These insurers continue to prosper in Asia continues to bolster

Article Excerpt

MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP. $23.63 (Toronto symbol MFC; Shares o/s: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $46.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 3.7%; www.manulife.ca) is Canada’s largest life insurer. The company also sells other forms of insurance, including health, dental and travel plans, as well as mutual funds and investment management services. As of December 31, 2017, it had $1.04 trillion in assets under administration. In the quarter ended December 31, 2017, earnings fell 6.3%, to $0.59 per share from $0.63 a year earlier. The decline reflects unusually high investment gains a year ago. Still, in the latest quarter, Manulife benefitted from Asia’s strong performance. There, its earnings rose 9%, with particularly strong insurance sales in Singapore and Vietnam. Manulife stock trades at only 9.3 times the company’s forecast 2018 earnings of $2.54 a share. It raised its quarterly dividend by 7.3%, with the March 2018 payment. Investors now receive $0.22 a share for a yield of 3.7%. Manulife is a buy. SUN LIFE FINANCIAL $52.23 (Toronto symbol SLF;…