Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) Price Target Raised to C$45.00 at TD Securities

Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) had its price objective lifted by TD Securities from C$44.00 to C$45.00 in a research report released on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a hold rating on the stock.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. National Bankshares upped their target price on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$40.00 to C$42.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$42.00 to C$44.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. CIBC upped their price objective on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$44.00 to C$46.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$42.00 to C$44.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of C$43.11.

Great-West Lifeco Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of GWO opened at C$40.36 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$37.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.77, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$42.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$42.03. Great-West Lifeco has a 52 week low of C$37.05 and a 52 week high of C$45.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 32.33, a quick ratio of 22.18 and a current ratio of 12.42.

Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The company reported C$1.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of C$0.99 by C$0.05. The business had revenue of C$20.21 billion for the quarter. Great-West Lifeco had a net margin of 7.95% and a return on equity of 10.28%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Great-West Lifeco will post 4.137561 earnings per share for the current year.

Great-West Lifeco Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th were issued a $0.555 dividend. This is a positive change from Great-West Lifeco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 28th. Great-West Lifeco’s dividend payout ratio is currently 75.77%.

Insider Activity at Great-West Lifeco

In related news, Senior Officer Linda Kerrigan sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$42.95, for a total value of C$214,750.00. In related news, Senior Officer Bradley John Fedorchuk sold 2,900 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$42.44, for a total value of C$123,062.08. Also, Senior Officer Linda Kerrigan sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$42.95, for a total transaction of C$214,750.00. Insiders have sold 13,300 shares of company stock worth $566,402 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 70.57% of the company’s stock.

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.