Great-West Ups its Dividend

Article Excerpt

GREAT-WEST LIFECO $29.71 (Toronto symbol GWO; SI Rating: Above-average) is a leading Canadian insurance company. As well, it provides wealth management and other financial services. Great-West also operates in the U.S. and Europe. Great-West reports sharply higher earnings in the three months ended June 30, 2008, to $1.2 billion or $1.36 a share, from $544 million or $0.61 a share. The latest quarter included a gain of $649 million on the sale of the company’s U.S. health care business. Without the gain, earnings per share rose 3.3%, to $0.63 from $0.61. Without the effects of the rising Canadian dollar, earnings would have risen 8%. Great-West Lifeco has raised its quarterly dividend payable in September by 5.1%, to $0.3075 from $0.2925. That follows a 6.4% increase with the March, 2008 payment. The shares now have a high current yield of 4.1%. Great-West is a safety-conscious buy. buy…