Manulife Financial (TSE:MFC) Sets New 52-Week High on Analyst Upgrade

Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC) (NYSE:MFC) hit a new 52-week high on Friday after TD Securities raised their price target on the stock from C$38.00 to C$40.00. TD Securities currently has a buy rating on the stock. Manulife Financial traded as high as C$36.62 and last traded at C$36.56, with a volume of 509375 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$36.29.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. National Bankshares raised Manulife Financial from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from C$34.00 to C$38.00 in a report on Thursday, May 9th. Evercore lifted their price target on Manulife Financial from C$36.00 to C$37.00 in a report on Friday, May 10th. National Bank Financial raised Manulife Financial from a “sector perform market weight” rating to an “outperform market weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. CIBC lifted their price target on Manulife Financial from C$34.00 to C$36.00 in a report on Friday, May 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Manulife Financial from C$40.00 to C$41.00 in a report on Friday, May 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of C$37.50.

Insider Transactions at Manulife Financial

In related news, Director Philip James Witherington sold 97,640 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$35.17, for a total value of C$3,433,852.34. In related news, Director Philip James Witherington sold 97,640 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$35.17, for a total value of C$3,433,852.34. Also, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 11,598 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$35.29, for a total value of C$409,293.42. In the last three months, insiders sold 157,878 shares of company stock valued at $5,557,706. Corporate insiders own 0.02% of the company’s stock.

Manulife Financial Stock Up 0.4 %

The firm has a fifty day moving average price of C$34.79 and a 200-day moving average price of C$32.30. The company has a quick ratio of 2.58, a current ratio of 29.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.44. The firm has a market cap of C$65.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.98, a PEG ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 1.10.

Manulife Financial (TSE:MFC) (NYSE:MFC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 8th. The financial services provider reported C$0.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.90 by C$0.04. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 10.48% and a net margin of 18.29%. The business had revenue of C$12.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of C$12.13 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Manulife Financial Co. will post 3.6078629 EPS for the current year.

Manulife Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 22nd were issued a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.39%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 21st. Manulife Financial’s payout ratio is currently 70.18%.

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.