Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) Hits New 52-Week High on Analyst Upgrade

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday after Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on the stock from C$42.00 to C$48.00. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a hold rating on the stock. Great-West Lifeco traded as high as C$47.19 and last traded at C$47.15, with a volume of 594595 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$46.83.

Several other brokerages have also recently commented on GWO. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$45.00 to C$47.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Barclays set a C$43.00 price target on Great-West Lifeco and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 5th. Finally, TD Securities lifted their price target on Great-West Lifeco from C$43.00 to C$44.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$45.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Great-West Lifeco news, Director Charles Donald Harvey Henaire sold 25,400 shares of Great-West Lifeco stock in a transaction dated 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. In other Great-West Lifeco news, Director Charles Donald Harvey Henaire sold 25,400 shares of Great-West Lifeco stock in a transaction dated 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. Also, Director Richard Henry Linton sold 35,800 shares of Great-West Lifeco stock in a transaction dated 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. 70.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Great-West Lifeco Trading Up 1.0 %

The firm has a market cap of C$44.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.97, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a 50 day moving average of C$44.89 and a 200 day moving average of C$42.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.61, a quick ratio of 22.18 and a current ratio of 37.46.

Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The company reported C$1.11 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$1.05 by C$0.06. The business had revenue of C$8.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of C$9.83 billion. Great-West Lifeco had a return on equity of 13.21% and a net margin of 11.32%. Analysts predict that Great-West Lifeco Inc. will post 4.4525194 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Great-West Lifeco Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 27th. Investors of record on Friday, September 27th were issued a $0.555 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 30th. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.66%. Great-West Lifeco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 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.