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

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Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)

60.39

-0.28 (0.46%)

as of Jul 23, 2026, 6:04:18 pm Market Open.

1632 watching

Investor Insights

Jul 23, 2026, 12:00 am

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

Manulife Financial (MFC) has received mixed reviews from various experts, highlighting both its strengths and concerns. Many praise the company for its solid performance in Asia and wealth management, coupled with a healthy dividend yield, making it an attractive income stock. However, some analysts express caution due to overvaluation, suggesting that MFC may be overbought, trading at over 2x book value with slow earnings growth of around 8-9%. While the stock is seen as a reasonable long-term holding, there are calls for potential buying opportunities during market pullbacks. The general sentiment reflects a wait-and-see approach given the mixed indicators and the overall health of the financial sector.

Consensus

Cautious

Valuation

Fair Value

Similar

SLF

WATCH

You have the insurance side and the investment side. The latter is going to be very challenging for insurance companies because of where interest rates are. Watch the investment side closely. The insurance side is doing quite well.

PARTIAL BUY

Dividend safe? He did sell some earlier this year, but it's still a core position. The low interest rates kill their balance sheet. But the good news is that they have potential for growth in Asia as Asia returns to speed. The dividend is safe. It's a tricky balancing act. Generally, don't over-lever anything now. We have to get through this period before the sun shines--and the sun will shine again. You can buy this, but don't overweight any stock.

WATCH

These insurers get hit on all sides. It has gone below his EBV -3, which is 'in the blue'. Their balance sheet is impaired according to the markets. He would not buy until it breaks above $21.82.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Mar 20/19, Down 36%) He's sticking with it. MFC, back to 2008, was much more sensitive to the markets than today. They de-risked their balance sheet. They're getting hit now because of exposure to Asia. He believes MFC will come out of this and do quite well.

WATCH

Buy lifecos or banks? This sell-off has been peculiar, because the most-damaged are value stocks including financials in Canada and the U.S. Massacred. MFC is close to a low. It has huge upside potential based on its earnings. But they're in medical insurance. He suspects these stocks are getting close to attractive prices.

DON'T BUY

He would wait for now and would prefer SLF-T. Insurance companies can't benefit from lowering interest rates.

WAIT

Nov-Apr is seasonality. Even before today's sell-off there was trouble brewing in this. This looks like it's heading to its Dec. 2018 chart. In each rebound up MFC will see shareholders sell into strength. That's a warning. Wait on this one.

HOLD

Exposure to China? He owns a position on behalf of clients. He thinks the share drop is manageable. With a life insurance company, there is always a need to have it. Demand may be delayed and deferred, but not lost. You can hold it here. Longer term there is more upside than downside. Lower interest rates do hurt their longer term exposures, but he expects 10 year interest rates to return to normal going forward. Yield 5%

BUY

How can MFC maintain its upward trajectory after the central banks cut interest rates? Insurers have been hit hard by the low rates, including MFC, but it will eventually reach $30, because it's very profitable, has strong Asian growth from its growing middle class, and is performing well in North America. Buy/own this, put it away and forget it for five years. By then, it'll reach $30.

DON'T BUY

It is only trading 6 times earnings. However, the interest rate environment makes it difficult for life insurance companies going forward. They have done a good job growing their business in Asia. He just sees better opportunities.

COMMENT

Chart shows a double-top of $27. Insurance looks good. Nice upward move since start-2019 in MFC. He doesn't know the fundamentals of MFC, though it got hit hard today in the global sell-off. He owns other insurers including Sun-Life.

DON'T BUY

They're definitely in China, but he doesn't know their exposure now. The really challenge is an aging population and a system that doesn't manage chronic diseases well. Be careful with Manulife, but also all insurers.

COMMENT

He stills likes Sun Life better. He's concerned about the emphasis that Manulife has put on Far Eastern growth they anticipate. Manulife has a checkered history of surprising on the down-side, whereas Sun Life is more predictable. Sun Life has good presence in North America.

TOP PICK

The Canadian stock market has massively under-performed the US for the last decade. MFC-T has under-performed the insurance sector and recovered from all of its miss-steps. It is trading at 10 times earnings, with share buy-backs and debt reduction. (Analysts’ price target is $30.80)

BUY ON WEAKNESS

MFC vs. RY MFC shows a nice uptrend, but facing long-term resistance. It's overbought, so enter around $26 during a sell-off. RY's chart is moderately positive with short-term resistance around $110. Not much upside at the current $107. Enter at $102-103.

Showing 316 to 330 of 2,283 entries

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Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)