Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: SLFAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

SLF AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) is a Toronto-based financial services provider offering life and health insurance, retirement products, and asset management. In FY2025, revenue reached $42.17B with net income of $3.74B, while trailing twelve months revenue stood at $35.53B. The company closed at $79.35 with a market capitalization of $44.12B.

Market cap
$44.12B
Revenue (TTM)
$35.53B
P/E
18.5x
fwd 13.1x
1Y return
35.4%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$64.49
-18.7% vs last close

Bull case

  • Sun Life delivered quarterly earnings growth of 43.2% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
  • The balance sheet holds $20.54B in net cash with $29.66B in cash and short-term investments against $9.12B in total debt.
  • The company generated $13.60B in free cash flow during FY2025 while returning $2.06B to shareholders via dividends and $1.71B via buybacks.

Bear case

  • The consensus mean price target of $64.49 sits 18.7% below the last closing price of $79.35.
  • Revenue growth from FY2020 to FY2025 contracted at a 5-year CAGR of -0.5%.
  • Sun Life's trailing P/E of 18.5x and forward P/E of 13.1x trade at a premium to the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers at 12.1x and 10.8x.

What Sun Life Financial does

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Sun Life Financial Inc. is a global financial services organization founded in 1871. The company specializes in products and services designed to enhance financial security and well-being. Its offerings span life insurance, personal health, dental, critical illness, long-term care, and disability insurance. Sun Life also provides savings, retirement, and pension products, alongside financial advice and asset management. Additionally, the company is engaged in mutual fund management and investment advisory services, focusing on core competencies in insurance, retirement planning, and investment solutions rather than cryptocurrencies.

Growth and profitability

Sun Life Financial generated $42.17B in revenue during FY2025, representing growth of 22.3%, up from $34.48B in FY2024 and $32.66B in FY2023. Annual net income reached $3.74B in FY2025 with a net margin of 8.9% and diluted EPS of $6.42, following net income of $3.17B and EPS of $6.66 in FY2024. Over the 5-year period from FY2020 to FY2025, revenue CAGR was -0.5%. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue was $35.53B with a net profit margin of 9.5% and an operating margin of 15.8%. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 7.5% year-over-year while quarterly earnings expanded 43.2%.

SLF income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Sun Life held $29.66B in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $9.12B, resulting in net cash of $20.54B. Shareholders' equity was $26.56B with total assets of $425.33B, a current ratio of 27.38, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $13.75B and free cash flow was $13.60B. The company deployed cash toward $144.9M in capital expenditures, $1.71B in share buybacks, and $2.06B in dividends paid, with a 5-year share count change of -5.3%.

SLF balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Trading at $79.35 as of October 16, 2026, Sun Life trades at a trailing P/E of 18.5x and a forward P/E of 13.1x, compared to medians of 12.1x and 10.8x among its US-listed Financial Services peers. The stock has a price-to-sales ratio of 1.2x, below the peer group median of 3.2x, and a price-to-book ratio of 2.6x. Over the past year, Sun Life returned 35.4%, outpacing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year span, the stock gained 75.6% versus an 83.0% return for the S&P 500.

SLF key metrics →

SLF dividend

Sun Life pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward payout of $2.71 per share, representing a dividend yield of 3.41%. The company maintains a payout ratio of 40.7% and has paid dividends for 27 consecutive years. Its 5-year annualized dividend growth rate is 8.8%, and its most recent ex-dividend date was August 26, 2026.

SLF dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 4 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, 6 Hold, and 2 Sell ratings. The mean price target is $64.49, which sits 18.7% below the last close of $79.35. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $8.02 on revenue of $28.37B. A total of 13 analysts covering the next fiscal year project EPS of $8.64 and revenue of $29.79B. The company beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 4, 2026.

SLF forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Sun Life's 5-year revenue CAGR stands at -0.5%, reflecting historical top-line volatility such as the drop to $3.43B in FY2022.
  • The stock trades at $79.35, which is 10.8% above its 200-day moving average and near its 52-week high of $84.38.
  • Analysts project current fiscal year revenue to drop to $28.37B compared to $42.17B recorded in FY2025.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this SLF AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: SLF income statement, SLF balance sheet, SLF key metrics, SLF analyst forecast, SLF chart. See the SLF stock overview for the latest quote and news.

SLF AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Sun Life Financial's dividend yield and payout schedule?

Sun Life pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward rate of $2.71, yielding 3.41%. It has paid dividends for 27 consecutive years with a payout ratio of 40.7%.

What is Sun Life's valuation relative to its sector peers?

Sun Life carries a trailing P/E of 18.5x and forward P/E of 13.1x, above the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers of 12.1x and 10.8x. Its price-to-sales ratio is 1.2x compared to the peer median of 3.2x.

What are analyst price targets and ratings for SLF stock?

Analysts maintain 4 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, 6 Hold, and 2 Sell ratings, with a mean price target of $64.49. That target represents a -18.7% return from the last close of $79.35.

When is Sun Life Financial's next earnings report?

Sun Life is scheduled to release earnings on November 4, 2026. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates expect EPS of $8.02.

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