Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD.TO) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform, and Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Raymond James.
Analyst Stephen Boland raised his price target on TD to $152.50 from $141, and on Royal Bank to $265.50 from $248.
Boland increased his targets on Bank of Montreal (BMO.TO) to $227 from $214 (Outperform), Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) to $120 from $117 (Outperform), CIBC (CM.TO) to $157.50 from $148.50 (Market Perform), and National Bank of Canada (NA.TO) to $206.50 from $200 (Market Perform).
"We believe TD is reasonably valued relative to improving fundamentals and have increased confidence in management's ability to execute on its strategic priorities," the analyst said in a note to clients.
"TD also benefits from above-average US exposure, where the NIM and loan growth outlook are more favourable than in Canada," Boland said.
"We continue to view RBC as a scaled, diversified franchise with a lower-volatility earnings profile," the analyst said. "However, those same attributes may limit relative upside this quarter."
"In a stronger trading revenue environment, RBC's greater exposure to rates and credit trading may benefit less than peers with higher exposure to equities, currencies, and commodities," Boland said.
"With RY trading at roughly a one-turn P/E premium to the peer group (excl. RY), we believe the stock is priced to execute, and the absence of a larger trading revenue uplift could limit near-term upside."