Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) Share Price Crosses Above 200 Day Moving Average – Here’s Why

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO)’s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$44.09 and traded as high as C$46.64. Great-West Lifeco shares last traded at C$46.55, with a volume of 3,993,343 shares changing hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$43.00 to C$45.00 in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on 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. Scotiabank lifted 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 report on Wednesday, October 30th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$47.00 to C$51.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Finally, CIBC lifted their price target on shares of Great-West Lifeco from C$51.00 to C$55.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Great-West Lifeco presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of C$47.63.

Great-West Lifeco Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of C$43.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84. 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 firm’s 50-day moving average is C$48.00 and its 200-day moving average is C$44.15.

Great-West Lifeco Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be issued a $0.555 dividend. 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 4.75%. Great-West Lifeco’s dividend 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 on Friday, October 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$46.27, for a total transaction of C$1,656,344.28. Also, Director Paul Mahon sold 146,826 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$49.88, for a total transaction of C$7,323,842.39. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 209,851 shares of company stock worth $10,327,502. Corporate insiders own 70.70% of the company’s stock.

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.