05:23 PM EDT, 05/07/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Manulife Financial ( MFC ) after trade Wednesday reported higher core earnings per share, even as those earnings slightly drop.

The life insurer said core earnings per share of $0.99 was 3% higher than the $0.91 in the prior year period. The result just beat the consensus analyst estimate of $0.98 per share, according to FactSet.

Core earnings of $1.8 billion in the quarter was modestly lower than the $1.71 billion a year earlier.

Manulife said annual premium equivalent sales (APE) jumped 37% to $2.69 billion over the same period, with the strongest increases being recorded in Asia, with a 50% increase to US$1.4 billion.

The company reported 93% contraction in global wealth and asset management net flows to $0.5 billion, from $6.7 billion.

Manulife will pay its regular quarterly dividend of $0.44 per share around June 19.

Manulife shares closed up $0.34 to $43.43 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.