Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) Hits New 52-Week High – Should You Buy?

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO) hit a new 52-week high on Friday . The company traded as high as C$46.60 and last traded at C$46.59, with a volume of 67742 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$46.25.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. TD Securities increased their target price 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. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Great-West Lifeco from C$45.00 to C$47.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Barclays set a C$43.00 target price on Great-West Lifeco and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Great-West Lifeco from C$46.00 to C$42.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$43.78.

Great-West Lifeco Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of C$43.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$44.15 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$42.17. 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 posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The company reported C$1.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.05 by C$0.06. The firm had revenue of C$8.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$9.83 billion. Great-West Lifeco had a return on equity of 13.21% and a net margin of 11.32%. Equities research analysts forecast that Great-West Lifeco Inc. will post 4.4525194 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Great-West Lifeco Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 27th. Investors of record on Friday, September 27th were paid a dividend of $0.555 per share. This represents a $2.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.76%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. Great-West Lifeco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 55.78%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Richard Henry Linton sold 35,800 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$46.27, for a total transaction of C$1,656,344.28. In other news, Director Richard Henry Linton sold 35,800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$46.27, for a total value of C$1,656,344.28. Also, Director Charles Donald Harvey Henaire sold 25,400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$44.72, for a total value of C$1,135,888.00. 70.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.