Manulife Finl Stock Price, News & Analysis

Manulife (MFC) has achieved the top ranking for AI maturity among life insurance companies in the inaugural Evident AI Index for Insurance, placing in the top five across the overall insurance industry. The company distinguished itself by ranking in the top 10 across all measured categories: Talent, Innovation, Leadership, and Transparency. The assessment, conducted by AI benchmarking platform Evident, evaluated 30 prominent insurance companies across North America and Europe. Manulife particularly excelled in Leadership and Transparency categories, demonstrating strong executive support and strategic AI investments. The company projects its digital investments, including AI initiatives, to deliver a threefold ROI over five years through 2027, with over $600 million in benefits expected in 2024 from global digital customer leadership initiatives.

Manulife (MFC) presented its Responsible AI Principles at the Reuters Momentum AI Summit, showcasing its commitment to ethical AI implementation. The company has 43 GenAI use cases in production and 450 ideas under evaluation as of Q1 2025. Manulife's principles focus on ethical data usage, customer safety, sustainability, bias-free solutions, human empowerment, and continuous learning. The company employs 200 data scientists and machine learning engineers and provides global access to GenAI tools for all employees. Notably, Manulife expects its digital investments, including AI initiatives, to generate a threefold ROI over five years through 2027, with over $600 million in benefits realized in 2024 from global digital customer leadership initiatives.

Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) has announced plans to issue $500 million in subordinated debentures with a maturity date of May 23, 2035. The debentures will feature a fixed interest rate of 3.983% until May 23, 2030, after which it will switch to a floating rate of 1.32% over Daily Compounded CORRA. The offering is being managed by a syndicate co-led by RBC Capital Markets, Scotiabank, and TD Securities, with an expected closing date of May 23, 2025.

Subject to regulatory approval, MFC may redeem the debentures wholly or partially after May 23, 2030 at par value plus accrued interest. The company plans to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including subsidiary investments and potential redemption of existing securities.

Manulife Investment Management has announced the formation of Lakefront Fiber, LLC, a joint venture with Midwest Fiber Networks (MWFN). The new entity will focus on providing connectivity solutions for hyperscale, carrier, and municipal customers, leveraging MWFN's established position as a regional fiber developer and operator.

Concurrent with its formation, Lakefront Fiber completed its first transaction, acquiring network assets from Everstream in Illinois. This acquisition adds 650 route miles to its network, enhancing its capability to provide high-capacity fiber connectivity across key Midwest markets.

The partnership represents an expansion of Manulife's digital infrastructure strategy, focusing on critical fiber assets backed by long-term contracts with creditworthy counterparties.

Manulife Investment Management (MFC) has appointed Brent McGowan as Global Head and Chief Investment Officer of Agriculture. McGowan, with 30 years of experience in the food and agricultural industry, returns to Manulife IM after previously serving as their Global Head of Agricultural Operations. He most recently held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Novus Ag.

The company's agricultural business manages $4.2 billion in assets and oversees 400,000 acres across Australia, Canada, Chile, and the United States. Oliver Williams, the former Global Head of Agriculture Investments, will transition to a strategic advisor role to ensure continuity.

As one of the world's leading natural capital investment managers, Manulife IM's agriculture platform offers customized, vertically integrated, sustainable agricultural investment solutions across various commodity types and agriculture "plus" investments.

Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) announced the election results of 13 directors at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All nominated directors were successfully elected with overwhelming shareholder support, receiving approval rates ranging from 97.10% to 99.82% of votes cast.

Notable elections include John S. Montalbano and Philip J. Witherington, who received the highest approval rates at 99.82%, while Donald R. Lindsay received the lowest, though still strong, approval rate at 97.10%. The detailed voting results for all matters discussed at the Annual Meeting will be available on Manulife's website and filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators.

Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) has announced quarterly dividend payments for its non-cumulative preferred shares. The dividends will be payable on or after June 19, 2025 to shareholders of record as of May 21, 2025. The dividend rates vary across different share classes:

- Class A Series 2: $0.29063 per share - Class A Series 3: $0.28125 per share - Class 1 Series (ranging from 3 to 25): $0.14675 to $0.396875 per share

This announcement demonstrates Manulife's commitment to providing regular returns to its preferred shareholders.

Manulife (MFC) has announced its latest quarterly dividend for common shareholders. The company's Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.44 per share, which will be payable on June 19, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 21, 2025.

Regarding the company's Canadian and U.S. Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plans, Manulife will purchase common shares from the open market for dividend reinvestment and optional cash purchases. The purchase price will be determined by the average actual cost of acquiring these shares, with no applicable discounts offered.

Manulife (MFC) reported Q1 2025 results with mixed performance. Core earnings were $1.8 billion, down 1% YoY, while net income decreased to $0.5 billion from $0.9 billion in Q1 2024. The company achieved record insurance new business results, with APE sales up 37%, new business CSM up 31%, and NBV up 36%. Core EPS increased 3% to $0.99, while maintaining a strong LICAT ratio of 137%. Key segment performance: • Asia: Strong growth with core earnings up 7%, NBV up 43% • Global WAM: Core earnings up 24%, net inflows of $0.5B (down from $6.7B) • Canada: Core earnings up 3%, NBV up 15% • U.S.: Core earnings down 25%, NBV up 30% Notable developments include completing a long-term care reinsurance transaction, launching new digital retirement solutions, and renewing a key bancassurance partnership in the Philippines. The company maintained a solid financial position with a 23.9% leverage ratio and 12% growth in book value per share.