Cormark Lifts Earnings Estimates for Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC - Free Report) NYSE: MFC - Investment analysts at Cormark raised their FY2025 EPS estimates for Manulife Financial in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, February 20th. Cormark analyst L. Persaud now forecasts 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 recently issued reports on MFC. 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 lifted their target price 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. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Manulife Financial from C$50.00 to C$51.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$48.00 to C$49.00 in a report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, CIBC boosted their price objective on shares of Manulife Financial from C$46.00 to C$47.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Manulife Financial presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of C$45.50.

Manulife Financial Stock Up 6.7 %

MFC stock opened at C$45.14 on Friday. The company has a market cap of C$79.18 billion, a PE ratio of 14.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.06. Manulife Financial has a twelve month low of C$31.24 and a twelve month high of C$46.42. The business's 50-day simple moving average is C$43.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$41.52.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be given 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.90%. Manulife Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.79%.

Insider Activity at Manulife Financial

In other news, Senior Officer James D. Gallagher sold 57,064 shares of the business's 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 Anthony Alex Silva sold 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$45.22, for a total transaction of C$45,218.70. Insiders sold a total of 62,307 shares of company stock valued at $2,796,173 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.03% of the company's stock.

About Manulife Financial

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.

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