Manulife Financial (MFC) Set to Announce Earnings on Wednesday

Manulife Financial (TSE:MFC - Get Free Report) NYSE: MFC will be announcing its earnings results 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 - Get Free Report) NYSE: MFC last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The financial services provider reported C$0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of C$0.84 by C$0.08. The business had revenue of C$14.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$10.24 billion. Manulife Financial had a net margin of 20.05% and a return on equity of 11.57%.

Manulife Financial Stock Performance

Shares of MFC traded up C$0.32 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching C$32.43. 9,584,550 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,089,841. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 45.69, a current ratio of 3.79 and a quick ratio of 2.58. The stock has a market capitalization of C$58.70 billion, a PE ratio of 12.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 1.09. The business's fifty day simple moving average is C$32.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$29.47. Manulife Financial has a 52-week low of C$23.69 and a 52-week high of C$34.05.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 27th. This is a positive change from Manulife Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.93%. Manulife Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 61.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Brooks Tingle sold 3,317 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total value of C$108,664.92. In related news, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 10,294 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total value of C$337,231.44. Also, Director Brooks Tingle sold 3,317 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 value of C$108,664.92. 0.02% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on MFC. TD Securities lowered shares of Manulife Financial from an "action list buy" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from C$35.00 to C$37.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. National Bankshares lifted their price objective on shares of Manulife Financial from C$33.00 to C$34.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Cormark upgraded shares of Manulife Financial from a "market perform" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from C$33.00 to C$36.00 in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Manulife Financial from C$34.00 to C$38.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Evercore boosted their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$30.00 to C$36.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of C$36.40.

Manulife Financial Company Profile

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.