TSE:GWO FY2025 EPS Increased by National Bank Financial

Key Points

• Analysts at National Bank Financial have raised their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimate for Great-West Lifeco from $4.58 to $4.67, exceeding the consensus estimate of $4.45.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.61 per share, providing a yield of 4.6%, with the payment date set for September 29th.
• Great-West Lifeco recently approved a share buyback program, reflecting confidence from its board in the company's stock value.

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO - Free Report) - Equities researchers at National Bank Financial lifted their FY2025 earnings estimates for Great-West Lifeco in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, August 5th. National Bank Financial analyst G. Dechaine now expects that the company will post earnings of $4.67 per share for the year, up from their prior estimate of $4.58. The consensus estimate for Great-West Lifeco's current full-year earnings is $4.45 per share.

A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on GWO. Desjardins boosted their target price on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$52.00 to C$55.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday. Royal Bank Of Canada set a C$53.00 target price on shares of Great-West Lifeco and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$56.00 to C$57.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$58.00 to C$57.00 in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$55.00 to C$56.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a report on Thursday. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of C$56.67.

Great-West Lifeco Stock Performance

GWO traded up C$0.28 during trading on Friday, reaching C$53.28. 2,593,848 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,942,318. The stock has a market cap of C$49.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84. Great-West Lifeco has a twelve month low of C$40.16 and a twelve month high of C$57.61. The stock's 50 day moving average price is C$51.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$51.86.

Great-West Lifeco declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, August 5th that authorizes the company to buyback $0.00 in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally an indication that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

Great-West Lifeco Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $0.61 per share. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. Great-West Lifeco's dividend payout ratio is currently 50.79%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Senior Officer David Martin Harney sold 20,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$51.85, for a total value of C$1,073,263.95. Also, Senior Officer Dervla Mary Tomlin sold 36,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$51.05, for a total value of C$1,873,520.32. Corporate insiders own 70.70% of the company's stock.

Great-West Lifeco Company Profile

Great-West Lifeco is one of the three big Canadian life insurance firms. With just under half of the firm's profit and revenue in Canada, Great-West also operates in the U.S. and Europe. In Canada, Great-West provides both individual and group insurance. In the United States, Great-West operates Putnam Investments and defined-contribution recordkeeping firm Empower Retirement.