The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that Canada's Big Banks roll out first quarter results this week. The Globe's David Berman writes that expectations are down, giving banks an opportunity for clearing a low bar. TD Securities analyst Mario Mendonca says: "Most years, having faith in the banks' capacity to pull the levers necessary to generate good earnings growth is precisely the right approach. ... This year [2015] does not feel like one of those years." The stock market is reflecting this sentiment. Bank stocks have lagged the Canada's benchmark index in a big way since the start of the year, marking their worst relative underperformance since the financial crisis in 2008. The banks are still trailing the benchmark S&P/TSX composite index by nearly eight percentage points -- offering a rare setback for names that gush cash and reward shareholders with hefty dividends. Earnings growth is expected to slow. CIBC analyst Robert Sedran estimates that earnings in the first quarter -- usually a strong one for the banks -- will rise just 3 per cent from the first quarter of last year. That is down from 5.5-per-cent earnings growth in the fourth quarter, year-over-year.