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TSE:GWO

Great West Lifeco (GWO.TO)

89.16
+0.42 (0.47%)
as of Aug 24, 2026, 8:00:01 pm Market Open.
420 watching
0
Investor Insights
star iconAug 24, 2026, 12:00 am

This summary was created by AI, based on 7 opinions in the last 12 months.

Great West Lifeco (GWO) is viewed as a solid company with stable earnings and a reliable dividend history, although its recent valuation is considered rich by some analysts. Multiple reviews suggest that the insurance sector, including GWO, has seen stock prices rise significantly, leading to concerns about current buying opportunities. While some experts recommend waiting for a better entry point due to high valuations, others highlight GWO's steady growth profile and the potential for higher dividends in the future. Comparisons with other financial companies, particularly MFC, indicate that while GWO has quality assets and lower volatility, there may be more attractive options currently available in the market. Overall, the stock is appreciated for its stability and income-generating potential, but caution is advised regarding its current valuation relative to growth prospects.

consensus icon
Consensus
Hold
valuation icon
Valuation
Overvalued
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Similar
MFC
HOLD

Great company that is well run.
Does not own shares - instead owns parent company - Power Corporation of Canada.
Only provides exposure to insurance industry.
Safe bet for the long term otherwise. 

BUY

Lifecos invest the premiums they receive and are now getting better long term returns of 5 to 6% on bonds that used to pay only 2%. Therefore revenues on premiums have gone up a lot but the market hasn't recognized this yet leading to these companies being under-valued.

DON'T BUY

Are underperforming and trades at a premium to peers with slower growth. Power Corp is better and cheaper. Prefers lifecos to banks.

BUY

Fantastic dividend yield @ ~5%.
Very strong company with excellent fundamentals.
Good price to buy at for long term investor.

BUY

Operates under a number of different brands. Note that POW owns about 70% of shares. Growth can be slower than peers, but a steady earner with impressive dividend yield of 5.4%. Trades at a single-digit multiple. Buy and hold for the long term. Very well managed.

BUY

Very well run life insurance and wealth management. Very nice dividend, low price multiple. Buying this instead of POW lets you eliminate the holding company variability. The fewer moving parts the better.

WEAK BUY

Dividend probably safe. Prefers the diversification with POW. Nothing against it, but he'd buy SLF and MFC ahead of this one. Fairly well managed and well capitalized. Good yield.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Feb 16/22, Down 3%)

Inexpensive at 9-10x earnings. Fantastic dividend yield, almost 6%. Peers are pursuing EMs. GWO is doing the opposite, focusing on mature markets. Very well run. Conservative, nice total return.

BUY
Trevor Rose’s Insights - Trevor’s most-liked answers from 5i Research.

GWO is now trading at 9.7x times' Forward P/E. In Q4 – 2022, EPS of $0.96 beat estimates of $0.88. ROE is good at 13.6%. 
Total asset under management remained largely flat at $1.03B. Based on consensus estimates, EPS is expected to grow by 6% in 2023. 
The financial position is strong with long-term debt (excluding lease) of $10.5B against total Equity of $32B.
The company also increased dividends by 6% and gave out medium-term guidance to grow EPS by 9% on average while maintaining an ROE of 14-15% on average.
Overall, we think this is a good quarter, the company continues to execute well with their previous guidance.
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COMMENT

Their business mix is different from its peers. GWO is a major part of Power Corp. GWO reports tomorrow. The street expects earnings to be down YOY, but analysts estimates are low, so there could be a beat. They pay an excellent dividend which is safe. Prefers SLF, MFC of Industrial Alliance.

BUY ON WEAKNESS
Allan Tong’s Discover Picks

GWO stock pays a 5.57%dividend yield, fine for income earners, and trades at 11.06x earnings. Of the three listed here, GWO boasts the lowest beta at 0.79, so it’s a stable ship on choppy seas. It has beaten three of its last four quarters, but missed the last in November 2022. While the dividend should be stable, GWO’s earnings growth lags its peers and the wider market. Annual growth over the last five year stands at 6.4% while the industry boasts 24.1% and the wider market 21.5%. Last year, GWO earnings growth actually declined by 9.7% while its peers climbed 5.1% and the market 9.4%. Read 4 Insurance Stocks to Stay Safe in a Risky Market for our full analysis. 

WEAK BUY
Instead, he owns POW, the holding company. Thinks POW can narrow the discount on its NAV. GWO is not expensive at 1.1-1.2x book. Great dividend yield, low PE. US asset management arm has been tough, but should improve.
BUY
Well run company that charges premiums for insurance products. Nature of insurance allows for buildup of float (cash) that is valuable (can be re-invested). Good long term business for investors. Attractive dividend with long term track record.
BUY
Well run company that charges premiums for insurance products. Nature of insurance allows for buildup of float (cash) that is valuable (can be re-invested). Good long term business for investors. Attractive dividend with long term track record.
WEAK BUY
GWO vs. POW Holding company. Streamlined structure. Depends if you like the insurance business or not. He prefers to own the top company, rather than the underlying businesses. GWO is a great business. You'll do well with either of them.
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