MFCLife insurance and wealth management
Manulife Financial
Not investment advice. Kevin may own this stock. How we value stocks
By Kevin Amado
Updated
- Price
- CA$62.49
- Analysts view
- Analysts Leaning bullish
- Discount category
- Far above intrinsic value
- Top pick
- Research only
- Next earnings
- Earnings Feb 4 · · estimated
- 52-week range
- CA$44.23 – CA$64.60
- To Nov 9, 2026
- Beta
- 0.62
- Vs S&P 500, 5 years monthly, to Oct 30, 2026
- Average volume
- 5.2M
- 3 months, to Nov 9, 2026
Check the numbers:ExchangeGoogle FinanceYahoo FinanceSEC filings
In short
- Thesis
- Investors pay a premium for the growth in Asia and the buybacks of Manulife, and only several years of core EPS growth with net inflows in Global WAM can earn it.
- Gap
- Slow. Only several years of core EPS growth from Asia, buybacks and a return to net inflows in Global WAM can earn the premium.
Price history
About
Manulife Financial (Manulife) sells life and health insurance, annuities, retirement plans and investment products. It operates as Manulife in Canada and Asia and mainly as John Hancock in the United States. Manulife Wealth & Asset Management (Global WAM) manages money for individuals, retirement plans and institutions, and it owns 75% of the private credit manager Comvest Credit Partners. Average assets under management and administration of Global WAM were C$1,198 billion in Q3 2026.
Of the core earnings of the four operating segments in Q3 2026, Asia gave the largest part, then Global WAM, Canada and the United States. The common shares trade on the Toronto, New York and Philippine stock exchanges and in Hong Kong. The head office is in Toronto. Phil Witherington is President and Chief Executive Officer.
Thesis
Manulife trades above its intrinsic value because investors pay for its growth in Asia, its steady core earnings and its large share buybacks. In Q3 2026, core earnings rose 4% to a record C$2,125 million and core EPS rose 6% to C$1.24. Asia core earnings rose 17%. Manulife bought back 26.8 million shares in the first nine months of 2026, and the share count fell to 1,654 million.
For the shares to earn this price, three things must be true. Asia must keep its growth in new business and core earnings. Global WAM must return to net inflows after net outflows of C$7.5 billion in the first nine months of 2026, which came partly from the change to the eMPF pension platform in Hong Kong. Credit losses and claims in the United States and Canada must stay low.
The Q4 2026 and full-year report, expected in early February 2027, is the next test, together with a new buyback program. A rise in credit losses, a fall in Asia sales or lower markets can make the premium hard to keep.
Checkpoints
- Nov 4, 2026PassedQ3 2026 results: core EPS and AsiaCore EPS growth of 5% or more and higher Asia core earnings pass; lower core EPS fails.Outcome: Core EPS rose 6% to C$1.24, and Asia core earnings rose 17%.
- Feb 4, 2027 · est.PendingQ4 2026 results and new buyback programCore EPS growth for 2026 of 10% or more and a new buyback program pass; a fall in Asia core earnings fails.
- Q2 2027 · est.PendingGlobal WAM net flowsNet inflows in Global WAM in the first half of 2027 pass; more net outflows fail.
Recent events
- November 4, 2026Manulife reported Q3 2026 results. Core earnings rose 4% to a record C$2,125 million, and core EPS rose 6% to C$1.24. Net income attributed to shareholders fell to C$1,424 million from C$1,799 million, or C$0.82 per share. Core ROE was 17.8% and the LICAT ratio was 136%. Global WAM had net outflows of C$3.6 billion. Manulife returned C$1.3 billion to shareholders in the quarter and declared a quarterly dividend of C$0.485 per share, payable on December 21, 2026.
- September 1, 2026Manulife priced US$750 million of 6.146% subordinated notes due 2041, which it expects to count as Tier 2 capital. It issued the notes on September 11, 2026.
- August 5, 2026Manulife reported Q2 2026 results. Core earnings rose 12% to C$1.9 billion, and core EPS rose 16% to C$1.09. Net income attributed to shareholders was C$2.1 billion. Asia core earnings rose 21%, and Global WAM had net inflows of C$0.4 billion.
Show 2 older eventsHide older events
- May 13, 2026Manulife reported Q1 2026 results. Core EPS rose 11% to C$1.06, and net income attributed to shareholders was C$1.1 billion. Global WAM had net outflows of C$4.4 billion.
