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

HOLD

MFC-T vs. Canadian Banks. He considers MFC-T to be a core holding. Low interest rates are a challenge for all financials. MFC-T is cleaning up some assets in the US. They are getting these assets under control. They are still growing in Asia. He thinks low interest rates are priced in to the stock price. (Analysts’ price target is $28.00)

BUY

He sees upside. A large part of the assets are bonds and prices have gone up lately. They are, however, suffering with low yields for new money. New insurance policies should get more expensive. It is a great long term hold and you have to accept the volatility. Things could get softer if rates go to zero.

COMMENT

Great Asian franchise. Problem is the US franchise John Hancock, which dragged down their ROE. Strong asset management in Canada. Nice dividend. Low interest rates not helping. Cleaned up balance sheet. Not paying a lot for the stock.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

They still have some litigation overhang though it's partially resolved. Their Q2 results were fine with minimal difference between core and reporting earnings--good. Book value per share is higher at $22.89, so the stock is trading right under this now. Asian earnings were up 15% year over year, which the market was worried about. The balance sheet is improving. He sees 8% EPS growth. Tt's trading at a very low 6.9x PE 2020. Very cheap with a good dividend. You can add a little on weakness in coming months.

COMMENT

Stuck in a trading range. Short sellers? Wouldn't have considered Manulife being a prime candidate for options selling. He blames interest rates. For insurance company to work, across the globe, you need higher interest rates. The other things is there has been some missteps in the past, did a big financing at the top, issued a lot of shares, they should look at buying back shares. Likes the exposure to China and India. Owns the stock, great company, and continues to hold it. 4% dividend yield.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Jul 16/18, Up 7%) He still recommends it and the insurance space in general. It trades just over book value and has a yield of 4%. There is good growth in Asia and they have expanded into Euroasia as well. A well run company that has managed well since the 2008 crisis. One of his favorites.

BUY

A Canadian stalwart in insurance. It's much more sensitive to the equity markets than other financial stocks, so if the US cuts rates, MFC will be a little negative for Canadian banks, but a little positive for the insurers, including MFC. That lawsuit last Q4 knocked 10% off its market cap, though they wont that suit and MFC stock has since recovered.

DON'T BUY

Has recovered this year. Issue is that it's hard in a low interest world. Most attractive things are Asian businesses and wealth management. His preference is to go with a pure play investment manager. Stock is cheap. Good yield of about 4-5%. But there isn't enough growth for him.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Jul 26/18, Up 4%) Trading at 7.7x, extraordinarily cheap. Growing at 9%, with 10% annual dividend growth. Litigation overhang has passed. Still a good place. He's not letting the market bully him out of the stock.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Jul 03/18, Up 6%) He is surprised the stock has not done better. They are looking to divest some of their US divisions, which he sees as having weighed the company down. The new CEO has been working hard and he expects to come up with some good strategies going forward.

COMMENT

Good earnings and profits in the last eight quarters and pays a good dividend, but the stock flatlines. Why? Its international growth beats any other Canadian lifeco, and their core earnings have been growing in past years. They deserve credit for that. The problem here are low/flat interest rates; lifecos benefit when rates rise.

TOP PICK

It trades at a good 10x earnings with fine growth ahead. They're particularly growing in Asia. They're serial dividend inceasers, currently paying 4.1%. (Analysts’ price target is $28.74)

TOP PICK

Pays a 4.2% dividend and trades at 1.1x book value, lower than other Canadian lifecos and MFC's own historic average. The new CEO is making steady progress in freeing up regulatory capital, accelerating growth in some segments, being more expense-efficient and pushing digial engagement with customers. (Analysts’ price target is $28.74)

TOP PICK

As cheap a financial as you can find. Nice yield. Earnings are actually rising. Problems with the hedge fund are in the past. Yield is 4.16%. (Analysts’ price target is $28.74)

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Jul 10/18, Up 5%) She still likes it. MFC Asia is doing a good job. It trades at a very attractive multiple. Earnings growth should pick up.

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Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)