This insurer is rewarding investors

Article Excerpt

The shares of insurance giant Manulife have jumped 30% in the past year. That’s largely because it sold some of its slower-growth assets and is using the cash to reward investors with more share buybacks and dividend increases. Higher interest rates have also boosted the returns on its fixed-income holdings. Meantime, Manulife’s outlook continues to improve, particularly as it taps into growing demand for financial services in Asia. MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP. $35 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol MFC; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio; Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 1.8 billion; Market cap: $63.0 billion; Dividend yield: 4.6%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.manulife.ca) is Canada’s largest life insurer. It also sells other forms of insurance, including health, dental and travel plans. Its mutual funds and investment management services further diversify its revenue stream. Moreover, the company is a leading insurer in Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Manulife raised your quarterly dividend by 9.6% with the March 2024 payment. Investors receive $0.40 a share instead of $0.365. The…