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

Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)

61.50

-0.03 (0.05%)

as of Sep 24, 2026, 8:00:00 pm Market Open.

1632 watching

BUY

MFC vs. CM CM has a dividend yield of 5.2% vs. MFC at 5.8%. CM trades at 8x earnings, MFC at 7x. CM trades above book value, MFC below book. MFC is cheaper, strong Asian franchise with room to grow. CM has become a strong retail bank. CM will be affected more than MFC by what happens to the Canadian economy. Buy either at these levels.

SELL ON STRENGTH

Perennially inexpensive, grows fairly consistently, but no one cares. There's always something shinier. Better opportunities in Canadian banks, alternate asset managers, and P&C insurers. A safe hold through a difficult environment. Dividend unambiguously safe, may even grow. Take profits when it gets close to a 3 handle.

COMMENT

Holds it as an income stock. It's underperformed other financials. It's been re-grouping the past 5 years, dealing with legacy businesses. Also, the slowdown/shutdown in Hong Kong has been a pressure. PEs for all lifecos are very low. She is questioning whether to hold it longer-term.

DON'T BUY

Last week, most banks and lifecos touched a 52-week low. Recession is not good for them. Insurance companies are hard to figure out. Not only insurance, but mutual funds as well, so it's complicated. He owns POW for the dividend and BRK.B.

PARTIAL BUY

Insurance & investment segments bulk of business. Covid-19 pandemic presented good financial results for insurance business. Excellent dividend, but prefers bank stocks over insurance. Insurance business very difficult to forecast. Long term prospects of business fairly strong.

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PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Jun 09/22, Down 8.5%)Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly Our PAST TOP PICK with MFC has triggered its stop at $21.50. To remain disciplined, we recommend covering the position at this time. This will result in a next investment loss of 10%, when combined with previous buy recommendations.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Jun 03/21, Down 9%) Asia is promising. Sluggish GDP in Canada is holding it back, as well as prior management decisions. Looks perennially cheap, but the stock can't seem to get out of its own way.

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TOP PICK

Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly As one of Canada's largest financial and insurance providers, we again reiterate MFC as a TOP PICK. Recently reported earnings missed expectations, due to higher than expected mortality rates in the US due to COVID. However, moving forward the company recently de-risked a sizable portion of their US annuity business that frees up over $2 billion in capital. Higher interest rates will also benefit the company. It trades at only 5x earnings, supports a ROE over 18% and is valued just under book. It pays a healthy dividend, backed by a payout ratio under 30%. We continue to recommend a stop loss at $21.50, looking to achieve $28 -- upside potential over 18%. Yield 5.6% (Analysts’ price target is $27.67)

BUY

Insurance companies usually benefit from rising rates. Global company. Financials are attractive, as he expects the yield curve to normalize over the next year or two.

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TOP PICK

Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly With a market cap of $50 billion, MFC is one of Canada's largest financial services firms. It is in a space that tends to benefit from rising interest rates and we reiterate it as TOP PICK. It trades right at book value and at 7x earnings, it is good value here. The dividend was recently bumped up over 17% and is backed by a payout ratio under 35% of cash flow. We are recommend to slide the stop (down from $24.50) to $21.50, to accommodate current market uncertainty, looking to achieve $30 -- upside potential over 20%. Yield 5.19% (Analysts’ price target is $30.00)

DON'T BUY

They take on too much risk and the dividend doesn't make him buy.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Apr 21/21, Down 1%) At close to book value, better priced today than SLF, which also has a lower yield. Large exposure to Asia's continuing Covid situation may explain lagging performance. Extremely well structured and financed. No hesitation in recommending it long term. Yield slightly over 5%.

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Curated by Michael O'Reilly since 2020.
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TOP PICK

Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly As one of Canada's largest insurers, with rapidly growing operations in the US and Asia, we again reiterate MFC as a TOP PICK. Recently reported earnings again beat analyst expectations and support a respectable 14% ROE, which helps support a great dividend yield that employs less than 35% of cash flow. It trades at 8x earnings, compared to peers at 33x. We recommend trailing up the stop (from $21.00) to $24.50, looking to achieve 31.50 -- 15% upside potential. Yield 4.84% (Analysts’ price target is $31.33)

BUY

Great Asian franchise. Asset management business has been tough, decreasing margins. Will continue to do better, especially as we see less volatility. Worth owning here. Nice yield of almost 5%, not trading at a huge multiple at 1.2x book.

WEAK BUY

A pocket of value in the sector, life insurance is the cheapest in the group. Lifecos definitely have room for multiple expansion and earnings growth. His preferred name is GWO, with a more mature M&A market focus. MFC is more focused on EM.

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Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)