- February 11, 2026Manulife reported 2025 results. Core EPS rose 8% to C$4.21, and net income attributed to shareholders was C$5.6 billion. It bought back 54.4 million shares, or 3.1% of the shares, for C$2.4 billion in 2025. It raised the quarterly dividend by 10.2% and announced a new buyback program of up to about 2.5% of its shares.
Latest news and filings
- Next earnings
- Expected about February 4, 2027. The company has not confirmed the date.
- 40-FAnnual report for the period ended Dec 31, 2025Filed · mfc-20251231_d2
- 40-FAnnual report for the period ended Dec 31, 2024Filed · mfc-20241231_d2
Risks
- Asia gives the largest part of core earnings. Lower sales in Hong Kong or the Chinese Mainland, tension between China and other countries, or new rules in the region can slow growth.
- Global WAM had net outflows of C$7.5 billion in the first nine months of 2026. Fees fall when money leaves or when markets fall.
- Manulife holds large portfolios of bonds, mortgages, private placements and real estate. In Q3 2026, higher provisions for expected credit losses lowered core earnings in all four operating segments. A recession can raise credit losses more.
- Insurance results depend on actuarial assumptions about claims, lapses and interest rates. Changes to these assumptions, as in the annual review each third quarter, can change earnings and capital.
- Manulife reports in Canadian dollars, but most of its earnings come in U.S. dollars and Asian currencies. A stronger Canadian dollar lowers reported earnings.
Balance sheet
Manulife funds itself mainly with shareholders' equity, insurance liabilities and some long-term debt and capital instruments. At September 30, 2026, long-term debt was C$6,542 million and capital instruments were C$8,017 million, including the US$750 million of 6.146% subordinated notes due 2041 issued on September 11, 2026. The financial leverage ratio was 23.0%, and the LICAT ratio, the Canadian capital test for life insurers, was 136%. Common shareholders' equity was C$46,412 million. Book value per common share was C$28.06, and adjusted book value per common share, which adds the contractual service margin after tax, was C$41.78. There were 1,654 million common shares, 23 million fewer than at December 31, 2025. The quarterly dividend is C$0.485 per share. For an insurer, net debt is not a useful measure, so this profile does not show debt figures.
Dividends
- Dividend yield
- 3.0% (last 12 months, at today’s price of CA$62.49)
- Paid per share
- CA$1.895 in the last 12 months (4 payments)
- Current annual rate
- CA$1.94 (CA$0.485 × 4 a year)
- Latest ex-dividend date
- August 21, 2026, CA$0.485 per share
Dividends per share by year
| 2016 | CA$0.74 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | CA$0.82 | |
| 2018 | CA$0.91 | |
| 2019 | CA$1.00 | |
| 2020 | CA$1.12 | |
| 2021 | CA$1.17 | |
| 2022 | CA$1.32 | |
| 2023 | CA$1.46 | |
| 2024 | CA$1.60 | |
| 2025 | CA$1.76 |
Over the last 5 years, the dividend grew by about 11.1% a year. Over the last 10 years, the dividend grew by about 10.1% a year.
Source: company filings and market data, read on November 10, 2026. The ex-dividend date is the first day a buyer no longer gets the next payment.
Questions about Manulife Financial
What does Manulife Financial do?
Manulife Financial (Manulife) sells life and health insurance, annuities, retirement plans and investment products. It operates as Manulife in Canada and Asia and mainly as John Hancock in the United States.
When does Manulife Financial report earnings next?
This is an estimate: Manulife Financial may report on February 4, 2027. It last reported results on November 4, 2026.
Is Manulife Financial stock below its intrinsic value?
Manulife Financial stock is far above intrinsic value. This is general information, not advice.
What changed recently at Manulife Financial?
The latest update is from November 4, 2026. Manulife reported Q3 2026 results.
What are the main risks for Manulife Financial?
Asia gives the largest part of core earnings. Global WAM had net outflows of C$7.5 billion in the first nine months of 2026. Manulife holds large portfolios of bonds, mortgages, private placements and real estate.
How much debt and cash does Manulife Financial have?
Manulife funds itself mainly with shareholders' equity, insurance liabilities and some long-term debt and capital instruments. This is as of September 30, 2026.
Does Manulife Financial pay a dividend?
Yes. Manulife Financial paid CA$1.895 per share in the last 12 months. That is a dividend yield of 3.0% at the current price of CA$62.49. The latest ex-dividend date was August 21, 2026.
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