Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) Reaches New 12-Month High – What’s Next?

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$50.28 and last traded at C$50.22, with a volume of 3330866 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$49.79.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Great-West Lifeco from C$47.00 to C$51.00 in a research report on Friday, November 8th. CIBC lifted their price objective on Great-West Lifeco from C$51.00 to C$55.00 in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$43.00 to C$45.00 in a report on Friday, November 8th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$42.00 to C$48.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, TD Securities increased their price objective on shares of 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. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$47.63.

Great-West Lifeco Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 37.46, a quick ratio of 22.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.61. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is C$47.42 and its 200-day moving average price is C$43.70. The stock has a market capitalization of C$47.34 billion, a PE ratio of 12.76, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84.

Great-West Lifeco Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.555 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $2.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.37%. Great-West Lifeco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.78%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Paul Mahon sold 146,826 shares of Great-West Lifeco stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of C$49.88, for a total transaction of C$7,323,842.39. Also, Director Charles Donald Harvey Henaire sold 25,400 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$44.72, for a total transaction of C$1,135,888.00. Insiders sold 235,251 shares of company stock valued at $11,463,390 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 70.70% of the company’s stock.

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.