royal Bank of Canada

RBC has launched Avion Rewards Travel, an all-in-one booking platform that lets Canadians book flights with more than 500 airlines and redeem Avion points for flights, hotels, car rentals and more. The platform was built through a strategic collaboration with HTS, also known as Hopper Technology Solutions, and embeds AI-driven tools including real-time fare tracking, automated price alerts and historical data that guide members on when to book. Vinita Savani, Executive Vice President of Cards and Loyalty at RBC, said Canadians work hard for their travel dollars and deserve a program that works just as hard for them. To mark the launch, members earn 3x Avion points on select hotel bookings made between September 8 and October 31, 2026, and prospective members who sign up for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite card can receive up to 70,000 Avion points, equivalent to as many as four short-haul round-trip flights. The transition is automatic for all existing Avion Rewards members, with no profile re-creation or data migration required, and the launch comes as Canadian travel spending climbs 11.4 per cent year-over-year according to recent RBC spending data.

Canada's financial regulator, OSFI, announced it will keep the Domestic Stability Buffer requirement at 3% throughout the tenure of the current superintendent. Peter Routledge, Canada's superintendent of financial institutions, confirmed during a conference hosted by Bank of Nova Scotia that the 3% level will remain unchanged until June 2028, when his term ends. This follows OSFI's reduction of the buffer by 0.50 percentage points, or 50 basis points, to 3% last June, the first change in three years. Currently, Canada's largest banks must maintain a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of at least 11% of risk-weighted assets, and the country's six largest banks hold capital comfortably above that minimum. Routledge said OSFI has not imposed restrictions on how banks may use excess capital, unlike during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the regulator limited dividend payments and share buybacks. Several executives of major banks attending the conference said their approach to deploying capital going forward will prioritize organic growth first, followed by share buybacks, rather than large acquisitions. Scott Thomson, chief executive officer of Scotiabank, said organic growth comes first and buybacks second, while Raymond Chun, chief executive officer of Toronto-Dominion Bank, said the bank has strong potential to run a high level of share buyback programs. Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Montreal also said they plan to continue returning excess capital to shareholders through share buybacks.

Royal Bank of Canada reported record fiscal third-quarter net income of $6.0 billion, up 11% year over year, with adjusted diluted earnings per share of $4.28, also up 11%, and total revenue climbing 9% to $18.538 billion. The results were broad-based, with Wealth Management net income jumping 32% to $1.4 billion, Capital Markets net income rising 16% to $1.5 billion on record Corporate and Investment Banking revenue, and Commercial Banking posting a record $936 million in net income, up 12%. The bank returned $4.0 billion to shareholders, split between $1.6 billion in buybacks and $2.4 billion in dividends, while return on equity climbed to 17.9%. However, CEO Dave McKay warned that newly implemented Section 338 tariffs on Canadian exports could shave roughly 40 basis points off Canadian GDP, and provisions for credit losses rose to $1.0 billion, with an additional $120 million provision tied to a former investment-grade utility borrower, as disclosed by Chief Risk Officer Graeme Hepworth. Insurance net income fell 20% to $197 million, though that decline was tied to favorable prior-year longevity reinsurance adjustments.

Royal Bank of Canada reported record third-quarter earnings of $6 billion, up 11% year-over-year, with revenues growing 9% and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $4.28, also up 11%. The bank's performance was driven by record results across most segments, including Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, Capital Markets, and Wealth Management, with a return on equity of 17.9% and a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 13.5%. The bank also announced plans to build a global transaction banking business and reiterated its full-year targets, while noting that the implementation of Section 338 tariffs could impact Canadian GDP by approximately 40 basis points. Additionally, RBC expects its CET1 ratio to trend towards the midpoint of its 12.5% to 13.5% range over time, following the recent change in the Domestic Stability Buffer.

Royal Bank of Canada beat analyst estimates in the third quarter, powered by strength in capital markets and wealth management. The bank reported profit of $6.02 billion, up from $5.41 billion a year earlier, with earnings of $4.23 per diluted share, up from $3.75. On an adjusted basis, earnings were $4.28 per share, compared with $3.84, while analysts had expected $4.08 per share and $18.14 billion in revenue. Revenue came in at $18.54 billion, up from $16.99 billion, and provisions for credit losses rose to $1 billion from $881 million. Jefferies analysts said the results reinforce their view that RBC's diversified business mix drives its premium return on equity, noting the bank's ROE rebounded to 18.1% against a peer average of 16%. Shares were down 1.9% in Toronto and 1.8% in New York.

Royal Bank of Canada has declared a quarterly common share dividend of $1.76 per share, payable on or after November 24, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 26, 2026. The bank also declared dividends on its Non-Cumulative First Preferred Shares, with Series BO receiving $0.3678125 per share and Series BW receiving $33.49 per share, with payment dates and record dates as specified.

