Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) Stock Passes Above 200 Day Moving Average – What’s Next?

Shares of Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$43.31 and traded as high as C$49.36. Great-West Lifeco shares last traded at C$49.17, with a volume of 8,226,585 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on GWO. Barclays boosted their price objective 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 boosted 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. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Great-West Lifeco from C$47.00 to C$51.00 in a report on Friday, November 8th. CIBC boosted their target price on Great-West Lifeco from C$51.00 to C$55.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Finally, 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. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$47.63.

Great-West Lifeco Trading Up 0.8 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.61, a quick ratio of 22.18 and a current ratio of 37.46. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of C$46.72 and a 200 day moving average price of C$43.31. The company has a market cap of C$45.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.35, a P/E/G ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84.

Great-West Lifeco Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a $0.555 dividend. This represents a $2.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.51%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. Great-West Lifeco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.78%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Charles Donald Harvey Henaire sold 25,400 shares of the stock in a transaction on 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. Also, 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 value of C$1,656,344.28. 70.70% of the stock is 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.