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Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO)
TSX:GWO

Great-West Lifeco (GWO) AI Stock Analysis

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TSE:GWO

Great-West Lifeco

(TSX:GWO)

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Neutral 65 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:65Neutral
Price Target:
C$66.00
â–²(2.84% Upside)
Action:DowngradedDate:02/18/26
The score is driven primarily by mixed financial performance—stable earnings and capitalization but weaker 2025 cash conversion and operating-result volatility. Valuation and the earnings call are supportive (reasonable P/E, strong dividend, constructive guidance and capital returns), while technicals are a meaningful near-term drag due to bearish momentum and the stock trading below key moving averages.
Positive Factors
Scale & market position
Empower's >$2.0tn in client assets and Lifeco's $3.3tn total assets provide durable scale across retirement and wealth channels. Scale strengthens distribution economics, fee revenue stability, product cross-sell, and bargaining power with asset managers, supporting steady long-term earnings.
Capital generation & shareholder returns
High conversion of base earnings into free cash flow and active buybacks plus a dividend hike signal durable cash-generation discipline and a shareholder-return focus. This supports return of capital and provides flexibility to fund buybacks, dividends, or targeted investments over multiple years.
Capitalization & liquidity
Maintaining LICAT above regulatory guidance and holding sizable deployable cash alongside modest leverage gives resilience against stress. This balance-sheet flexibility supports ongoing dividends, buybacks and selective M&A while preserving insurer solvency over economic cycles.
Negative Factors
Weak 2025 cash conversion
A sharp drop in operating cash flow and materially weaker free cash flow in 2025 reduced cash coverage of earnings (~0.29x). Persistent or recurring weaker cash conversion would limit capital return capacity and increase earnings volatility given lifecycle timing of insurance cash flows and investment spreads.
Operating profitability volatility
Uneven operating margins and episodic negative EBIT underscore structural volatility in underwriting, trading and accounting across periods. Such variability challenges predictability of underwriting profits and makes medium-term operating-margin improvement and planning for investors more difficult.
Fee‑mix & net flow pressures
Large participant outflows and a lagging fee mix reduce recurring fee income and dilute operating leverage in retirement businesses. If outflows or lower-margin asset composition persist, long-run fee revenue growth and margin sustainability could be impaired despite asset scale.

Great-West Lifeco (GWO) vs. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC)

Great-West Lifeco Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionGreat-West Lifeco Inc., a financial services holding company, 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 a portfolio of financial and benefit plan solutions for individuals, families, businesses, and organizations; life, disability, critical illness, accidental death, dismemberment, health and dental protection, and creditor insurance products; and retirement savings and income, annuity, and other specialty products. It also provides employer-sponsored retirement savings plans, individual retirement and taxable brokerage accounts, enrollment services, communication materials, investment options, and education services; and fund management, investment, and advisory services. In addition, the company offers private-label recordkeeping and administrative services; and investment products, including equity, fixed income, absolute return, and alternative strategies. Further, it provides protection and wealth management products, including payout annuity products; pension products; and life, annuity/longevity, mortgage surety, and property catastrophe reinsurance products. The company offers its products under the Canada Life, Irish Life, Empower, Putnam Investments, and PanAgora brand names. It distributes its products through a network of advisors, dealers, brokers, managing general agencies, financial institutions, consultants, third-party administrators, sales force, financial planners, employee benefit consultants, banks, and multi-tied agents. The company was founded in 1891 and is based in Winnipeg, Canada. Great-West Lifeco Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Power Financial Corporation.
How the Company Makes MoneyGreat-West Lifeco generates revenue through several key streams, primarily from premiums collected on insurance products, fees from asset management services, and investment income. The company offers various life and health insurance policies, which provide a steady inflow of premium revenues. Additionally, it manages mutual funds and other investment products, earning management fees based on assets under management. Significant partnerships with financial advisors, brokerages, and institutional clients enhance its distribution capabilities and contribute to its earnings. Investment income, derived from the company's portfolio of bonds, stocks, and other financial instruments, further bolsters its revenue, especially in favorable market conditions.

