Cormark Increases Earnings Estimates for Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC) (NYSE:MFC) – Investment analysts at Cormark lifted their FY2025 EPS estimates for shares of Manulife Financial in a note issued to investors on Thursday, February 20th. Cormark analyst L. Persaud now anticipates that the financial services provider will earn $4.18 per share for the year, up from their prior estimate of $4.13. The consensus estimate for Manulife Financial’s current full-year earnings is $3.61 per share. Cormark also issued estimates for Manulife Financial’s FY2026 earnings at $4.54 EPS.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. National Bankshares raised their price target on shares of Manulife Financial from C$45.00 to C$47.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$40.00 to C$47.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. TD Securities boosted their price objective on shares of Manulife Financial from C$48.00 to C$49.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. CIBC boosted their price objective on shares of Manulife Financial from C$47.00 to C$48.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price target on shares of Manulife Financial from C$48.00 to C$49.00 in a report on Friday, November 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of C$45.60.

Manulife Financial Trading Down 4.4 %

TSE:MFC opened at C$43.16 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$75.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.43, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.06. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$43.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$41.53. Manulife Financial has a 12 month low of C$31.24 and a 12 month high of C$46.42.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.44 per share. This is a positive change from Manulife Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.08%. Manulife Financial’s payout ratio is currently 49.79%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Senior Officer James D. Gallagher sold 57,064 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$44.80, for a total value of C$2,556,638.39. Also, Director Kenneth Michael Ross sold 4,243 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$45.80, for a total value of C$194,315.82. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 62,307 shares of company stock valued at $2,796,173. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Manulife Financial Company Profile

Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks.