Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO) Shares Pass Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average – Here’s Why

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSE:GWO)’s share price passed 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 changing hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently commented on GWO. Barclays boosted their price target on Great-West Lifeco from C$43.00 to C$45.00 in a research report on Friday, November 8th. CIBC upped their price target on Great-West Lifeco from C$51.00 to C$55.00 in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Scotiabank increased their target price on Great-West Lifeco from C$44.00 to C$50.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. TD Securities increased their target price on Great-West Lifeco from C$43.00 to C$44.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Great-West Lifeco from C$47.00 to C$51.00 in a report on Friday, November 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$47.63.

Great-West Lifeco Stock Performance

The company has a 50 day moving average of C$46.92 and a 200 day moving average of C$43.44. The firm has a market cap of C$46.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.49, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a quick ratio of 22.18, a current ratio of 37.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.61.

Great-West Lifeco Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.555 per share. This represents a $2.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.47%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. Great-West Lifeco’s payout ratio is 55.78%.

Insider Activity at Great-West Lifeco

In other Great-West Lifeco news, Director Charles Donald Harvey Henaire sold 26,400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$49.50, for a total transaction of C$1,306,800.00. Also, Director Richard Henry Linton sold 35,800 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction 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. Insiders have sold a total of 88,425 shares of company stock worth $4,139,548 in the last three months. 70.70% of the stock is owned by company 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.