Manulife Financial (TSE:MFC) Stock Price Crosses Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Time to Sell?

Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC - Get Free Report) NYSE: MFC passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$39.52 and traded as high as C$44.25. Manulife Financial shares last traded at C$44.01, with a volume of 5,040,940 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. National Bankshares boosted their price objective on Manulife Financial from C$45.00 to C$47.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Scotiabank increased their price objective on shares of Manulife Financial from C$48.00 to C$49.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Cormark upped their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$47.00 to C$48.00 in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Manulife Financial from C$42.00 to C$47.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on Manulife Financial from C$39.00 to C$40.00 in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of C$43.45.

Manulife Financial Stock Up 0.3 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.60, a quick ratio of 2.58 and a current ratio of 36.68. The company's fifty day moving average price is C$43.99 and its 200-day moving average price is C$39.58. The stock has a market cap of C$78.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.06.

Manulife Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th were issued a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 20th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.62%. Manulife Financial's dividend payout ratio is presently 68.09%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Manulife Financial

In related news, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 11,598 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$46.07, for a total transaction of C$534,308.26. Also, Director Brooks Tingle sold 3,866 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$46.07, for a total value of C$178,102.75. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 77,771 shares of company stock worth $3,508,584. 0.03% of the stock is owned by 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.