Manulife Financial (MFC.TO)

Inter Pipeline (IPL-T) or Manulife (MFC-T) for a long-term hold? Feels this one is expensive as well. Operating earnings are getting better. This benefits from markets and interest rates, both going up.

(A Top Pick Dec 21/12. Up 50.16%.) Still sees value in this. Right now, the lifecos in particular, are in a cycle where, going forward, there is going to be more operating efficiencies. They are very cost conscious now. Also, expects there will be some operating leverages as the volume of business continues to expand. If interest rates start to rise, that is good for lifecos.

Trading at low multiple. MCCSR is very robust right now. Will be a $25-$26 stock with the global economy doing so well right now.

It was disappointing over the last 5 years. Now they have hedged their guaranteed income product and the stock has gone up. The best performer of the lifecos. He would buy it now. All of the risk is out of the stock now. Power Financial is a way to get into this sector cheaply.

Good, big, solid insurer. After going through a fair amount of indigestion through the last several years, lifecos seem to be off to the races now. Wait for a pullback before buying.

What effect will quantitative easing have on this stock? This stock has had a big run. Their sensitivity in their portfolio to interest rates and the stock market has been substantially reduced. They were hedging out their exposure to the stock market as the stock market was rallying. Now they are hedging out their exposure to interest rates. Doesn’t think there is a much exposure as there used to be. This has an OK yield. Has a lot of capital locked up in the balance sheet that if things ever recover down the road they will be able to start taking some gains back into their income.

Her call is that long term interest rates go up which will benefit them and they will do so the most of all the Lifecos. Capital ratios are excellent. Thinks they can’t increase dividend until end of 2014

(Market call minute.) Somewhat overvalued. If you own, he would recommend selling half your position.

(Market call minute.) Still attractive.

He has owned for quite a while. The whole sector has risen for quite some time. Now you are seeing earnings power emerge. Pretty good potential going forward.

Has a bit of a tailwind now which could get stronger if the stock market goes up and interest rates start to rise again. Remember that this company is big in Asia too and that is not factored into the stock at $20. There is some real growth potential here.

Easy money based on interest-rate normalization and capital market normalization has been made. Now a bit of a “show me” story. Market is continuing to look for growth in core earnings. Core earnings are improving and the base business is doing well. Lifecos are going to benefit as interest rates rise. Wouldn’t be rushing in today.

You are very well hedged in this. If equities keep rising, you are doing okay. If the tapering issue starts again and interest-rate rise, this company would be able to reinvest their fixed income, proceeds at higher rates. Feels that insurance and annuities will be a good business going forward.

Likes this. Latest earnings show an improved earnings power and momentum. That combined with improving macro conditions means more likely they are going to meet their 2016 earnings and ROE targets. The key to further multiple expansion from here is whether they can continue to contain their expenses and new business strain. You can try to buy this on a little bit of a pull back.

Chart shows a strong upward trend from mid-2012. It broke above the little resistance, which is reasonably positive. Insurance companies benefit from the rate rise that we saw from May and the stock market, moving up. Until those things change, the trend line says it is going to go up.