Cormark Forecasts Higher Earnings for Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC) (NYSE:MFC) – Research analysts at Cormark raised 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 post earnings per share of $4.18 for the year, up from their prior forecast 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 brokerages have also issued reports on MFC. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$50.00 to C$51.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. CIBC lifted their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$47.00 to C$48.00 in a research note on Friday. National Bankshares lifted their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$45.00 to C$47.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Manulife Financial from C$40.00 to C$47.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, TD Securities raised their price target on shares of Manulife Financial from C$48.00 to C$49.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of C$45.60.

Manulife Financial Stock Down 4.4 %

Shares of TSE:MFC opened at C$43.16 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$43.51 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$41.53. The firm has a market capitalization of C$75.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.06. 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 company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be issued a $0.44 dividend. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.08%. This is an increase from Manulife Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. Manulife Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 49.79%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Senior Officer James D. Gallagher sold 57,064 shares of Manulife Financial stock in a transaction 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 Manulife Financial stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$45.22, for a total transaction of C$45,218.70. Insiders have sold 62,307 shares of company stock worth $2,796,173 in the last quarter. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.