Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC) (NYSE:MFC) have received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the thirteen brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is C$44.09.

MFC has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Manulife Financial from C$42.00 to C$47.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Scotiabank raised their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$48.00 to C$49.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. National Bankshares raised their price objective on shares of Manulife Financial from C$45.00 to C$47.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Barclays lifted their price target on Manulife Financial from C$40.00 to C$47.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Cormark lifted their target price on Manulife Financial from C$47.00 to C$48.00 in a report on Thursday, November 21st.

Insider Activity at Manulife Financial

In other Manulife Financial news, Director Brooks Tingle sold 3,866 shares of the business’s 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. Also, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 11,598 shares of the firm’s 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$534,308.26. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 77,771 shares of company stock valued at $3,508,584. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Manulife Financial Stock Performance

Shares of MFC stock opened at C$44.23 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of C$78.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.82, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.06. Manulife Financial has a 52 week low of C$28.53 and a 52 week high of C$46.42. The company has a quick ratio of 2.58, a current ratio of 36.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.60. The business has a 50 day moving average of C$44.49 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$40.41.

Manulife Financial (TSE:MFC) (NYSE:MFC) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The financial services provider reported C$1.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of C$0.95 by C$0.05. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 10.41% and a net margin of 17.34%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.92 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Manulife Financial will post 3.6104452 EPS for the current year.

Manulife Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th were given a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 20th. Manulife Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 68.09%.

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.