Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO) has been given an average rating of “Hold” by the eight research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have assigned a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$45.00.

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$45.00 to C$47.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. TD Securities boosted their price objective on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$43.00 to C$44.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Great-West Lifeco from C$42.00 to C$48.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Barclays set a C$43.00 target price on Great-West Lifeco and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 5th.

Insider Activity at Great-West Lifeco

In other Great-West Lifeco news, Director Richard Henry Linton sold 35,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$46.27, for a total value of C$1,656,344.28. In other news, Director Richard Henry Linton sold 35,800 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$46.27, for a total value of C$1,656,344.28. Also, Director Charles Donald Harvey Henaire sold 25,400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$44.72, for a total transaction of C$1,135,888.00. 70.70% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Great-West Lifeco Stock Performance

Great-West Lifeco stock opened at C$47.01 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$43.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.61, a current ratio of 37.46 and a quick ratio of 22.18. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of C$45.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$42.44. Great-West Lifeco has a 52-week low of C$37.07 and a 52-week high of C$47.76.

Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The company reported C$1.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.05 by C$0.06. Great-West Lifeco had a net margin of 11.32% and a return on equity of 13.21%. The firm had revenue of C$8.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of C$9.83 billion. As a group, analysts anticipate that Great-West Lifeco will post 4.4525194 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Great-West Lifeco Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 27th were issued a $0.555 dividend. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.72%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. Great-West Lifeco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 55.78%.

Great-West Lifeco Company Profile

Great-West Lifeco Inc engages in the life and health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management, and reinsurance businesses in Canada, the United States, and Europe. The company offers life, accidental death and dismemberment, disability, critical illness, health and dental protection, and creditor insurance products; and retirement and wealth savings, income and annuity products, and other specialty products to individuals, families, businesses, and organizations.