Latest news with #ManulifeFinancial
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Manulife Financial (MFC) Could Be a Great Choice
Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus. While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns. Headquartered in Toronto, Manulife Financial (MFC) is a Finance stock that has seen a price change of 4.01% so far this year. The financial services company is currently shelling out a dividend of $0.61 per share, with a dividend yield of 3.99%. This compares to the Insurance - Life Insurance industry's yield of 1.75% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.56%. Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.28 is up 8% from last year. Over the last 5 years, Manulife Financial has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 8.83%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Right now, Manulife's payout ratio is 43%, which means it paid out 43% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend. MFC is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 is $2.94 per share, with earnings expected to increase 4.26% from the year ago period. Investors like dividends for many reasons; they greatly improve stock investing profits, decrease overall portfolio risk, and carry tax advantages, among others. It's important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout. For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers their shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. With that in mind, MFC is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Manulife Financial Corp (MFC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manulife Financial First Quarter 2025 Earnings: EPS: CA$0.25 (vs CA$0.42 in 1Q 2024)
Revenue: CA$8.68b (flat on 1Q 2024). Net income: CA$500.0m (down 34% from 1Q 2024). Profit margin: 5.8% (down from 8.8% in 1Q 2024). EPS: CA$0.25 (down from CA$0.42 in 1Q 2024). We check all companies for important risks. See what we found for Manulife Financial in our free report. All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 13% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 6.4% growth forecast for the Insurance industry in Canada. Performance of the Canadian Insurance industry. The company's shares are up 1.6% from a week ago. While earnings are important, another area to consider is the balance sheet. We have a graphic representation of Manulife Financial's balance sheet and an in-depth analysis of the company's financial position. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manulife names new chief actuary
Manulife has appointed Stephanie Fadous as the company's chief actuary, succeeding Steve Finch. Last month, the company named Finch as the president and CEO for Asia. Finch will take over the role from Phil Witherington, who has been named president and CEO of Manulife, with the current CEO set to retire. All the mentioned appointments will be effective from 9 May 2025. In her new capacity, Fadous will be part of Manulife's executive leadership team and will report to Witherington. Witherington added: 'I am pleased to be welcoming Stephanie to our Executive Leadership Team. Her ability to drive meaningful outcomes and strong focus on delivering results will further strengthen our talented, global team.' Fadous is currently Manulife's global treasurer and head of capital management, and she has been developing global funding strategies and managing the company's relationships with rating agencies and banks. Fadous' experience with Manulife also includes leading global implementation of the IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 accounting standards. Her career at Manulife has spanned various roles across global finance, group actuarial, corporate development and asset liability management teams. Manulife CEO and president Roy Gori said: 'Stephanie's deep understanding of our company, commitment to leading with our values and unwavering focus on continuous growth will serve her well as Chief Actuary.' Currently, Manulife global head of investor relations Hung Ko will take on the role of global head of treasury and investor relations, succeeding Fadous. Ko has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. Manulife Financial reported net income of $1.64bn (C$2.28bn) attributable to shareholders for the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease from $1.66bn in the same quarter of the previous year. The company's net income attributed to shareholders for the full year increased by 5%, reaching $5.4bn, up from $5.1bn in 2023. "Manulife names new chief actuary " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Executive Changes At Manulife Financial (TSX:MFC) Amid CEO Appointments
Manulife Financial experienced significant executive changes recently with Steve Finch appointed as President and CEO of Manulife Asia, effective May 9, 2025, and Phil Witherington transitioning to the role of Global President and CEO. These leadership shifts at a crucial time may have influenced investor sentiment, possibly contributing to the company's 8% decline over the past month. The broad market, which fell 9.5% during recent tariff-induced volatility, also impacted Manulife's performance. This period of uncertainty affected numerous sectors and companies, reflecting broader economic concerns from the escalating trade tensions between major economies. Buy, Hold or Sell Manulife Financial? View our complete analysis and fair value estimate and you decide. Explore 21 top quantum computing companies leading the revolution in next-gen technology and shaping the future with breakthroughs in quantum algorithms, superconducting qubits, and cutting-edge research. Over the last five years, Manulife