Asia’s growth supports their high dividends

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MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP. $21.91 (Toronto symbol MFC; Shares o/s: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $42.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.6%; www.manulife.ca) is Canada’s largest life insurer. The company also sells other forms of insurance, including health, dental and travel plans; in addition, it offers mutual funds and investment management services. As of June 30, 2019, Manulife had $1.1 trillion in assets under administration. Increasingly, markets outside of Canada contribute to its growth. In the quarter ended June 30, 2019, overall earnings rose 1.5%, to $1.45 billion, or $0.72 a share, from $1.43 billion, or $0.70, a year earlier. Asia led that growth, with profits there rising 14.6%, to $471 million from $411 million. The company’s shares trade at only 7.9 times the 2019 earnings forecast of $2.76 a share. Manulife raised its quarterly dividend by 13.6% with the December 2018 payment. Its investors now receive $0.25 a share for a current high yield of 4.6%. Manulife Financial is a buy. SUN LIFE FINANCIAL $54.86 (Toronto symbol SLF;…