Company Overview - Manulife Financial (MFC) is headquartered in Toronto and has experienced a price change of -0.13% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.32 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.16%, which is significantly higher than the Insurance - Life Insurance industry's yield of 1.81% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.62% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $1.28 represents an 8% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, Manulife Financial has increased its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 8.83% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 43%, indicating that it pays out 43% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Outlook - Manulife Financial is expected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $2.94 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 4.26% [5] Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors as they enhance stock investing profits, reduce overall portfolio risk, and offer tax advantages [6] - High-yielding stocks may face challenges during periods of rising interest rates, but MFC is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile [7] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a stable investment position [7]

Market Overview - The broader market has experienced a strong rally, with the S&P 500 delivering a total return of 10.5% over the last 12 months, driven by indications of moderating inflation and hopes for lower interest rates [1] Financial Sector Outlook - The outlook for financial companies is heavily influenced by macroeconomic conditions and the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy [2] PayPal Analysis - PayPal's stock is down approximately 17% year to date and 77% from its all-time high in 2021, despite solid gains in the broader financial sector [4] - The company maintains a strong position in the payments and financial services industry, with few competitors matching its financial foundations and operational track record [5] - PayPal's total revenue increased by 1% year over year to $7.8 billion, while total payment volume rose by 3% annually to $417.2 billion [6] - Non-GAAP earnings per share increased by 23% year over year to $1.33, with the company holding $15.8 billion in cash against $12.6 billion in debt after returning $1.5 billion to shareholders through stock buybacks [7] - PayPal stock is currently trading at 13.5 times this year's expected earnings, with potential for a more favorable operating environment if the Fed cuts interest rates [8] - The stock is viewed as an attractive investment opportunity in the financial sector due to its solid business foundations and encouraging performance [9] Prudential Financial Analysis - Prudential Financial is positioned to benefit from a potential increase in long-term interest rates, which could lead to higher yields on future bond purchases [13] - The stock is currently down 19% from its lifetime high, and higher interest rates may lower the value of its current bonds but increase the discount rate on its liabilities [13] - Prudential Financial offers a 5.1% dividend yield, making it a useful addition for portfolio insurance [14]

Group 1 - Jackson Financial (JXN) closed at $85.86, reflecting a +2.29% increase from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's 0.03% loss [1] - Prior to the latest trading session, Jackson Financial shares had decreased by 1.29%, which was less than the Finance sector's loss of 1.73% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.6% [1] Group 2 - Jackson Financial is expected to report an EPS of $4.66, indicating a 12.41% decline from the same quarter last year, with a revenue forecast of $1.77 billion, down 36.75% year-over-year [2] - For the full year, analysts project earnings of $19.31 per share and revenue of $7.1 billion, representing changes of +2.77% and -22.25% respectively from the previous year [3] Group 3 - Recent analyst estimate revisions for Jackson Financial suggest a positive outlook for the business, as these changes reflect short-term business trends [3][4] - The Zacks Rank system, which includes estimate changes, currently ranks Jackson Financial at 3 (Hold) [5] Group 4 - Jackson Financial has a Forward P/E ratio of 4.35, which is lower than the industry average of 8.48, indicating that the company is trading at a discount compared to its peers [6] - The Insurance - Life Insurance industry, part of the Finance sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 79, placing it in the top 33% of over 250 industries [6][7]

Company Overview - Voya Financial (VOYA) is based in New York and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of -1.21% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.45 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.71%, which is higher than the Insurance - Life Insurance industry's yield of 1.81% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.58% [3] Dividend Performance - Voya Financial's annualized dividend of $1.80 has increased by 5.9% from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has raised its dividend four times, achieving an average annual increase of 33.16% [4] - The current payout ratio is 22%, indicating that Voya paid out 22% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, Voya Financial anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projected at $8.36 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 35.49% [5] Investment Appeal - Voya Financial is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend and strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]

Investors interested in Finance stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. EPR Properties (EPR) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Finance peers, we might be able to answer that question.EPR Properties is one of 857 companies in the Finance group. The Finance group currently sits at #5 wit ...

Abacus Global Management (ABL) 2025 Investor Day June 12, 2025 09:30 AM ET Speaker0 To our presentation today. And at Abacus, Abacus is continuing to grow and expand and take a look at a business model that started in one area related to life insurance policies and sourcing those and educating people around the value of their life insurance policies to asset management to potentially private wealth management and then capitalizing on all the lifespan data and technology that we've been able to do and instit ...

Core Insights - Dai-ichi Life Group and Capgemini have signed a multi-year agreement to establish a Global Capability Center (GCC) in India, aimed at accelerating Dai-ichi Life's global digital transformation [1][2] - The GCC will leverage India's skilled workforce to enhance Dai-ichi Life's IT and digital strategies, focusing on building in-house capabilities in critical areas such as AI, data, and cybersecurity [1][3] Company Overview - Dai-ichi Life Group, founded in 1902, is Japan's first mutual life insurance company and has expanded its operations globally, managing approximately USD 430 billion in consolidated assets and serving over 50 million customers [6][7] - Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner with a workforce of 340,000 across more than 50 countries, reporting global revenues of €22.1 billion in 2024 [5] Strategic Collaboration - The partnership will initially focus on Japan, the United States, and Australia, with plans to expand based on market needs, emphasizing advanced software development, infrastructure modernization, AI & data solutions, and cybersecurity [2][4] - The collaboration aims to enhance customer service and operational efficiency by combining Dai-ichi Life's industry knowledge with Capgemini's technology transformation expertise [4]

For those looking to find strong Finance stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is EPR Properties (EPR) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Finance sector should help us answer this question.EPR Properties is a member of the Finance sector. This group includes 857 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #7. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 differ ...

Investors interested in Finance stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Is AIA (AAGIY) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.AIA is one of 857 companies in the Finance group. The Finance group currently sits at #7 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the group ...

Since inception Class A shareholders have received a total of $14.31 per share and Preferred shareholders have received a total of $11.20 per share inclusive of this distribution, for a combined total of $25.50. The Company invests in a portfolio of high yielding Canadian Companies as follows: | Banks | Investment Management | Life Insurance | Utilities & Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bank of Montreal | AGF Management Ltd. | Great-West Lifeco Inc. | BCE Inc. | | | | Manulife Financial | | | Bank of No ...