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

Manulife vs. SunLife He prefers Manulife, though there are concerns about their Asian exposure. But they are selling at slightly over book and SLF higher. MFC also pays a higher yield of over 1%, and the valuation is better with MFC. He owns both and both will benefit from rising interest rates. MFC has been minimizing risk by getting out of their non-core holdings and to concentrate on their profitable businesses, but this demands patience. They are making solid progress as the new CEO focuses on shareholder value.

WEAK BUY

Why trading at a discount to GWO and SLF? Historically, MFC has stumbled, like CIBC in banking. That's why. But all insurers will benefit from higher interest rates, no doubt. So, MFC is not a bad buy at the moment. Among financials, he prefers banks; insurers have to ensure that their assets match their liabilities, so they are more conservative.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

Allan Tong’s Discover Picks As a trade or a medium-term hold, Manulife benefits from rising interest rates and pays a generous 5.22% dividend. It trades at only a 7.27x PE. In the past seven years, MFC tends to plateau slightly above $27 and fails to rise to $28. With the street expecting four rate hikes in 2022, MFC has another shot at cracking at $28. Since Dec. 1, 2021, Manulife has climbed $2 on the tailwind of rising rate talk. Read 3 Oversold Stocks to Buy Right Now for our full analysis.

BUY

Target price is $30. Perpetual underperformer, but it sets up really nicely. Trading at 6.3x 2023, with growth rate over 10%, dividend growth. Almost a no-brainer at this valuation. Good choice for spare cash.

TOP PICK

Steepening yield curve. Wealth management continues to be in more demand. Asia represents 38% of its overall revenue, greater than any of its NA peers, and will benefit long-term from growing middle class. Discount to peer group at 1x price to book. Yield is 4.32%, expected to grow around 10% a year. (Analysts’ price target is $30.44)

DON'T BUY

Company is a tough investment to make. Struggling to recover from mistakes made 10 years ago. Trying to earn return in negative interest rate environment for policy holders + shareholders is difficult.

DON'T BUY

MFC vs. SLF SLF is head and shoulders above MFC. SLF's model price is $78.85 (11% upside), nice yield of 3.2%, seems to be functioning. MFC, on the other hand, has been the same price for the last 15 years.

TOP PICK

Believes stock is very cheap. Not sensitive to market moves. Capital ratios and other major metrics improved, yet still cheap stock. Business is a solid, boring business.

STRONG BUY

Raised dividend by 18%. Growing business in NA and China. 80% of business is based on fixed income. If we see rising rates, will definitely benefit. Attractive proposition right now. Seasonally also tends to do well at this time. Yield is over 5%.

WEAK BUY

Why is this undervalued given its positive metrics? The answer is MFC's exposure to China, one of the worst-performing asset classes this year, which is surprising given the lack of Covid cases. Lifecos historically are a very good way to play rising interest rates. That could be another factor to like MFC.

BUY

Trades at a discount. Asia has powered much of its growth. No problems owning it in a rising interest rate environment. He's looking at EPS in the $4 range over the next couple of years, and a dividend of 5.5%. Starting to be more generous in dividends.

HOLD

MFC vs. SLF Both struggling. Have to invest in fixed income at low rates. Both problems growing business. MFC has struggled more with its international expansion. Neither is a great longer term grower. He'd choose MFC because of the dividend. If you sell one, pay attention to the tax hit. Yield is 4.6%, safe. SLF yield is around 3%.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Dec 02/20, Up 8%) Double digit dividend increase. Perennially cheap, in stark contrast to its earnings growth rate. Good footprint in Canada, US, and Asia. Sees good upside, continues to buy.

BUY

Manulife vs. Canadian Tire as a dividend play He nearly made MFC a top pick today. He'd certainly buy. They just hiked their dividend and in the US they offloaded a lot of long-term risk. He through the market would have been more positive about the latter. Pays a 5.5% dividend now. Catalysts are head driven by new managers. He prefers MFC over Canadian Tire which faces rising input costs, lots of competition and weaker management. That said, CT is a decent investment.

Premium content

Unlock this Panic-proof Portfolio opinion with Stockchase Premium

Curated by Michael O'Reilly since 2020.
1550+ opinions with 4.81 rating (one of the best performing expert).

TOP PICK

Stockchase Research Editor: Michael O'Reilly We reiterate MFC, a Canadian based financial and wealth services provider, as a TOP PICK. It pays a strong dividend backed by a payout ratio of 33% of cash flow. It trades only 7x current earnings, compared to peers at 12x, and it is valued right near book value. We recommend trailing up the previously recommended stop (from $17) to $21 looking to achieve $30 -- over 29% upside. Yield 4.7% (Analysts’ price target is $30.00)

Showing 211 to 225 of 2,286 entries

Most Recent Experts

Brendan Caldwell

Caldwell Securities

The Panic-Proof Portfolio (Stockchase Research)

Stockchase Premium

The Weekly Buzzing Stocks by Billy Kawasaki

Stockchase

Joe Terranova

Virtus Investment Partners

Stephen Weiss, Founder, Short Hills Capital Partners

Short Hills Capital Partners

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)