Desjardins Cuts Earnings Estimates for Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial Corp (NYSE:MFC) (TSE:MFC) – Research analysts at Desjardins decreased their FY2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Manulife Financial in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, October 14th. Desjardins analyst D. Young now expects that the financial services provider will earn $3.13 per share for the year, down from their prior estimate of $3.14. The consensus estimate for Manulife Financial’s current full-year earnings is $2.87 per share.

Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC) (TSE:MFC) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.71 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $11.30 billion during the quarter. Manulife Financial had a net margin of 10.46% and a return on equity of 15.77%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.91 EPS.

A number of other research analysts have also commented on the company. Morgan Stanley set a $47.00 target price on Manulife Financial in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. UBS Group assumed coverage on Manulife Financial in a research note on Thursday. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (a-)” rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on Manulife Financial from $51.00 to $49.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and three have assigned a Buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $48.00.

Manulife Financial Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSE MFC opened at $31.65 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $31.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $30.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $53.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.13, a PEG ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.98. Manulife Financial has a one year low of $25.92 and a one year high of $33.07.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 20th were issued a dividend of $0.3199 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 20th. This is a boost from Manulife Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.0%. Manulife Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 56.70%.

Institutional Trading of Manulife Financial

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in MFC. Caldwell Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Manulife Financial during the second quarter worth $27,000. Eastern Bank grew its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 156.1% during the second quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 968 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 590 shares during the last quarter. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new position in Manulife Financial in the second quarter valued at about $38,000. Goodman Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in Manulife Financial in the second quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, William B. Walkup & Associates Inc. bought a new position in Manulife Financial in the first quarter valued at about $43,000. Institutional investors own 52.56% of the company’s stock.

About Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks.