Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)

It is at its highest level in a year. It has 3 major features: top line growth, margin expansion and dividend growth. It is getting out of long term care which is a catalyst. Growing at 9.3% and trading at 9X it is still cheaper than its group. He considers it better than the banks. Lower rates will help with their charges.
Buy 12  Hold 5  Sell 0

Hard to buy at these prices. Has done all the right things. Overhang of LTC business is gone. Traditionally, benefits more in a rising, not falling, rate environment. Bigger story is focus on Asian growth of middle class and asset management.

Likes the dividend, and its growth recently of 10%. Benefits from our being 6 months into a 3-year cyclical bull market. Over time rates will move higher, which is good for insurance companies. International. Some risk in China.

De-risked US business, the weakest unit. He's looking at it, on shopping list, hasn't yet pulled trigger. Re-rated nicely, undemanding multiple, single-digit PE ratio. Yield is ~4%. Pay attention to chart validating fundamental changes, often a leading indicator of changes within. Wouldn't quarrel with investors taking a position.

Up 25% YTD. Great dividend ~4.5%. Well diversified asset base to generate revenue from different streams. Only about 9% upside from here. Not a bad time to trim if you have profits, though you can probably ride it a bit higher. For new money, wait for better entry point.

Likes the turnaround. Asian exposure working out. This name is higher risk, higher reward.

Good place to put money now with the Canadian dividend tax credit.

It's been a way to play higher-for-longer interest rates. But he doesn't know how it will do if rates go down. MFC's core business has been doing well and could expand. It benefits from aging demographics through its life insurance business.

He has owned it for a long time and is overweight for clients. He is not buying more at these levels but also not selling. It is still reasonably valued and pays a 4 1/2% dividend.

Higher rates are actually good for insurance companies.

Excellent business that has seen very strong share performance. Will continue to own shares. Great balance sheet with stable dividend. Continues to reinvest in business. Also getting exposure to USA and Asia business lines as well. 

Lifeco's have been out performing Canadian banks lately. Has owned shares for a long time. Strong share price lately nice to see. Solid dividend yield good for investors. Would recommend a partial position. 

Cheaper PE at 8.5x than peers, decent growth rate of 9%. Nice beat recently with Asia up 21%, EPS up 18%, ROE starting to get higher at 16.7%. Helped by rates being higher for longer. Insurance companies still better than the banks, and fund flows continue. Nice yield of 4.5%, with 8% growth.

Ideally, he'd like to buy lower. But can still buy here and it will work for your portfolio over the next 1-2 years.

Stock popped after got lower-return LTC off its books. Cleaning up commercial real estate used to back the LTC liabilities. If this progress continues, a strong hold.

Company has been range bound for ~10-15 years. Recent strength in stock price good for investors. Higher interest rates good for investors. If interest rates fall, not good for business. Would recommend holding shares.