Is BMO a buy

**Bank of Montreal (BMO) appears to be a hold based on the current analyst consensus and price target.** Here's the analysis to support this conclusion:

1. **Analyst Ratings and Price Targets**: The consensus rating for BMO is "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $128.93. This suggests that analysts believe the stock has potential for growth from its current price.
2. **Technical Indicators**: The stock's technical indicators show mixed signals. The RSI is at 67.92, indicating the stock is neither overbought nor oversold. The MACD is at 0.8, which could be interpreted as neutral. The KDJ is at 112, which is considered overbought and may suggest a potential reversal or consolidation.

|Ticker|Name|Date|RSI|KDJ|MACD|code|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|BMO.N|Bank of Montreal|20240815|67.9227|112.0047||BMO|169|
|BMO.N|Bank of Montreal|20240816|||0.7995|BMO|169|

3. **Moving Averages**: The stock is trading above its 5-day, 10-day, and 20-day moving averages, which is a bullish sign. However, the fact that the 10-day moving average is below the 20-day moving average may indicate a lack of momentum.

4. **Fund Flow**: The net fund flow is positive at $624,447.26, which could indicate investor interest or buying activity. This is a favorable sign.

5. **Valuation Metrics**: The Price to Book Ratio is 1.2, and the P/E ratio is 13.6, which are generally consistent with a stable, well-established bank.

|Ticker|Name|Date|P/E(TTM)|P/S|Price to Book Ratio|code|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|BMO.N|Bank of Montreal|20240815|13.603629|||BMO|169|
|BMO.N|Bank of Montreal|20240816|||1.2037|BMO|169|

6. **Analyst Opinions**: Despite some positive sentiment, there have been recent price target reductions and changes in ratings. For example, Scotiabank lowered its price target from C$137.00 to C$129.00 and set an "outperform" rating. UBS Group set a C$122.00 price target and a "neutral" rating. These revisions suggest some caution among analysts.
7. **Market Performance**: The stock has a 52-week range of C$102.67 to C$133.95, with a current price of C$84.16. The stock is trading at the lower end of its range, which could be seen as a potential buying opportunity if the stock is expected to rebound.
8. **Expert Opinions**: Some experts have a bullish view, seeing it as a good long-term investment with a high current yield. However, others are more cautious, citing challenges in the Canadian banking industry and the need for patience.

In conclusion, while there are some positive indicators, such as the net fund flow and the stock trading above its moving averages, the mixed technical signals and the recent analyst downgrades suggest that BMO is not an overwhelming buy at this time. A hold position may be more prudent, waiting for a clearer signal before making a buying decision.