Manulife Financial (MFC) Set to Announce Earnings on Wednesday

Manulife Financial (TSE:MFC) (NYSE:MFC) is set to issue its quarterly earnings data after the market closes on Wednesday, May 8th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of C$0.90 per share for the quarter.

Manulife Financial (TSE:MFC) (NYSE:MFC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 14th. The financial services provider reported C$0.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of C$0.84 by C$0.08. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 11.57% and a net margin of 20.05%. The business had revenue of C$14.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$10.24 billion.

Manulife Financial Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of TSE:MFC opened at C$32.11 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 3.79, a quick ratio of 2.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 45.69. The firm has a market cap of C$58.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.30, a PEG ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 1.09. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is C$32.56 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$29.45. Manulife Financial has a 12-month low of C$23.69 and a 12-month high of C$34.05.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This is a positive change from Manulife Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 27th. Manulife Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 61.30%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on MFC shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Manulife Financial from C$35.00 to C$40.00 in a research report on Monday, April 8th. Veritas Investment Research reaffirmed a “reduce” rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Cormark raised Manulife Financial from a “market perform” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price target for the company from C$33.00 to C$36.00 in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Manulife Financial from C$34.00 to C$38.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, TD Securities cut Manulife Financial from an “action list buy” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from C$35.00 to C$37.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of C$36.40.

Insider Activity at Manulife Financial

In other news, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 10,294 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total transaction of C$337,231.44. In other news, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 10,294 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total transaction of C$337,231.44. Also, Director Brooks Tingle sold 3,317 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total value of C$108,664.92. Company insiders own 0.02% of the company’s stock.

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.