Financial's total shareholder returns reached an impressive 185.70%, spotlighting the company's capability to enhance investor value. Recent strategic decisions have supported this growth, including a focused expansion in the high-growth Asian markets and the Wealth and Asset Management business. The firm's commitment to digital transformation, exemplified by the adoption of Generative AI technology in late 2024, has been pivotal in driving operational efficiency and customer service improvements. Additionally, strong capital management practices, such as a substantial share buyback program announced in February 2025, and a 10% increase in dividends, underscore Manulife's dedication to returning value to shareholders. Despite exposure to underperforming real estate and other macroeconomic challenges, Manulife's enduring focus on financial strength and shareholder returns sets a solid platform for continued performance, although it underperformed the Canadian insurance industry over the past year. Upon reviewing our latest valuation report, Manulife Financial's share price might be too pessimistic. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include TSX:MFC. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manulife picks its chief actuary Steve Finch as Asia CEO to lead its biggest profit centre
Canada's biggest insurer Manulife Financial has appointed its chief actuary Steve Finch to head its Asian business, picking a company veteran to take charge of a region that is projected to become the group's single most profitable market. Finch will bring more than three decades of industry experience to his new role as president and CEO of Asia when he takes over from Phil Witherington on May 9 in Hong Kong, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. Witherington will return to Toronto to replace Roy Gori as global CEO, according to a November announcement. "I am incredibly excited about this opportunity to lead the Asia segment," Finch said in a phone interview with the Post. "The growth opportunities here are tremendous, given the status of Hong Kong as a regional financial services hub." Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Finch marked his third decade at Manulife in 2022. Before his current role as chief actuary, he served as the chief financial officer of Manulife's US unit John Hancock, and general manager of US Life. He started visiting Asia in 2016, making about five trips annually. Chief actuary Steve Finch will take over as Manulife's Asia CEO from May 9, 2025. Photo: Handout alt=Chief actuary Steve Finch will take over as Manulife's Asia CEO from May 9, 2025. Photo: Handout> "My wife and I are really excited about making the move here," said Finch, who has been in Hong Kong since January. "We came to love Hong Kong very quickly. We were finding some of the good restaurants around the city, and we are really excited about making the move here permanently." Manulife's core earnings rose 8 per cent last year to C$7.23 billion (US$5 billion). Asia contributed 44 per cent to the group profit, a higher proportion than the 37 per cent in 2023. The insurer was on track to beat its target of deriving 50 per cent of its earnings from Asia by 2027, Witherington said on Tuesday, reiterating his assessment in November. Hong Kong, the insurer's headquarters in the region, is its single largest profit generator as the return of mainland Chinese visitors, both as tourists and talent migrants, helped boost new sales in the city. Mainland Chinese spent HK$46.6 billion on life and health policies from January to September last year, according to the Insurance Authority, or 30 per cent of industry-wide sales. Some 44.5 million travellers visited Hong Kong last year, an increase of 31 per cent from a year earlier as post-pandemic cross-border travel rebounded further, according to data published by the Tourism Board. Mainland Chinese made up 77 per cent of the arrivals in the city. "We have bold ambitions for Asia," said Gori, who will stay on as an adviser to the insurer for three months when he retires in May, in what company executives described as a "seamless transition" of roles. Finch's "strong knowledge of our products and distribution channels across Asia, and passion for leading teams will help accelerate our growth agenda for this critical part of our business", Gori added. Manulife's other key markets in the Asia-Pacific region - China, Singapore, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia - also reported strong sales following the launch of innovative products, customer apps and investment in call-centre technology. "There are many emerging new customer segments across Asia, including the growing high-net-worth customer segment, the continued growth of the mainland Chinese visitor customer segment to Hong Kong, as well as the growing Islamic customer segments across the region, notably in Indonesia and Malaysia," Witherington said. Finch and Witherington, along with over 200 top executives of Manulife, gathered in Shenzhen two weeks ago to map out its strategies and show the group's commitment to the Greater Bay Area. New growth segments are high-net-worth individuals, mainland Chinese policy buyers and the Islamic insurance market, especially for large Muslim populations in Indonesia and Malaysia. The insurer would invest more in digital, deploying generative artificial intelligence to provide tools to its agents to enhance their productivity in providing life, health, wealth and retirement coverage across the region, Witherington said. "Hong Kong and Asia are such important markets for us globally, so you will continue to see me in Hong Kong in the future," he added. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio