Desjardins Issues Pessimistic Forecast for TSE:MFC Earnings

Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC) (NYSE:MFC) – Investment analysts at Desjardins reduced their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Manulife Financial in a note issued to investors on Thursday, April 17th. Desjardins analyst D. Young now forecasts that the financial services provider will earn $0.96 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.02. The consensus estimate for Manulife Financial’s current full-year earnings is $3.61 per share.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada set a C$51.00 price target on shares of Manulife Financial and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday. CIBC boosted their target price on Manulife Financial from C$47.00 to C$48.00 in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Barclays dropped their price target on Manulife Financial from C$49.00 to C$45.00 in a report on Friday, April 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Manulife Financial from C$50.00 to C$51.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, TD Securities increased 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 research report on Thursday, February 20th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Manulife Financial currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of C$46.60.

Manulife Financial Trading Down 0.0 %

TSE MFC opened at C$39.65 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of C$42.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$43.04. Manulife Financial has a 12 month low of C$31.43 and a 12 month high of C$46.42. The firm has a market capitalization of C$69.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.34, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.06.

Insider Activity

In other Manulife Financial news, Director Brooks Tingle sold 3,866 shares of Manulife Financial stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$43.43, for a total transaction of C$167,882.21. Also, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 11,598 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$43.43, for a total value of C$503,646.63. Insiders have sold a total of 18,683 shares of company stock valued at $816,102 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 19th were paid a $0.44 dividend. This is an increase from Manulife Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 5th. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.44%. Manulife Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.79%.

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.