Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) Price Target Raised to C$51.00 at Royal Bank of Canada

Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) had its target price raised by Royal Bank of Canada from C$47.00 to C$51.00 in a research report released on Friday morning,BayStreet.CA reports.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. TD Securities upped their price target on Great-West Lifeco from C$43.00 to C$44.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target 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 stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. CIBC raised their price target on Great-West Lifeco from C$46.00 to C$51.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on Great-West Lifeco from C$43.00 to C$45.00 in a research note on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$47.63.

Great-West Lifeco Stock Performance

Shares of GWO stock opened at C$48.79 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.61, a current ratio of 37.46 and a quick ratio of 22.18. The stock has a market cap of C$45.48 billion, a PE ratio of 12.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84. The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$46.20 and a 200-day moving average of C$42.95. Great-West Lifeco has a one year low of C$38.44 and a one year high of C$49.64.

Great-West Lifeco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be issued a $0.555 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.55%. Great-West Lifeco’s payout ratio is currently 55.78%.

Insider Activity at Great-West Lifeco

In related news, Director Richard Henry Linton sold 35,800 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$46.27, for a total transaction of C$1,656,344.28. In other news, Director Richard Henry Linton sold 35,800 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. The shares were 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 currently owned by insiders.

About Great-West Lifeco

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.