Diversification will spur Great-West shares

Article Excerpt

GREAT-WEST LIFECO INC. $28 is still a hold. The company (Toronto symbol GWO; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Finance sector; shares outstanding: 927.7 million; Market cap: $26.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 6.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.greatwestlifeco.com) is Canada’s second-largest life insurer, after Manulife Financial. Great-West along with Mackenzie Financial, a subsidiary of IGM Financial Inc. (Toronto symbol IGM), will pay $245 million for 70% economic interest (49.9% non-controlling voting stake) in private equity firm Northleaf Capital Partners. Mackenzie will own 80% of this joint venture, with Great-West holding 20%. Together, they will also invest $700 million in Northleaf products over the next two years. This is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Great-West this year meant to diversify its operations. They nonetheless add to its risk. Great-West Lifeco is a hold. hold…