Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) Reaches New 52-Week High – What’s Next?

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as C$49.64 and last traded at C$49.59, with a volume of 279488 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$49.17.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Barclays increased their price objective on Great-West Lifeco from C$43.00 to C$45.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. CIBC increased their price objective on Great-West Lifeco from C$51.00 to C$55.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Great-West Lifeco from C$42.00 to C$48.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Scotiabank increased their price objective on Great-West Lifeco from C$44.00 to C$50.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Great-West Lifeco from C$47.00 to C$51.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$47.63.

Great-West Lifeco Stock 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 has a market capitalization of C$46.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a 50-day moving average of C$46.72 and a 200-day moving average of C$43.31.

Great-West Lifeco Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a $0.555 dividend. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.48%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. Great-West Lifeco’s dividend payout ratio is presently 55.78%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Richard Henry Linton sold 35,800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 dated 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 corporate 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.