Topic: How To Invest

Manulife Financial $39.07 – Toronto symbol MFC

MANULIFE FINANCIAL $39.07 (Toronto symbol MFC; SI Rating: Above-average) sells life and other forms of insurance, as well as mutual funds and investment management services. It operates in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Manulife has assets under administration of $426 billion.

In the three months ended March 31, 2007, Manulife’s earnings excluding one-time items rose 10.8%, to $1.1 billion or $0.68 a share, from $952 million or $0.60 a share a year earlier. Revenue rose 2.6%, to $8.6 billion from $8.4 billion. Manulife has raised its dividend 10%, to $0.22 from $0.20. The shares now yield 2.3%.

Manulife’s operations are diversified among life and health insurance, segregated mutual funds, and reinsurance. Its geographic diversification in the U.S. and Asia, including China, offers growth prospects.

Manulife Financial is still a safety-conscious buy.

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