12 Dirt Cheap Stocks to Buy Now

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2. Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC)

Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC) is one of the dirt cheap stocks to buy now. On February 12, Manulife Financial reported a year of solid operational growth in 2025, highlighted by an 8% increase in core EPS. The company saw momentum in its insurance business, with new business Contractual Service Margin growth exceeding 20% across all segments. This performance was supported by a 24% year-over-year earnings surge in Asia and strong cash generation, with the firm producing $6.4 billion in remittances and returning $5.5 billion to shareholders.

Despite the top-line success, the company navigated several headwinds in Q4, including $9.5 billion in net outflows from its Global Wealth and Asset Management segment. These outflows were attributed to large retirement plan redemptions in North America. Additionally, the US segment saw a 22% decline in core earnings due to unfavorable life insurance claims experience, and the company recorded a $232 million charge in its Alternative Long-Duration Asset portfolio caused by lower-than-expected returns in real estate and private equity.

Looking ahead, Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC) remains committed to its target of achieving an 18%-plus core ROE by 2027. A pillar of this strategy is the firm’s leadership in AI maturity; it has already reached 30% of its $1 billion enterprise value generation target from AI initiatives.

Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE:MFC), together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the US, Canada, Asia, and internationally. It operates through the Wealth & Asset Management Businesses, Insurance & Annuity Products, and Corporate & Other segments.

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