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

Increased their dividend by 20% this year, now above 5%. Interest rates went up--then down, which hurt the lifecos, MFC is doing a good job of selling their legacy businesses, which improves their outlook. Their traditional cash flow out of their Canadian business creates cash flow, and their Asian operation is good especially for long-term.

BUY

The lifecos are attractive after this correction. Solid businesses. SLF has a big U.S. asset management operation. But she prefers (and owns) MFC which has a better valuation. In the past. SLF's earnings have outgrown MFC's, but MFC's should outpace SLF's going forward. MFC trades at a discount to SLF.

BUY

It has probably been hit the hardest because of legacy issues, mostly that have been addressed now.

BUY

Still a buy despite the legal challenge? He lends no credence to this case. Any court will side with MFC, given the law. The case is not a headwind--look past it. MFC is very well-managed. They've turned around since cutting their dividend during the Recession a decade ago.

DON'T BUY

The chart for this stock doesn't look too attractive. Valuations seems relatively cheap but he prefers to wait until sentiment improves.

BUY

No inside information, but regulator has shut down the issue in the court case, to Manulife's benefit. Canadian insurance companies are very cheap. Manulife has great assets in Asia and US. Sees 10% earnings growth in next couple of years. Compelling, will benefit with rising rates.

WAIT

They hired a new CEO in the last 12 months. They want to grow the wealth management business. There was a short report on them a couple of weeks ago. They are doing a good job and he likes the direction they are going. They are looking at cost savings and driving efficiencies.

BUY

vs. Sunlife Q3 beat--earnings were way up. Double-digit growth in the US. Asia operations were a lower weak. 4% EPS growth only. Pricey vs. peers. Manulife has a better growth rate, and he prefers MFC. The lawsuit they face--MFC will be okay.

DON'T BUY

Earnings looked good. They freed up capital for buybacks. Interest rate hikes are positive, but might take time to come through. Product sales are good in Asia, so fundamentally in good shape. Overhang of US lawsuits, which will go on for a while. Negative Canadian bias from outside of Canada. Stock won’t move until things get cleaned up. Prefers the banks.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Aug 16/18, Down 10%) MFC will survive the legal issue in respect to the hedge fund report. It's an extremely strong company. Likes it, though he isn't adding to it now. It's suffering with its Asian operations because of US-China trade tensions. Those will lift, then we'll see growth in MFC's Asian operations. Look beyond the headlines, which can make an erratic ride.

WEAK BUY

He has SLF-T and two US lifecos. He avoided MFC-T because of legacy products that he had issues with, as well as legacy acquisitions. They are starting to address them one at a time. He likes lifecos but you could own this one.

DON'T BUY

Owns SunLife instead. Interest rates are rising and pressuring these stocks. He likes MFC's exposure to Asia, which will help them long term. But MFC has been sideways. He needs to see MFC to rise far above its 200-day moving average before stepping in. Pays a 4.7% dividend, but little dividend growth.

TOP PICK

It ran into a short-seller and a lawsuit, but the courts have since sided with MFC. The short-seller was taking advantage in MFC and they appear to have been beaten back. MFC itself has been beaten down and is now swinging back, so buy this now. 4.6% dividend. (Analysts’ price target is $29.34)

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Nov 23/18, Down 13%) A particular investor has been complaining on courts. Apparently it is going to go on the company's favor. He thinks that the stock is oversold and is going to come back. He just bought it.

COMMENT

He doesn't know what the odds are of MFC winning this lawsuit that a hedge fund has trumpeted, but the case is a huge cloud. Rising interest rates will benefit all insurance companies whose stock prices haven't moved much but are paying fat dividend yields. MFC pays a 4.2% dividend. Maybe MFC isn't his top idea in this sector, but the problem with all the insurance companies is that they have so many policies with many many details--it's opaque, so what do they mean? And this has led to this lawsuit.

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Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)