Manulife Financial (MFC.TO) Buy, Sell or Hold

Home

Daily Stock Opinions and Ratings

Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)

60.67

+0.26 (0.43%)

as of Jul 22, 2026, 8:00:00 pm Market Open.

1632 watching

Investor Insights

Jul 22, 2026, 12:00 am

This summary was created by AI, based on 27 opinions in the last 12 months.

Manulife Financial (MFC) has garnered a mostly positive outlook among various experts, highlighting its competitive positioning within the Canadian financial sector, particularly in comparison to major banks like TD and SLF. Analysts note MFC's ongoing strength in wealth management and healthy growth prospects in Asia, although there are concerns regarding its current valuation, as it trades over 2x book value and exhibits only moderate earnings growth. Despite being classified as slightly overbought, its charts remain healthy, with many recommending caution yet seeing potential for growth in the long run. The company's strong dividend yield and management strategies, particularly in alternative investments, also contribute to a favorable long-term investment story, although short-term volatility may present opportunities for those willing to enter at lower price points.

Consensus

Positive

Valuation

Fair Value

Similar

SLF,SLF

BUY

Financials do well now into mid-April. MFC could be a good long-term hold. MFC is performing well now and could return to $28. If it break above $28, MFC could do very well.

WATCH

Why doesn't it trade higher? Over the last year, an investor would rather hold a bank that had never cut its dividend, instead of MFC, which has cut in the past. So MFC won't see the same multiple in uncertain economic times such as now. Going forward, lots of promise. In Asia, a big growth area. Won't have same bank issues with net interest margin or bad debt. Should do well on the other side of a recession. Valuation fairly good, dividend not likely to be cut anytime soon. He's looking at it.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Jan 12/22, Up 4%) Very good cashflow dividend of 5.2% today. Trades below book value, .95 price to book. Outpacing TSX since last May, a good technical sign. Remains a top 3 pan-Asian life insurer. Growth of middle class long term a definite positive. Looser China Covid rules will spur sales. Keep holding.

TOP PICK

Trading at less than its book value, it is very inexpensive. Investors are worried about how insurance companies will do next year under the new accounting regime standards, which will greatly affect the way they book profits and new business. But MFC won't change the way they manage their reserve requirements. This an accounting change, not necessarily a real world change. There is a lot of legacy business left over and this has helped to cause MFC to lag. If this is taken out of the long term care business, as well as low ROE business in the U.S., the stock should start to go up. Buy 7 Hold 8 Sell 1 (Analysts’ price target is $26.21)

BUY

Below NAV. With bond yields recovering, lifecos are finally back in the sweet spot of making money on investments. Spreads on unearned premiums are going to increase, so analysts should redo their models. China is opaque, mysterious, and that makes him nervous. Compelling buy at these prices.

BUY

Dividend play with its 5.5% yield. Most exposure to Asia among peers, a drag the last year. Asia and China are opening up, starting to be a tailwind again. Likes it at current levels.

DON'T BUY

Seemingly a great business, but look at how good it is at reinvesting into the business over the long term. Unable to show they can deliver sustainable higher ROE. Nice dividend, safe. He prefers more growth, such as TSU or IFC.

HOLD

Really likes it for the dividend of 5.56%. Safe dividend. Below book value at 0.9x. Starting to break out a bit. Be patient. As the macro improves in 2023-24, shares in the insurance market should improve also.

BUY

Lifecos are entering reporting season. Investors will look to see how Asian sales impacted in recent environment. Extremely well-financed. Dividend certainly secure, likely to grow. He'd recommend today as a good, long-term hold.

BUY

MFC vs. SLF vs. TD All financials got beaten up. Issue with banks is potential loan losses, and if it's a deep recession, loan losses can get bigger. A lot of financials can be a black box, and you don't see the damage until it's too late. Impressed by what MFC has done over time, nice dividend yield. All financials are starting to look interesting. Banks look attractive valuation-wise, but he'd wait.

BUY

Likes company with strong dividend (expecting rise in the future). Past troubles of the business has led to conservative balance sheet. High interest rates good for insurance companies. Competition from bond yields impacting value of shares.

BUY

His favourite lifeco is GWO. MFC is well run, but has a different regional focus, China, higher-grown and emerging. Valuation trades near book value and pays around a 6% dividend. There's tremendous value in lifecos. MFC ticks all the boxes.

DON'T BUY

It always trades in the same range. What kind of value is being created? Can't seem to deploy excess capital efficiently. See his Top Picks. Don't be seduced by the dividend.

DON'T BUY

It's been stuck in the doldrums for 5-6 years. It doesn't grow like the banks. Currency meltdowns hurt MFC's big Asian division.

DON'T BUY

Hard to own insurance, as there are so many moving parts. Insurance arm in Asia starting to slow down. Cheap valuation. Unclear what motivation is to move higher. Not a fan, or of any insurance. Benefit of rising rates offset by poor equity markets.

Showing 151 to 165 of 2,283 entries

Most Recent Experts

Jim Cramer - Mad Money

CNBC

John Stephenson

Stephenson & Company Capital Management

The Panic-Proof Portfolio (Stockchase Research)

Stockchase Premium

Julien Nono-Womdim

Goodreid Investment Council

Larry Berman CFA, CMT, CTA

ETF Capital Management Inc.

Stockchase, in its reporting on what has been discussed by individuals on business television programs (in particular Business News Network), neither recommends nor promotes any investment strategies.

We paraphrase the experts by hand, we watch the shows and write down what we understood from the experts’ comments. We are human and can make mistakes, help us fix any errors. If you see something that you know is not right or if there is a problem with the site, feel free to email us at : [email protected].

Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)