Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)

Performing pretty well. Big reopening in Asia is encouraging. Reasonable valuation. Dividend growth will continue. He prefers the P&C business as more rewarding than life insurance.

The chart had a decent upward move from October to early March, but has fallen since. Has now returned to its $24 December base. Is widely held by large institutions and pension funds. More than other insurers, MFC is so tied to the S&P. $24 is good to buy, but if that breaks, MFC could fall to $20.

Believes shares presenting good buying opportunity with fallout from Silicon Valley  Bank.
Strong management with large asset base (over $1.3 Trillion).
Higher interest rates are beneficial for insurance companies.
Aging global population will generate demand for wealth management services.
Trading at discount to net book value.
Paying ~5.9% dividend yield that is secure.

Organization that not able to generate real returns for a long time.
Would avoid buying company.
Dividend yield not worth investing in.
Better names in the sector to own.

Hold, or trade out at historic range top of around $27?

Forging a triple top. Lifecos in general have had a strong run, now taking a breather. Financials are getting hit hard today. Longer term, chart looks great. Great dividend. Add on weakness over the coming week or so. 

Great yield of 5.6%, increased by 11%. Buying back stock. Tough when rates were low, better now with higher rates. Fees from asset management have gone down with markets going down. Inexpensive at 8x earnings, 1.2x book. Great Asian franchise with lots of opportunity to upsell.

A great play on demographics and have very long-life insurance policies. Low interest rates dragged on this company, so rising rates will help. Exposure to Asia is another driver, which should see more life insurance sales as the standard of living rises there.

The insurance industry has been behaving better than the rest of the S&P. It does well in rising rates and therefore is good for a re-inflationary cycle. Has a 5% yield which is growing.

He's been taking some money out on earnings trepidation in Asian operations. Had a really good run. He's been adding to bank stocks, and TD is at the top of the list with its US acquisition still being finalized. MFC was trading at 8x PE with a 5% yield, whereas TD is more expensive. TD has more growth potential. 

Recent results were a little better than expected. They have fits and starts, but never breaks through $30--that's their problem. Until then, sell at the top of the range and buy at the bottom. Trades at a cheap PE, cheaper than the other lifecos and banks. Pays a high dividend. They have a big presence across Asia, which is a secular growth driver, but China's reopen won't have that much impact. Holding them back is exposure in liabilities in the U.S. , though they have been selling off some of them. Would rather sell than buy it right now.

Still likes this value play. Outperforming the TSX since last May. Higher rates is a tailwind for insurers. Is reducing exposure to riskier long-term care insurance and variable annuities while and increasing exposure to Asia (55% of their revenues). China is exiting Covid and its middle class is growing. Pays a 5% dividend and trading at a cheap 1x price to book.

Good stock that is a strong long term hold.
~5% dividend that expects to grow.
Still suffering from 2008 dilution. 
Strong balance sheet.
Good international exposure. 

A former top pick and he still owns it. Can understand frustration of shareholders. Shares have been edging up a but. The lifecos will return in a week or two. As China gets out of lockdown, those sales will pick up. Meanwhile, MFC is trading at a good valuation and the dividend is a good 5%. Get used to a big accounting change in lifecos that will change numbers, but that doesn't mean the underlying business has changed.