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Bank of Montreal (BMO) — Earnings Call X-Ray

Our AI read all 37 of BMO's earnings calls (2016–2025) and answered the same battery of questions about each one. Every past call is free; the newest quarter unlocks with a free account.

Latest Call Grade
🔒
Q1 2025 · sign up to see
Previous Call Grade
C+
Q4 2024
Expected Move
🔒
next 45 days · members
Calls Analyzed
37
2016–2025
Avg Candor
7.2/9
evasion 2.1/9
High CandorSkeptic ReassuredCritic AmmunitionDemand AcceleratingBacklog GrowingResults Worse Than Direction

Call-by-call analysis

🔒 Q1 2025 earnings call 2025-02-25 NEWEST

Guidance: ■■■■■Demand: ■■■■■■ Margins: ■■■■Backlog: ■■■■ ■ analysts, ■■ questionsexpected move ±■■%
Candor /9
Specificity /9
Evasion /9
Stress /9

Management ■■■■■■ guidance against ■■■■■■■■ demand and ■■■■■■■ margins. The delivery was ■■■■■■■■ and ■■■■ in specifics, with ■■■ questions left hanging.

🔒 The Q1 2025 call grade is ready
The full 37-point AI read of BMO's newest earnings call — grade, expected move, and every question answered — is free with an account.
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C+ Q4 2024 earnings call 2024-12-05 move ±9.6%

Management held guidance steady against accelerating demand. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: acceleratingMargins: stableBacklog: growingPricing: stable 9 analysts · 13 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubtsDirection beats results
Candor 8/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 4/9
Stress 3/9
Complexity 6/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

D Q3 2024 earnings call 2024-08-27 move ±9.5%

Management held guidance steady against steady demand and contracting margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: stableMargins: contractingPricing: under pressure 8 analysts · 13 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hanging✓ Guidance underwritable⚑ Reads rehearsedDirection beats results
Candor 7/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 3/9
Confidence 6/9
Uncertainty 5/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 4/9
Complexity 5/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
NO Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
YES Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

D Q2 2024 earnings call 2024-05-29 move ±8.6%

Management lowered guidance against slowing demand and contracting margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: loweredDemand: slowingMargins: contractingPricing: under pressureCapex: increasing 12 analysts · 22 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsed
Candor 7/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 3/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 5/9
Promotion 4/9
Stress 3/9
Complexity 6/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
NO Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

C+ Q1 2024 earnings call 2024-02-27 move ±7.6%

Management held guidance steady against slowing demand and contracting margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: slowingMargins: contractingPricing: under pressureHeadcount: cutting 8 analysts · 18 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsedCFO dominates
Candor 7/9
Specificity 8/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 3/9
Complexity 6/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
YES Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
YES Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
YES Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

C+ Q4 2023 earnings call 2023-12-01 move ±6.9%

Management held guidance steady against slowing demand. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: slowingMargins: stablePricing: under pressureHeadcount: cutting 7 analysts · 16 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubtsDirection beats results
Candor 7/9
Specificity 8/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 3/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 3/9
Complexity 6/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
YES Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

C+ Q3 2023 earnings call 2023-08-29 move ±7.3%

Management held guidance steady against mixed demand signals. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: maintainedDemand: mixedMargins: stableBacklog: growingPricing: under pressureHeadcount: cutting 8 analysts · 13 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsedDirection beats results
Candor 7/9
Specificity 8/9
Evasion 3/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 3/9
Complexity 6/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
YES Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

C Q2 2023 earnings call 2023-05-24 move ±7.3%

Management lowered guidance against slowing demand. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.

Guidance: loweredDemand: slowingMargins: stablePricing: under pressureHeadcount: flat 8 analysts · 13 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsedDirection beats results
Candor 7/9
Specificity 7/9
Evasion 2/9
Confidence 7/9
Uncertainty 4/9
Promotion 5/9
Stress 3/9
Complexity 6/9
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?

Earlier calls

CallDateGradeGuidanceDemandMarginsCandorEvasion
Q1 2023 2023-02-28 C+ loweredstableexpanding 7/9 1/9
Q4 2022 2022-12-01 C+ maintainedslowingexpanding 7/9 3/9
Q3 2022 2022-08-30 B maintainedstableexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q2 2022 2022-05-25 B+ raisedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q1 2022 2022-03-01 B maintainedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q4 2021 2021-12-03 A maintainedacceleratingstable 8/9 1/9
Q3 2021 2021-08-24 B+ maintainedacceleratingstable 7/9 2/9
Q2 2021 2021-05-26 A maintainedacceleratingstable 8/9 2/9
Q1 2021 2021-02-23 B+ maintainedacceleratingstable 7/9 2/9
Q4 2020 2020-12-01 B maintainedmixedcontracting 7/9 3/9
Q3 2020 2020-08-25 A maintainedmixedcontracting 8/9 2/9
Q2 2020 2020-05-27 B nonemixedcontracting 7/9 2/9
Q1 2020 2020-02-25 B maintainedstablestable 8/9 2/9
Q4 2019 2019-12-03 B maintainedstablecontracting 7/9 2/9
Q3 2019 2019-08-27 B maintainedstablecontracting 8/9 3/9
Q2 2019 2019-05-29 B maintainedacceleratingstable 7/9 2/9
Q1 2019 2019-02-26 B+ maintainedstableexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q4 2018 2018-12-04 A maintainedstablestable 8/9 1/9
Q3 2018 2018-08-28 A maintainedstableexpanding 7/9 1/9
Q2 2018 2018-05-30 C+ maintainedacceleratingexpanding 7/9 3/9
Q1 2018 2018-02-27 B maintainedstablestable 7/9 2/9
Q4 2017 2017-12-05 B maintainedstableexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q3 2017 2017-08-29 A maintainedstablestable 7/9 1/9
Q2 2017 2017-05-24 C+ maintainedmixedstable 7/9 2/9
Q1 2017 2017-02-28 B+ maintainedstableexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q4 2016 2016-12-06 B maintainedstableexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q3 2016 2016-08-23 B maintainedmixedexpanding 7/9 2/9
Q2 2016 2016-05-25 C+ maintainedstablecontracting 7/9 3/9
Q1 2016 2016-02-23 B maintainedstablestable 7/9 2/9

Research question bank — earlier calls

During our 1,600-question research program, batches of experimental hypotheses were tested directly against some of BMO's earlier calls. The YES answers — the rare hits — are shown; click any question to see every company that matched it. Full list: the question bank.

B+ Q2 2022 earnings call 2022-05-25

1 more research questions answered NO

A Q4 2018 earnings call 2018-12-04

1 more research questions answered NO

B+ Q1 2017 earnings call 2017-02-28

1 more research questions answered NO

B Q4 2016 earnings call 2016-12-06

332 more research questions answered NO

How to read this page

The grade is a transparent composite of call quality — candor, specificity, low evasion, low stress, whether the call resolves more doubts than it creates, and the guidance action — not a buy or sell signal. The expected move is a volatility estimate from the one signal that survived our out-of-sample tests: how a stock's own reaction and pre-call volatility predict the size (not direction) of its next move. Full detail, including everything that failed: methodology.

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BMNM   All “B” companies    BMRC

Not investment advice. Artul.ai publishes AI-generated earnings-call quality grades and expected-volatility estimates — never buy or sell recommendations. We tested over 1,600 predictive hypotheses against 165,000 transcripts; the honest result, including what failed, is documented in our methodology.