Great-West Lifeco Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 11, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 06, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed strong operational and financial momentum: record base earnings and EPS growth, robust capital generation and free cash flow, significant progress at Empower (scale and margins), active capital returns (buybacks and a 10% dividend hike), and growth across key businesses (Capital Solutions, Canada, Europe adjusted). Offsetting items included quarter-to-quarter volatility in Europe (mortality and trading), lower earnings on surplus driven by falling yields and intercompany dividends, some market-driven pressures in P&C retrocession and participant outflows affecting fee mix. On balance the positives (broad-based growth, cash generation, strong shareholder returns, and scalable AI/technology initiatives) materially outweigh the transient and manageable headwinds.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Base Earnings and EPS Growth
Delivered record base earnings for the year and third consecutive quarter; base earnings up 11% year-over-year and base earnings per share up 12% year-over-year, driving base ROE to 18.2% (up ~70 basis points).
Empower Scale and Performance
Empower crossed the USD 2 trillion mark in total client assets; Empower base earnings grew 17% year-over-year (constant currency) and Empower Wealth base earnings rose 43% year-over-year (constant currency); Empower base ROE exceeded 20% for the first time.
Total Client Assets and Higher-Margin Assets
Total client assets ended the year at $3.3 trillion, including over $1.0 trillion of higher-margin assets under management or advisement.
Strong Net Flows and Wealth Momentum
Empower reported net new asset organic growth of 14% in Wealth; planned flows in H2 2025 were USD 29 billion versus prior expectation of USD 25 billion (≈16% higher than prior expectation); record retail net flows of $4.2 billion at Irish Life.
Capital Solutions and CRS Growth
Capital and Risk Solutions: base earnings up 9% year-over-year (constant currency); Capital Solutions run-rate insurance result increased 46% year-over-year in Q4 and 29% for the full year, with a robust pipeline.
Strong Capital Generation and Free Cash Flow
Base capital generation exceeded 80% of base earnings for the full year and free cash flow represented approximately 90% of base earnings, supporting capital deployment and shareholder returns.
Shareholder Returns — Buybacks and Dividend Increase
Repurchased ~28 million shares for over $1.6 billion in 2025 and repurchased $250 million so far in 2026; renewed NCIB to repurchase up to 20 million shares; increased quarterly dividend by 10% to $0.60 per share.
Balance Sheet Flexibility and Liquidity
Deployable cash at the holding company of about $2.1 billion at year-end; LICAT ratio maintained at 128% with guidance to remain above 125% in normal conditions; leverage around 28% with capacity to deploy capital.
Canadian and European Organic Growth
Canada base earnings increased 10% year-over-year driven by insurance experience gains and stronger fee income; Europe full-year base earnings surpassed $1 billion for the first time, with 7% constant-currency growth after adjustments.
Operational and Technology Progress
Continued digital and AI initiatives (e.g., Empower workplace private markets, expanded health options, CaLi AI assistant in Canada, CARA in Irish Life) and ongoing operational streamlining that generated over $2 billion in capital benefits from U.K. balance sheet optimization since 2024.
Negative Updates
Q4 European Headwinds and Volatility
Fourth-quarter Europe base earnings declined 2% year-over-year due to unfavorable mortality experience and significantly lower trading gains; earnings on surplus in Europe reduced due to nearly $2 billion of dividends remitted to Great-West over 24 months exceeding the business's earnings, creating quarter-to-quarter volatility.
Lower Earnings on Surplus in Canada
Canadian results were adversely impacted by falling yields which reduced earnings on surplus, partially offset by insurance experience gains; management adjusted Canadian base earnings excluding this effect (+6% when adjusted).
Market and Restructuring Impacts to Net Earnings
Net earnings in Q4 were principally impacted by previously announced restructuring plans and unfavorable market/interest rate experience.
P&C Retrocession Market Softness
Rates in the P&C retrocession market were ~20% lower at renewals versus prior year, prompting reduced exposure in that line and an expected reduction in related earnings going forward.
Participant Outflows and Fee-Mix Pressures
Participant outflows totaled approximately $39.4 billion over the last four quarters; asset-based fee growth lags asset growth in some periods (e.g., average client assets up but net fee and spread income growth more muted), creating temporary operating leverage pressure in U.S. Retirement.
LICAT Ratio and Capital Movement Effects
LICAT decreased to 128% (from 131% at end of Q3) partly due to seasonality and elevated CRS new business; Europe remittances reduced local earnings on surplus and contributed to capital variability.
Credit and Single-Name Exposure
Total credit losses were marginally lower than the expected 4–6 basis point annual range but this quarter's credit experience was driven by a single U.S. commercial property, highlighting single-name sensitivity.
Bulk Annuities Market Seasonality
Full-year bulk annuity sales declined in line with the market despite a record $1.5 billion bulk annuity quarter in the U.K.; 2025 activity was depressed earlier in the year by anticipated regulatory changes, creating uneven annual results.
Company Guidance
Management's guidance stressed continued strong capital generation and disciplined returns: they expect Empower to deliver double‑digit base earnings growth in 2026 and Lifeco to reach >19% base ROE over the medium term (2025 base ROE was 18.2% with the U.S. >20%), and to generate 70%+ of base earnings from capital‑light businesses. On capital and liquidity, base capital generation exceeded 80% of base earnings and free cash flow was ~90% of base earnings in 2025; LICAT was 128% (down from 131%) and is expected to remain above 125% in 2026, leverage was 28% (up 1 ppt), and holding‑company cash was ~$2.1bn (deployable cash >$2bn). They reaffirmed a high return‑of‑capital posture—28m shares repurchased for >$1.6bn in 2025, $250m repurchased YTD 2026, an NCIB for up to 20m shares, and a 10% quarterly dividend increase to $0.60—noting they would likely return an amount similar to 2025 absent compelling M&A. Other quantified expectations included an effective tax rate rising from <16% in 2025 (a ~$0.10/sh tax benefit included) toward ~18% by 2028, credit losses of 4–6 bps of fixed income (≈$70–100m post‑tax in 2026), and continued business momentum (Empower >$2.0tn AUA, total client assets $3.3tn with >$1.0tn higher‑margin AUM/advisory; Empower Wealth net new assets +14% with USD 3.4bn rollovers; CRS run‑rate insurance result +46% YoY in Q4 and +29% FY).

