Weak markets offset acquisition

Article Excerpt

GREAT-WEST LIFECO INC. $33 is a hold. Canada’s second-largest life insurer (Toronto symbol GWO; Conservative Growth Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; shares outstanding: 931.8 million; Market cap: $30.7 billion; Dividend yield: 5.9%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.greatwestlifeco.com) last raised its quarterly dividend with the December 2021 payment. Investors now receive $0.49 a share, up 11.9% from $0.438. The new annual rate of $1.96 yields a high 5.9%. The company recently completed its $4.45 billion acquisition of the full-service retirement services unit of Prudential Financial (New York symbol PRU). Despite that purchase, Great-West’s revenue in the second quarter of 2022 fell 48.8%, to $9.19 billion from $18.00 billion a year earlier. That’s due to lower returns on its investment portfolio. Earnings before on-time items rose 0.5%, to $830 million ($0.89 a share) from $826 million ($0.89 a share). Great-West Lifeco is a hold. hold…