Canadian sales boost GWO

Article Excerpt

GREAT-WEST LIFECO $22 (Toronto symbol GWO; Shares outstanding: 959.8 million; Market cap: $21.0 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 5.6%) is Canada’s largest insurance company, with $497 billion in assets under administration. It also operates in the U.S. and Europe. In addition to insurance, Great-West sells wealth management and other financial services. In the three months ended June 30, 2011, Great-West’s earnings rose 15.6%, to $526 million, or $0.55 a share, from $455 million, or $0.48 a share. The increase came from strong investment returns and insurance sales in Canada. The latest earnings also beat consensus estimates of $0.49 a share. The company’s balance sheet is strong. As well, Great-West trades at just 10.7 times the $2.06 a share that it is likely to earn in 2011. The shares yield a high 5.6%. Great-West Lifeco is still a buy. buy…