The RBC iShares alliance expanded its fixed income lineup with the launch of three new ETF Series of RBC Funds, which began trading on Cboe Canada today. The new offerings are RBC Emerging Markets Bond Fund – ETF Series (ticker REMB, management fee 0.75%), RBC Global Corporate Bond Fund – ETF Series (ticker RGCB, management fee 0.60%), and RBC High Yield Bond Fund – ETF Series (ticker RHYB, management fee 0.75%). REMB invests primarily in government debt securities of emerging market countries, RGCB focuses on investment grade corporate debt securities from anywhere in the world, and RHYB targets higher yielding corporate debt securities issued by Canadian and U.S. corporations. All three funds are managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank of Canada agreed to sell their joint payments processor Moneris to Francisco Partners in a transaction valued at about C$2 billion. BMO expects the sale to result in an after-tax gain and a capital ratio improvement once the deal closes. Separately, BMO joined a consortium of banks working with The Clearing House on a shared tokenized deposit network for digital payments, an initiative intended to create interoperable rails that keep traditional bank deposits competitive with fintech and stablecoin offerings.

Argus upgraded Sandisk stock to buy from hold, citing a $500 drop in the share price since initiating coverage and strong financial results. Sandisk reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2026 revenue of $8.97 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $39.25, surpassing analyst estimates of $8.4 billion and $34.51. Following the earnings, Wells Fargo cut its price target to $1,400 from $1,620, while RBC Capital raised its target to $1,300 from $1,000. Shares rose 3.3% as of 12:22 p.m. ET, retreating from an earlier gain of 5.4%.

RBC Wealth Management has recruited a seven-person team from UBS that oversees approximately $1.5 billion in client assets. The team, Focus Wealth Management, is based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and includes managing directors and financial advisors James "Trey" Mahoney III and Peter Foley Jr., as well as senior vice president and financial advisor Justin Warzala. The group serves business owners and high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families, and its most senior member had been with UBS for about 14 years. RBC Florida Complex Director Ken Ross said the team sought direct access to local leadership and a client-first culture. The move comes as UBS reported 5,644 advisors in the U.S. at the end of June, down from 5,773 a year earlier, while RBC aims to add 600 advisors by 2029.

Knot has announced its first expansion beyond the United States through a partnership with RBC, Canada's largest bank. The deal will integrate Knot's CardSwitcher technology into the RBC mobile app, allowing cardholders to set their RBC card as the default payment method at their favorite merchants without manually entering card details. The partnership aims to drive immediate card usage and deepen customer loyalty by removing the friction of updating saved payment information. RBC serves more than 19 million clients across Canada, the U.S., and 27 other countries.

RBC has been named North America's Best Bank, Canada's Best Bank, Canada's Best Bank for Large Corporates, and Canada's Best Investment Bank in Euromoney's 2026 Awards for Excellence. The awards recognize performance during the 12-month period ending December 31, 2025, and reflect the bank's integrated platform, client trust, and market leadership across banking and capital markets. President and CEO Dave McKay said the recognition reflects the trust of more than 19 million clients and the bank's commitment to delivering results through advice and digital capabilities. Euromoney's awards assess financial institutions across more than 20 criteria including financial performance, innovation, and client service.

Acme United Corporation has entered into a new $65 million syndicated credit facility with HSBC Bank USA and City National Bank, a U.S. subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada. The new facility replaces the company's prior $65 million credit facility with HSBC that was scheduled to expire on May 31, 2027, and is intended to provide liquidity for growth, acquisitions, dividends, and other business activities. The agreement expires on July 15, 2029, and contains customary pledges of collateral, covenants, representations and warranties materially similar to those of the prior agreement. HSBC will serve as administrative agent for the syndicate, and the new facility continues and enhances Acme United's longstanding relationship with HSBC while adding City National Bank as a new syndicate lender. Acme United's CFO Paul G. Driscoll said the facility gives the company greater financial flexibility to support growth plans, and CEO Walter C. Johnsen noted that bringing a second top-tier global bank into the credit facility diversifies funding sources.

Royal Bank of Canada is highlighted as a compelling dividend stock, with shares up 23.81% year-to-date and a current dividend yield of 2.24%. The company pays an annualized dividend of $4.72 per share, representing a 9.9% increase from last year, and has raised its dividend five times over the past five years for an average annual increase of 5.79%. Its payout ratio stands at 42% of trailing twelve-month earnings, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is $11.45 per share, implying year-over-year growth of 11.17%. The stock carries a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Royal Bank of Canada announced that Tarek A. Robbiati will be appointed to its Board of Directors, effective September 1, 2026. Mr. Robbiati is currently chief financial officer of Everpure, a global technology company, and previously served as chief executive officer at RingCentral and chief financial officer at both Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Sprint Corporation. RBC Board Chair Jacynthe Côté stated that his blend of financial stewardship, technical expertise, and international management experience will complement the board's strength. Mr. Robbiati holds an MBA from London Business School and master's degrees from IAE Caen and ENSI Caen.