Great-West Lifeco Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Solid earnings power and improving 2025 revenue (+44.6% YoY) with a stable capital base and moderate leverage, but operating profitability and comparability are uneven (negative EBIT in 2023–2024; unusual 2022 revenue print). Cash conversion weakened sharply in 2025 (operating cash flow down to ~$2.7B; thinner coverage vs. net income), adding volatility risk.
Income Statement
66
Positive
Revenue rebounded strongly in 2025 (+44.6% YoY) after a flat-to-down 2024, and net income has been consistently positive across the period (~$2.9B–$4.1B). Profitability looks solid in 2025 with an ~8.4% net margin and ~10.3% EBIT margin, but results are volatile: EBIT was negative in 2023–2024 despite positive net income, and 2022 shows an unusual negative revenue print that signals accounting/statement variability typical in insurers and reduces comparability. Overall: good earnings power, but uneven operating profitability and noisy revenue trend.
Balance Sheet
74
Positive
Leverage appears reasonable for the period, with debt-to-equity generally in the ~0.35–0.45 range, and equity building over time (roughly $24.0B in 2020 to ~$29.9B in 2025). Total assets also increased materially (~$600B to ~$863B), supporting scale. The main watch item is rising absolute debt in 2025 (to ~$13.4B) and the inherent balance-sheet complexity of life insurers, but overall capitalization trends look stable.
Cash Flow
58
Neutral
Cash generation remains positive, but weakened meaningfully in 2025: operating cash flow fell to ~$2.7B versus ~$4.8–$10.4B in prior years, and free cash flow growth was sharply negative (-46.1%). Cash flow covered net income well in 2021–2024 (operating cash flow running above net income), but 2025 shows much thinner coverage (~0.29x), indicating a tougher cash conversion year and higher volatility in cash flows.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue39.10B34.72B36.73B-2.69B64.45B
Gross Profit13.13B13.39B11.12B11.06B12.93B
EBITDA5.64B5.93B3.98B4.96B4.72B
Net Income4.12B4.07B2.87B3.73B3.26B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets862.83B802.16B713.23B701.46B630.49B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments28.39B24.71B19.38B18.84B17.23B
Total Debt13.41B10.23B9.65B11.29B9.73B
Total Liabilities829.83B771.01B683.38B669.14B600.00B
Stockholders Equity29.86B29.54B26.84B29.01B27.22B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow2.71B4.75B5.20B7.05B10.37B
Operating Cash Flow2.71B4.75B5.20B7.05B10.37B
Investing Cash Flow-56.00M-408.00M-786.00M-5.49B-11.21B
Financing Cash Flow-4.32B-2.29B-3.55B-620.00M-992.00M

Great-West Lifeco Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price64.18
Price Trends
50DMA
63.51
Positive
100DMA
63.16
Positive
200DMA
57.68
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.16
Negative
RSI
59.02
Neutral
STOCH
87.49
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:GWO, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 64.18 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 63.49, above the 50-day MA of 63.51, and above the 200-day MA of 57.68, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.16 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 59.02 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 87.49 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TSE:GWO.

Great-West Lifeco Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
C$42.17B13.4812.83%3.28%-9.03%44.14%
74
Outperform
C$45.30B15.1216.27%1.86%2.51%44.44%
69
Neutral
C$48.20B12.8814.68%4.11%-19.88%-13.92%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
66
Neutral
$78.89B14.6811.34%3.49%5.46%10.52%
66
Neutral
C$51.67B8.5618.65%0.84%10.08%24.18%
65
Neutral
C$58.36B14.0613.98%3.62%-20.64%14.88%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:GWO
Great-West Lifeco
64.56
14.42
28.77%
TSE:MFC
Manulife Financial
47.05
5.04
12.01%
TSE:SLF
Sun Life Financial
87.02
9.18
11.79%
TSE:FFH
Fairfax Financial Holdings
2,409.22
421.95
21.23%
TSE:IFC
Intact Financial Corporation
255.11
-19.84
-7.22%
TSE:POW
Power Corp of Canada
66.49
18.87
39.62%

Great-West Lifeco Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Great-West Lifeco CEO to Discuss Strategy and 2025 Results in TD Cowen Virtual Fireside Chat
Neutral
Feb 17, 2026

Great-West Lifeco Inc. said President and Chief Executive Officer David Harney will participate in a virtual fireside chat hosted by TD Cowen analyst Mario Mendonca on February 19, 2026, to discuss the company’s strategy and 2025 financial results. A replay of the webcast will be made available in the events section of the company’s website after the session and archived online for 90 days, offering investors and other stakeholders extended access to management’s commentary.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Buy with a C$70.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Great-West Lifeco stock, see the TSE:GWO Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyStock BuybackDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Great-West Lifeco Posts Record 2025 Base Earnings and Hikes Dividend 10%
Positive
Feb 12, 2026

Great-West Lifeco reported record base earnings for 2025, with fourth-quarter base earnings rising 12% to $1.25 billion, or $1.36 per share, driven by higher assets from market growth, strong performance in its Retirement and Wealth segments, particularly at Empower, and new business in Capital & Risk Solutions. Despite a 6% decline in quarterly net earnings to $1.05 billion and largely flat full-year net earnings, the company delivered an 18.2% base return on equity, maintained a strong LICAT ratio of 128% and $2.1 billion in cash, raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to $0.67 per share, and continued significant share repurchases, underscoring disciplined capital deployment and financial flexibility for shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Buy with a C$70.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Great-West Lifeco stock, see the TSE:GWO Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and Strategy
Canada Life Wins 38 FundGrade A+ Awards for Mutual and Segregated Funds
Positive
Feb 6, 2026

Canada Life and Canada Life Investment Management Ltd. secured 38 FundGrade A+ Awards from Fundata for 2025, with four mutual funds and 34 segregated funds recognized for consistent, outstanding, risk-adjusted performance. The accolades, spanning Canadian, U.S., international and emerging markets equity as well as balanced and fixed income portfolios, underscore the strength of the firm’s investment teams and sub-advisors and reinforce its strategy to become a leading wealth provider in Canada by expanding access to advice and high-performing solutions for advisors and their clients.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Buy with a C$70.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Great-West Lifeco stock, see the TSE:GWO Stock Forecast page.

Financial Disclosures
Great-West Lifeco Sets February Dates for Q4 2025 Results and Earnings Call
Neutral
Jan 21, 2026

Great-West Lifeco Inc. will release its fourth-quarter 2025 financial results after markets close on February 11, 2026, followed by an earnings conference call and webcast with company management on the morning of February 12. The scheduled disclosure and investor call underscore the company’s ongoing efforts to communicate financial performance and strategic progress to shareholders and the broader market, providing stakeholders with updated insight into the operations of one of North America and Europe’s major diversified financial services groups.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Hold with a C$60.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Great-West Lifeco stock, see the TSE:GWO Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyDelistings and Listing Changes
Great-West Lifeco Announces Conversion Results for Series N Preferred Shares
Neutral
Dec 17, 2025

Great-West Lifeco Inc. announced the result of a conversion election for its Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series N. Holders of 6,425 Series N Shares opted to convert their shares into Series O Shares on a one-for-one basis by December 31, 2025. However, due to insufficient conversions to meet the threshold for outstanding Series O Shares, no Series N Shares will be converted to Series O Shares, and written notice will be issued to stakeholders accordingly. This decision underscores operational clarity in managing share conversions and may affect stakeholders holding Series N Shares.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Buy with a C$67.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Great-West Lifeco stock, see the TSE:GWO Stock Forecast page.

Dividends
Great-West Lifeco Sets Dividend Rates for Preferred Shares
Positive
Dec 2, 2025

Great-West Lifeco Inc. announced the dividend rates for its Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series N, and Non-Cumulative Floating Rate First Preferred Shares, Series O. The fixed dividend rate for Series N Shares is set at 4.090% per annum for the five-year period starting December 31, 2025, while the floating rate for Series O Shares is 3.518% per annum for the period starting on the same date. This announcement provides clarity on the financial returns for investors holding these shares and underscores the company’s commitment to offering competitive financial products, potentially impacting its market positioning and attractiveness to investors.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Buy with a C$67.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Great-West Lifeco stock, see the TSE:GWO Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 18, 2026