Should I Buy MFC? MFC 2026 Analysis

Should You Buy Manulife Financial Corp (MFC) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Conclusion

Hold

Latest Price

37.720

1 Day change

0.94%

52 Week Range

37.840

Analysis Updated At

2026/01/26

Manulife Financial Corp (MFC) is not a strong buy at the moment for a beginner, long-term investor with $50,000-$100,000 available. While the stock has some positive aspects, such as bullish moving averages and analyst upgrades, the lack of strong trading signals, neutral sentiment from hedge funds and insiders, and mixed financial performance make it prudent to hold rather than buy immediately.

Technical Analysis

The stock's MACD is negative and expanding, indicating bearish momentum. RSI is neutral at 49.797, and moving averages are bullish (SMA_5 > SMA_20 > SMA_200). The stock is trading near key support at 36.502, with resistance at 37.568. Overall, technical indicators are mixed, with no strong buy signal.

Options Data

Bullish

Open Interest Put-Call Ratio

Bullish

Option Volume Put-Call Ratio

Options data indicates a bullish sentiment with a low put-call ratio, but the overall volume is not significantly high, suggesting limited immediate trading interest.

Technical Summary

Sell

Buy

Positive Catalysts

Analyst upgrades and increased price targets, particularly from CIBC and Barclays, reflect optimism about the company's medium-term execution and potential multiple expansion. Revenue and EPS growth in Q3 2025 also indicate some operational strength.

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Net income declined by 2.36% YoY in Q3 2025, and the MACD suggests bearish momentum. Additionally, no recent news or significant insider/hedge fund activity has been observed, and the stock's short-term trend suggests potential downside in the next week (-2.88%).

Financial Performance

In Q3 2025, revenue increased by 2.58% YoY to $10.12B, and EPS grew by 2.00% YoY to 1.02. However, net income dropped by 2.36% YoY to $1.74B, reflecting some profitability challenges.

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

Analysts have recently upgraded the stock, with price targets ranging from C$50 to C$58. CIBC upgraded the stock to Outperformer, citing strong medium-term execution and potential upside. Barclays remains cautiously optimistic, highlighting capital strength and cash flow.

11 Analyst Rating

Wall Street analysts forecast MFC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MFC is 40.09 USD with a low forecast of 37.21 USD and a high forecast of 51 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

9 Buy

2 Hold

0 Sell

Strong Buy

Current: 37.370

Low

37.21

Averages

40.09

High

Current: 37.370

Low

37.21

Averages

40.09

High

Barclays

Equal Weight

maintain

$49 -> $52

AI Analysis

2026-01-08

Reason

Barclays

Price Target

$49 -> $52

AI Analysis

2026-01-08

maintain

Equal Weight

Reason

Barclays raised the firm's price target on Manulife Financial to C$52 from C$49 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm is "cautiously optimistic" on life insurers heading into 2026, saying capital strength, cash flow, and consolidation offset headwinds like spread compression and technology spend. Barclays adjusted ratings and price targets as part of its 2026 outlook.

CIBC

Neutral -> Outperformer

upgrade

$50 -> $58

2026-01-08

Reason

CIBC

Price Target

$50 -> $58

2026-01-08

upgrade

Neutral -> Outperformer

Reason

CIBC upgraded Manulife Financial to Outperformer from Neutral with a price target of C$58, up from C$50, based on execution against medium-term targets, potential upside to consensus estimates based on those medium-term objectives, and the potential for further multiple expansion.

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MFC Should I Buy

MFC Should I Buy

Should You Buy Manulife Financial Corp (MFC) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Technical Analysis

Options Data

Technical Summary

Positive Catalysts

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Financial Performance

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

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