Royal Bank of Canada has appointed Sian Hurrell and Robin Beer as Co-CEOs of RBC Europe Limited to accelerate growth across its European operations. Hurrell will retain her role as Head of Capital Markets Europe, while Beer continues as Head of Global Sales & Relationship Management and CEO of RBC Wealth Management Europe. The appointments follow significant investment in the region, including the integration of Brewin Dolphin, which has positioned RBC among the top five U.K. wealth management providers. RBC has over 5,400 employees in 11 European countries and operates through three business lines: RBC BlueBay Asset Management, RBC Capital Markets, and RBC Wealth Management.

Deep Sky and Isometric announced that carbon captured and permanently removed from the atmosphere by Deep Sky Alpha in Innisfail, Alberta has been independently reviewed and registered as the first certified direct air capture carbon removal credits in North America. The credits, certified under Isometric's Direct Air Capture Protocol and carrying the Core Carbon Principles label, will be delivered to Microsoft and Royal Bank of Canada. Deep Sky Alpha achieved this milestone within 18 months of beginning construction, marking the first time a DAC project in North America has generated verified credits. The credits represent the beginning of Deep Sky's supply to Microsoft and RBC under their carbon removal agreement through 2034.

More than half of Canadians are financially vulnerable or stressed, yet nearly two-thirds used AI tools in the past year and 41% sought personal finance information from AI, according to the JD Power 2026 Canada Financial Health Support and Advice Satisfaction Study. Among those who used AI for financial advice, 73% acted on it, a rate comparable to how customers act on bank advice. The study found that customers most want long-term advice on investments and retirement, as well as short-term guidance on fee reduction and improving their financial situation. Despite high awareness of bank support services, only 15% of customers use spending management tools and 12% use money management or financial health education services. In the satisfaction rankings, RBC ranked highest in retail banking advice for a sixth consecutive year with a score of 589, while CIBC led in credit card health support with a score of 560.

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a+" (Excellent) of Royal Bank of Canada Insurance Company Ltd., with a stable outlook. The ratings reflect the company's very strong balance sheet strength, strong operating performance, neutral business profile, and appropriate enterprise risk management. Royal Bank of Canada Insurance Company Ltd. is a profitable subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada, the largest bank in Canada by market capitalization, and reported total net income of CAD 707.8 million driven by a strong insurance service result of CAD 700.8 million. The parent bank holds approximately CAD 139 billion of IFRS equity and over CAD 2.3 trillion in assets as of fiscal year-end 2025, though it does not guarantee support for the subsidiary.

Royal Bank of Canada raised its quarterly dividend in early June after reporting strong results across retail banking, wealth management, capital markets, and insurance. The bank also announced a new normal course issuer bid to repurchase up to 45 million shares, reinforcing capital returns as a key near-term catalyst. The investment narrative projects revenue of 76.9 billion Canadian dollars and earnings of 24.6 billion Canadian dollars by 2029, requiring 5.4 percent annual revenue growth and an earnings increase of about 3 billion Canadian dollars from the current 21.6 billion. A fair value estimate of 265.46 Canadian dollars implies a 7 percent downside to the current price, while community estimates range from 265.46 to 346.44 Canadian dollars. The biggest near-term risk remains credit quality pressure if the Canadian economy softens, though the latest news does not materially change that risk profile.

Royal Bank of Canada and Canucks Sports & Entertainment have announced a multi-year partnership naming RBC as the Official Bank across the Vancouver Canucks, Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver Warriors, Rogers Arena, and Rogers Forum. The RBC logo will appear on Vancouver Canucks home jerseys starting in the 2026-2027 NHL season. RBC will invest in fan experiences including exclusive benefits for RBC clients, such as a dedicated arena entrance, enhanced in-game experiences, and the ability for Avion Rewards members to use points for tickets on Ticketmaster.ca. RBC will also be the presenting sponsor of the Canucks' 2026-2027 home opener and select Community Nights, with a portion of the partnership benefiting the Canucks for Kids Fund, which has granted more than $115 million to charities in British Columbia.

Canada's banking regulator lowered the capital requirement for the country's largest banks, sending Canadian bank stocks higher. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions reduced the domestic stability buffer to 3.0% from 3.5% of total risk-weighted assets, the first change since June 2023, effective immediately. The regulator also narrowed the buffer's range to 0% to 3% from 0% to 4%. The six largest banks hold an average Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 13.5%, well above the new supervisory expectation of 11.0%, representing a capital cushion of roughly $74 billion or an expansion in risk-weighted assets of $673 billion. Superintendent Peter Routledge said the move enables the banking sector to deploy excess capital in support of Canada's economic adaptation to new opportunities.

Royal Bank of Canada and Live Nation Canada have launched a partnership allowing Avion Rewards members to redeem points for tickets to events on Ticketmaster.ca. Members can now connect their Avion Rewards accounts to Ticketmaster.ca and use points to pay for eligible ticket purchases, with daily redemptions ranging from as little as one cent to five hundred dollars and no added redemption fees. The integration builds on RBC's existing music platform RBCxMusic and its recently expanded partnership with Live Nation Canada, which included the launch of RBC Amphitheatre. Avion Rewards members can redeem points for standard non-resale tickets to concerts, festivals, and other live events, subject to availability and exclusions.