Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) Stock Price Breaks Above 50 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Great-West Lifeco shares rose above their 50-day moving average, reaching C$91.40 and closing at C$90.95, compared with a 50-day average of C$90.78.
• Analysts have a generally positive view, with six Buy ratings and five Holds, producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of C$93.18. Recent targets range from C$87 to C$107.
• The company reported quarterly EPS of C$1.42 on C$8.35 billion in revenue and pays a quarterly dividend of C$0.67, or C$2.68 annually, yielding approximately 2.9%.

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO - Get Free Report)'s share price passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$90.78 and traded as high as C$91.40. Great-West Lifeco shares last traded at C$90.95, with a volume of 372,464 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently commented on GWO. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce lifted their price objective on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$95.00 to C$97.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$90.00 to C$92.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$84.00 to C$107.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. National Bank Financial reduced their target price on Great-West Lifeco from C$95.00 to C$94.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 19th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$86.00 to C$87.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Great-West Lifeco has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of C$93.18.

Great-West Lifeco Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of C$81.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a current ratio of 6.07, a quick ratio of 22.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 28.63. The business has a 50-day moving average of C$90.78 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$79.00.

Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported C$1.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$8.35 billion during the quarter. Great-West Lifeco had a return on equity of 15.48% and a net margin of 12.49%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Great-West Lifeco Inc. will post 4.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Great-West Lifeco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 29th were given a $0.67 dividend. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 1st. Great-West Lifeco's dividend payout ratio is 52.89%.

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. In 2020, Great-West announced it would acquire Personal Capital and MassMutual's recordkeeping business. In Europe, Great-West offers life insurance, annuities, and reinsurance primarily in the U.K., Ireland, and Germany.

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