A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Manulife Financial (MFC) . Shares have added about 2.9% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Manulife due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?It turn ...

Core Insights - Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) has achieved a 52-week high of $33.07 and closed at $31.94, reflecting a 23.7% increase over the past year, outperforming the industry, sector, and S&P 500 composite [1][2] Company Performance - MFC has outperformed peers such as Primerica, Inc. (PRI), Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (RGA), and Voya Financial, Inc. (VOYA), with PRI gaining 21.8%, while RGA and VOYA saw declines of 1.2% and 11.2%, respectively [2] - MFC's market capitalization stands at $54.78 billion, with an average trading volume of 2.3 million shares over the last three months [2] Technical Analysis - MFC shares are trading above the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages of $30.55 and $30.12, indicating strong upward momentum [5] Growth Strategy - MFC is focusing on high-growth, capital-light, and higher-return businesses to enhance earnings momentum, maintaining a target leverage ratio of 25% for financial flexibility [7] - The company aims for its Asia business to contribute half of its core earnings by 2025, indicating a strategic focus on this region for long-term growth [16] Valuation Metrics - MFC shares are trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.53X, which is above the industry average of 8.13X, indicating a premium valuation [8] - The average price target from 12 analysts for MFC is $34.84 per share, suggesting an 8.9% upside from the last closing price [9] Earnings Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MFC's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 4.2%, with a projected increase of 7.7% for 2026 [13] - Analyst sentiment is positive, with three out of six analysts raising estimates for 2025 and five for 2026 in the past 30 days [14] Financial Health - MFC's return on equity over the trailing 12 months is 15.8%, surpassing the industry average of 15.3%, showcasing efficient use of shareholders' funds [15] - The company has maintained a free cash flow conversion rate of over 100% in recent quarters, reflecting strong earnings [18] Dividend Policy - MFC has increased its dividend at a seven-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% and targets a dividend payout ratio of 35-45% over the medium term [18] Conclusion - MFC is positioned for growth driven by its strong Asia business, expanding Wealth and Asset Management operations, and solid capital position, with a medium-term expense efficiency ratio target of less than 45% [19]

It's been 6 months since my last piece on Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE: MFC ) (TSX: MFC:CA ). In November, I rated the stock as a 'buy' noting excellent acceleration in growth in Asia and the Wealth and AssetI'm an insurance Case Manager with a deep interest in investing. My investment philosophy is all about buying high quality stocks and great businesses. My favorite businesses are those led by disciplined capital allocators, earn exceptional returns on capital, and can compound their invested cap ...

Jodie Wallis, Global Chief Analytics Officer, Outlines How Manulife is Using AI ResponsiblyC$ unless otherwise stated                                             TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC     SEHK: 945TORONTO, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife's Responsible AI Principles were shared during the Reuters Momentum AI Summit in New York last month. These principles guide the design, development, and deployment of Manulife's Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions, which includes over 43 GenAI use cases in production, ...

BOSTON, May 19, 2025 Manulife Investment Management, through certain affiliates, ("collectively, Manulife IM") today announced the formation of Lakefront Fiber, LLC ("Lakefront Fiber"), a joint venture with Midwest Fiber Networks ("MWFN")."We are pleased to partner with MWFN, with whom we have had a long-standing relationship, to support the build-out of Lakefront Fiber's extensive pipeline," said Recep Kendircioglu, Global Head of Infrastructure, Manulife Investment Management.Lakefront Fiber will facilita ...

Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) delivered first-quarter 2025 core earnings of 69 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.4%. The bottom line decreased 1.4% year over year. Core earnings of $1.2 billion (C$1.8 billion) declined 7.6% year over year. Core earnings decreased modestly, as continued business growth in Global WAM and Asia was offset by strengthened provisions related to expected credit loss of $45 million post-tax in the first quarter of 2025, and a provision for the C ...

First Quarter Report to Shareholders Three months ended March 31, 2025 Manulife Financial Corporation Manulife Financial Corporation ("Manulife" or the "Company") reported its first quarter results for the period ended March 31, 2025, delivering record insurance new business results 1 and steady growth in book value per common share. Key highlights for the first quarter of 2025 ("1Q25") include: "We started the year with continued strong momentum, delivering record levels of insurance new business results t ...

TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC  SEHK: 945                                                                                                           C$ unless otherwise stated                                                                                                  TORONTO, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife Financial Corporation ("Manulife" or the "Company") reported its first quarter results for the period ended March 31, 2025, delivering record insurance new business results1 and steady growth in book value pe ...

Report shares firm's continued progress toward generating long-term value for its business, customers, communities, and shareholders Highlights from the firm's 2024 Sustainability Report that support Manulife's Impact Agenda to empower sustained health and wellbeing, drive inclusive economic opportunity, and accelerate a sustainable future include the followingi: "As a global life insurer, asset manager, and retirement plan provider, Manulife is uniquely placed to unlock opportunities that help people live ...

Core Viewpoint - The article expresses a cautious stance on the valuation of Manulife Financial Corporation despite its favorable business profile and long-term growth prospects [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Manulife Financial Corporation is recognized for its solid business profile and good growth prospects over the long term [1]. Group 2: Analyst Background - The author of the article is a fund manager/analyst with over 18 years of experience in the financial sector, specializing in portfolio management [1].