Asia’s middle class drives these insurers

Article Excerpt

MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP. $24.36 (Toronto symbol MFC; Shares o/s: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $49.3 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 3.6%; 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 March 31, 2018, Manulife had $1.1 trillion in assets under administration. In the quarter ended March 31, 2018, earnings jumped 20.8%, to $0.64 per share from $0.53 a year earlier. The increase mainly reflects higher investment gains. Still, in the latest quarter, Manulife also benefitted from Asia’s strong performance. There, its earnings rose 19.6%, with particularly strong insurance sales in Hong Kong. Global wealth managment remains strong. Manulife stock trades at only 9.4 times the company’s forecast 2018 earnings of $2.58 a share. It raised its quarterly dividend by 7.3%, with the March 2018 payment. Investors now receive $0.22 a share for a yield of 3.6%. Manulife is a buy.   SUN LIFE FINANCIAL…