These Power Corp. firms offer high yields

Article Excerpt

GREAT-WEST LIFECO INC. $35 (Toronto symbol GWO; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 989.2 million; Market cap: $34.6 billion; Dividend Yield: 4.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.greatwestlifeco.com) is Canada’s second-largest insurance company, after Manulife Financial (Toronto symbol MFC). It also offers mutual funds and wealth management services. Power Financial (Toronto symbol PWF) owns 67.6% of the company. With the March 2017 payment, Great-West raised its quarterly dividend by 6.1%, to $0.367 a share from $0.346. The new annual rate of $1.47 yields a high 4.2%. In April 2017, the insurer announced a plan to restructure its Canadian operations. The strategy includes shrinking its workforce by 13% over the next two years and selling some real estate. It also aims to offer more of its products online. The plan should cut $200 million from Great-West’s annual expenses. Excluding the $175 million in losses from hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma, the company earned $756 million, or $0.76 a share, in the third quarter…