Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC) Sets New 1-Year High After Dividend Announcement

Manulife Financial Corp (NYSE:MFC) (TSE:MFC) reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday after the company announced a dividend. The stock traded as high as $40.39 and last traded at $40.0720, with a volume of 567 shares. The stock had previously closed at $40.03.

The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Friday, June 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 29th will be given a dividend of $0.485 per share. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 29th. Manulife Financial’s payout ratio is 63.96%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on MFC shares. Scotiabank restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a report on Friday, February 13th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Manulife Financial from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Finally, TD Securities reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a research report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and six have assigned a Buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $51.50.

Manulife Financial Stock Down 5.8%

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $36.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $36.01. The company has a market cap of $62.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.90 and a beta of 0.87.

Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC) (TSE:MFC) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.79 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $8.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.32 billion. Manulife Financial had a net margin of 10.19% and a return on equity of 16.70%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.99 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Manulife Financial Corp will post 3.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Key Headlines Impacting Manulife Financial

Here are the key news stories impacting Manulife Financial this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Manulife reported first-quarter 2026 core earnings of C$1.8 billion and core EPS of C$1.06, both up year over year, while new business CSM also grew strongly. Manulife Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Shareholders backed the board slate, auditor, and management pay plan at the 2026 annual meeting, signaling broad governance support. Manulife Shareholders Back Board Slate, Auditor and Pay Plan at 2026 AGM
• Neutral Sentiment: Manulife reiterated its dividend, including a quarterly common-share payout of C$0.485, which supports its income appeal but was already expected. Manulife declares common share dividend
• Neutral Sentiment: The company also declared preferred-share dividends and released its 2025 sustainability report, both routine announcements with limited immediate stock impact. Manulife declares preferred share dividend Manulife Releases 2025 Sustainability Report and Public Accountability Statement
• Negative Sentiment: Despite year-over-year growth, the quarter came in below expectations on core EPS, and analysts noted weaker insurance experience in Canada and lower investment spreads in the U.S., pressuring sentiment. Manulife Financial Q1 Earnings Miss Expectations, APE Sales Rise Y/Y

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Manulife Financial

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Canerector Inc. lifted its holdings in Manulife Financial by 4,445.8% during the 3rd quarter. Canerector Inc. now owns 28,184,000 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $877,932,000 after buying an additional 27,564,000 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Manulife Financial in the fourth quarter worth about $777,229,000. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund boosted its stake in Manulife Financial by 183.7% in the first quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 11,702,230 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $402,969,000 after acquiring an additional 7,577,711 shares during the period. MUFG Securities EMEA plc boosted its stake in Manulife Financial by 814.3% in the second quarter. MUFG Securities EMEA plc now owns 6,399,999 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $204,544,000 after acquiring an additional 5,699,999 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 25.6% during the third quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 27,822,300 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $866,649,000 after purchasing an additional 5,671,639 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 52.56% of the company’s stock.

About Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial Corporation is a multinational insurance and financial services company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in the late 19th century as The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, Manulife provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual and institutional clients. Its core businesses include life and health insurance, retirement and pension solutions, wealth and asset management, and group benefits.

In wealth and asset management, Manulife operates through Manulife Investment Management and offers mutual funds, segregated funds, institutional asset management, and retirement plan solutions.