ZACKS·2026-03-13 16:36Core Insights - Manulife Financial Corporation reported fourth-quarter 2025 core earnings of 80 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.2% and reflecting an 8.1% year-over-year improvement [3] - The company announced a 10.2% increase in its quarterly dividend to 48.5 cents, with the payment scheduled for March 19, 2026 [12] - Analysts have not made any earnings estimate revisions in the past two months, indicating a period of stability in expectations [13] Financial Performance - Core earnings for the quarter were $1.4 billion (C$1.9 billion), driven by growth in Asia, Global Wealth and Asset Management (WAM), and Canada, despite some negative impacts from life insurance claims in the U.S. and lower investment spreads [3] - New business value (NBV) rose to $626 million (C$874 million), a 4.1% increase year over year, while annualized premium equivalent (APE) sales decreased by 1% [4] - Wealth and asset management assets under management increased by 13% year over year to $799.7 billion (C$1,115 billion), although the segment experienced net outflows of $6.8 billion (C$9.5 billion) [5] Segment Performance - The Global Wealth and Asset Management segment reported core earnings of $351 million (C$490 million), up 2.3% year over year, aided by higher net fee income and expense discipline [7] - The Asia division's core earnings surged by 65% year over year to $563 million (C$785 million), reflecting strong business growth [7] - The U.S. division's core earnings increased by 8.5% year over year to $228 million (C$319 million), with APE sales and NBV rising by 9% and 8%, respectively [10] Valuation and Outlook - Manulife holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating expectations for above-average returns in the coming months [15] - The company has a subpar Growth Score of D but a better Momentum Score of C, with an overall VGM Score of B, placing it in the top 20% for value investment strategy [14]