AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc Increases Position in Manulife Financial Co. (NYSE:MFC)

AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc grew its position in Manulife Financial Co. (NYSE:MFC) (TSE:MFC) by 14.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 88,631 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 11,509 shares during the quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc’s holdings in Manulife Financial were worth $2,719,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MFC. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Manulife Financial in the second quarter valued at $913,000. Legal & General Group Plc raised its position in shares of Manulife Financial by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 14,783,400 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $393,592,000 after acquiring an additional 75,244 shares in the last quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC lifted its stake in Manulife Financial by 171.3% during the second quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC now owns 900,000 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $23,958,000 after purchasing an additional 568,300 shares during the last quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Manulife Financial by 11.9% in the second quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 12,071 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $321,000 after purchasing an additional 1,282 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in Manulife Financial by 8.3% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 76,512 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,037,000 after purchasing an additional 5,891 shares during the last quarter. 52.56% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Manulife Financial Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:MFC opened at $30.53 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $31.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $29.22. Manulife Financial Co. has a twelve month low of $21.54 and a twelve month high of $33.07. The company has a market capitalization of $52.77 billion, a PE ratio of 14.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.09.

Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC) (TSE:MFC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.70 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $10.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $9.73 billion. Manulife Financial had a net margin of 9.79% and a return on equity of 16.11%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.69 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Manulife Financial Co. will post 2.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 20th were paid a dividend of $0.296 per share. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.88%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 20th. This is an increase from Manulife Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Manulife Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 59.42%.

Manulife Financial Profile

Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks.