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Great-West Lifeco (TSE:GWO)
TSX:GWO
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Great-West Lifeco (GWO) AI Stock Analysis

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TSE:GWO

Great-West Lifeco

(TSX:GWO)

Rating:74Outperform
Price Target:
C$61.00
▲(15.09% Upside)
Great-West Lifeco's overall stock score reflects strong financial performance and strategic growth initiatives. The positive earnings call and corporate events further bolster confidence, despite some technical indicators suggesting caution due to potential overbought conditions.
Positive Factors
Capital Generation
The introduction of a new objective for base capital generation at 80%+ of base earnings shows a solid plan for financial strength.
Dividend Increase
A 10% dividend increase surpasses the previous estimate of 8%.
Return on Equity
The company has increased its medium-term base ROE target to over 19%, reflecting a strong focus on generating higher returns.
Negative Factors
Earnings Challenges
Weaker expected insurance earnings and Empower earnings impact the company's performance.
Earnings Visibility
The generally full valuation at 11.8x NTM base EPS and earnings visibility challenges in the Europe/Capital & Risk Solutions segments create concerns.

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 makes money through a diversified revenue model focusing on insurance premiums, investment income, and asset management fees. Insurance premiums are generated from individual and group life insurance, health insurance, and annuity products. The company earns investment income through its management of invested assets, which include bonds, mortgages, and equities, generating returns that are used to pay policyholder benefits and enhance shareholder value. Additionally, Great-West Lifeco collects fees from its asset management services, provided by subsidiaries like Putnam Investments, which manage mutual funds and institutional accounts. The company also benefits from strategic partnerships and acquisitions, which help expand its market reach and enhance its product offerings, contributing to its overall earnings growth.

Great-West Lifeco Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 07, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: 0.00%|
Next Earnings Date:Nov 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a strong performance with record base earnings and robust growth across several segments, particularly Empower and Group Benefits. However, challenges such as the exit from the U.S. traditional life reinsurance market and credit-related impacts in the U.S. portfolio were noted. Overall, the positive highlights slightly outweigh the lowlights, indicating a solid financial position and strategic execution.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Base Earnings Growth
Great-West Lifeco reported double-digit base earnings growth with base EPS up 12% year-over-year, driven by solid execution across the business.
Strong Performance in Empower
Empower delivered a 13% year-over-year growth in base earnings, with workplace client assets growing by 10% to USD 1.7 trillion and an increase of 500,000 participants.
Increased Share Buyback Target
The company raised its full year buyback target to $1 billion, reflecting confidence in growth outlook and commitment to long-term shareholder value.
Significant Growth in Wealth Businesses
Base earnings in Wealth businesses up 15% year-over-year driven by fee growth, with Empower Wealth recording an 83% increase in net flows to $2.9 billion.
Strong Group Benefits Performance
Group Benefits base earnings rose 17% over the prior year, highlighting the strength of the diversified portfolio and disciplined pricing approach.
Negative Updates
U.S. Traditional Life Reinsurance Exit
Strategic decision to exit the U.S. traditional life mortality reinsurance market due to difficulty in achieving desired returns.
Credit-Related Impacts
Credit-related impacts during the quarter were related to bonds issued by water utilities in the UK, affecting the U.S. portfolio, with additional monitoring required.
Large Plan Withdrawal in U.S. Retirement
Despite strong net flows, a large plan deconversion in the U.S. Retirement business impacted asset growth for the quarter.
Company Guidance
During the Great-West Lifeco Q2 2025 earnings call, the company reaffirmed its strategic priorities and medium-term financial objectives, which include achieving 8% to 10% EPS growth, 80%-plus capital generation, a return on equity of over 19%, and a dividend payout ratio of 45% to 55%. The call highlighted record base earnings with a 12% year-over-year increase in base EPS, supported by strong organic growth and robust capital and cash generation. Empower, a key growth driver, reported a 13% increase in base earnings, excluding certain impacts, alongside a 10% growth in workplace client assets to USD 1.7 trillion. The company also announced an increase in its full-year share buyback target to $1 billion, reflecting confidence in its growth outlook. Additionally, Empower's recent initiatives, such as launching a zero-fee S&P 500 Index Fund and introducing private market investments to its participants, were noted as significant steps to enhance its market position.

Great-West Lifeco Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Great-West Lifeco exhibits strong profitability with a solid gross profit margin and healthy net profit margin. Despite some inconsistencies in revenue growth, the company maintains efficient cash flow management and moderate leverage. However, its high reliance on liabilities poses a potential risk.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Great-West Lifeco shows a solid gross profit margin at 83.48% for TTM, indicating strong profitability. The net profit margin for TTM is 17.34%, which is healthy given the industry's nature. However, revenue growth has been inconsistent, with a notable decline from 2022 to 2023, impacting the overall score. The EBIT margin for TTM at 31.65% is strong, but the EBITDA margin is lower than EBIT due to adjustments, highlighting some volatility in operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The company's balance sheet is stable, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, indicating moderate leverage. The return on equity for TTM is 13.27%, reflecting efficient use of equity. However, the equity ratio of 3.72% shows a heavy reliance on liabilities, which could pose risks if market conditions change. Overall, the balance sheet suggests a well-managed but highly leveraged financial structure.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
The cash flow statement highlights strong free cash flow generation with a favorable operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.09 for TTM. The free cash flow to net income ratio is also healthy at 1.09, indicating effective cash management. However, the decrease in free cash flow compared to previous periods reflects in the score, suggesting potential areas for improvement in cash flow sustainability.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue22.88B17.22B25.27B44.70B64.45B60.60B
Gross Profit19.10B17.22B25.27B44.70B64.45B60.60B
EBITDA5.58B5.93B4.00B3.72B4.74B3.82B
Net Income3.97B4.07B2.87B3.73B3.26B3.08B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets804.14B802.16B713.23B701.46B630.49B600.49B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments25.99B24.71B19.38B18.84B17.23B7.95B
Total Debt9.54B10.23B9.65B11.29B9.73B10.71B
Total Liabilities771.05B771.01B683.38B669.14B600.00B573.48B
Stockholders Equity29.91B29.54B26.84B29.01B27.22B24.03B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow4.33B4.75B5.20B7.05B10.37B9.61B
Operating Cash Flow4.33B4.75B5.20B7.05B10.37B9.61B
Investing Cash Flow-196.00M-408.00M-786.00M-5.49B-11.21B-8.20B
Financing Cash Flow-2.44B-2.29B-3.55B-620.00M-992.00M2.01B

Great-West Lifeco Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price53.00
Price Trends
50DMA
51.55
Positive
100DMA
51.88
Positive
200DMA
49.76
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.39
Negative
RSI
57.51
Neutral
STOCH
64.59
Neutral
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 53 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 52.28, above the 50-day MA of 51.55, and above the 200-day MA of 49.76, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.39 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 57.51 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 64.59 is Neutral, 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 (67)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
C$50.09B13.5314.19%4.30%15.27%4.72%
67
Neutral
$17.03B11.509.79%3.95%10.63%1.98%
$53.58B13.8811.57%4.00%
$34.93B15.6513.18%3.93%
$42.06B8.2918.70%0.86%
75
Outperform
C$13.17B13.1613.43%2.47%-4.55%42.41%
71
Outperform
C$36.29B13.4811.92%5.24%7.63%8.84%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:GWO
Great-West Lifeco
53.00
13.57
34.42%
MFC
Manulife Financial
30.07
5.99
24.88%
SLF
Sun Life Financial
61.49
15.35
33.27%
FRFHF
Fairfax Financial Holdings
1,741.62
660.92
61.16%
TSE:IAG
iA Financial Corporation Inc
142.44
45.93
47.59%
TSE:POW
Power Corp of Canada
57.23
22.28
63.75%

Great-West Lifeco Corporate Events

Stock BuybackBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Great-West Lifeco Achieves Record Base Earnings and Plans Further Share Buybacks
Positive
Aug 5, 2025

Great-West Lifeco Inc. reported record base earnings of over $1.1 billion for Q2 2025, marking an 11% increase from the previous year, driven by strong performance in its wealth and group benefits businesses. Despite a decline in net earnings due to business transformation charges and market challenges, the company plans an additional $500 million in share buybacks, reflecting its strong capital position and focus on growth strategies.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Hold with a C$54.00 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 CEO to Discuss Q2 2025 Financial Results in Virtual Chat
Neutral
Jul 24, 2025

Great-West Lifeco announced that its President and CEO, David Harney, will participate in a virtual fireside chat with CIBC Capital Markets to discuss the company’s second quarter 2025 financial results. This event signifies the company’s commitment to transparency and engagement with stakeholders, potentially impacting its market perception and investor relations.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Hold with a C$54.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Great-West Lifeco stock, see the TSE:GWO Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
IPC Acquires De Thomas Wealth Management to Enhance Advisor Services
Positive
Jul 22, 2025

Investment Planning Counsel Inc. (IPC), a subsidiary of Canada Life, has announced its acquisition of the wealth assets of De Thomas Wealth Management Corp. This strategic move aims to reinforce IPC’s vision of becoming a leading destination for entrepreneurial advisors by providing enhanced tools, platforms, and support. The acquisition is expected to foster deeper relationships between advisors and clients, allowing for business growth and value capture. The transaction, anticipated to complete by the end of Q3 2025, will enable De Thomas advisors to maintain their independence while benefiting from IPC’s resources, marking a collaborative effort that honors the strengths and legacy of both organizations.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Hold with a C$54.00 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 to Announce Q2 2025 Financial Results
Neutral
Jul 22, 2025

Great-West Lifeco Inc. will release its second quarter 2025 financial results on August 5, 2025, with a subsequent earnings conference call scheduled for August 6. This announcement is significant for stakeholders as it provides insights into the company’s financial performance and strategic direction, impacting its market positioning and investor relations.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Hold with a C$54.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Great-West Lifeco stock, see the TSE:GWO Stock Forecast page.

Product-Related AnnouncementsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Canada Life Reinsurance Shifts Focus to Structured Reinsurance
Neutral
Jun 25, 2025

Canada Life Reinsurance, a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco, announced a strategic shift by ceasing new business for its U.S. traditional life mortality risk reinsurance line to focus more on structured reinsurance markets. This decision aims to allocate more resources to structured solutions, longevity reinsurance, and catastrophe retrocession, while ensuring a smooth transition for existing clients and maintaining high service levels for its inforce business.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Hold with a C$54.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Great-West Lifeco stock, see the TSE:GWO Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Great-West Lifeco Appoints Lindsey Rix-Broom as CEO of European Operations
Positive
May 22, 2025

Great-West Lifeco has appointed Lindsey Rix-Broom as CEO of its European operations, effective July 1, 2025. Rix-Broom, who currently leads Canada Life U.K., is recognized for her leadership and strategic focus, having driven significant growth and modernization in the U.K. market. Her appointment is part of a broader leadership transition, with David Harney taking over as President & CEO of Great-West Lifeco and Canada Life. This strategic move aims to strengthen Lifeco’s presence in Europe, particularly in the U.K., Ireland, and Germany, as the company continues to focus on delivering sustainable growth and value.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:GWO) stock is a Hold with a C$54.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Great-West Lifeco stock, see the TSE:GWO Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Great-West Lifeco Elects Full Slate of Directors, Ensuring Leadership Stability
Positive
May 8, 2025

Great-West Lifeco announced the election of all 19 director nominees during its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders. The election results showed strong support for the nominees, indicating stability and continuity in the company’s governance. This decision is expected to reinforce Great-West Lifeco’s strategic direction and maintain its robust position in the financial services industry, benefiting stakeholders by ensuring consistent leadership.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Great-West Lifeco Reports Strong Q1 2025 Results with Focus on U.S. Growth
Positive
May 7, 2025

Great-West Lifeco reported strong first quarter 2025 results, with base earnings of $1.0 billion, marking a 5% increase from the previous year, driven by growth in its Retirement and Wealth businesses. Despite a 17% decline in net earnings from continuing operations due to unfavorable market conditions, the company maintained a robust capital position with a LICAT ratio of 130% and continued its strategic focus on capital-efficient growth, particularly in the U.S. segment, which contributed significantly to its performance.

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: Aug 07, 2025