Why Is Manulife (MFC) Up 3.5% Since Last Earnings Report?

Core Insights - Manulife Financial Corporation reported third-quarter 2025 core earnings of 84 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.5% and reflecting a 15% year-over-year improvement [2][3] - The company's core earnings totaled $1.4 billion (C$2 billion), marking a 7.6% increase year over year, driven by strong growth in Global Wealth and Asset Management (WAM), Asia, and Canada [3] - New business value (NBV) for the quarter was $657 million (C$906 million), up 6.3% year over year, attributed to higher sales volumes in Asia, Canada, and the U.S. division [4] Financial Performance - Wealth and asset management assets under management and administration reached $774 billion (C$1,066 billion), a 9.6% increase year over year, despite net outflows of $4.5 billion (C$6.2 billion) [5] - Core return on equity improved by 150 basis points year over year to 18.1% [5] - Adjusted book value per common share rose to $38.22, reflecting a 12% year-over-year increase [6] Segment Performance - Global WAM's core earnings were $381 million (C$525 million), up 9% year over year, driven by higher net fee income and performance fees [7] - Asia division's core earnings reached $550 million, a 29% increase year over year, supported by improved insurance experience and business growth [8] - Canada division's core earnings were $310 million (C$428 million), up 2.6% year over year, driven by higher investment spreads and business growth in group insurance [9] - The U.S. division reported core earnings of $241 million, down 20% year over year, primarily due to unfavorable life insurance claims [10] Market Outlook - Analysts have not issued any earnings estimate revisions in the last two months, indicating a stable outlook [12] - Manulife holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting an expectation of above-average returns in the coming months [14] - The company is positioned within the Zacks Insurance - Life Insurance industry, which has shown positive performance, with peers like Reinsurance Group gaining 6.6% over the past month [15]