Sun Life Financial Inc (SLF.TO) Buy, Sell or…

Sun Life Financial Inc (SLF.TO)

110.45

-0.47 (0.42%)

as of Oct 1, 2026, 8:00:00 pm Market Open.

717 watching

COMMENT

Down substantially from 3 years ago. Lifecos have been in the worst possible circumstances with the market being down in assets that have to back their life insurance with as well as yields being very low. If you believe bond yields will be higher by the end of the year (he is), lifecos appear to be a fairly good place to be.

BUY

Has it in his income portfolio because of the yield, which he thinks is safe at least for now. Insurance industry is going through turmoil, but longer term it is a good name. Doesn’t own the others.

WAIT

Beaten up group. Not as pretty looking as Canadian banks. Getting some hope of consolidation but don’t jump into it yet.

DON'T BUY

Yield of 7.6%. Insurance companies have had the double whammy of low interest rates and poor stock markets. Has been overly discounted. Market feels they are still going to cut their dividend. If you like the stock market, Manulife (MFC-T) has more leverage. He prefers Manulife. This one would be slightly more defensive.

COMMENT

It is trying to make some sort of bottom. It either holds at the current price or goes to $16. Indicators are kind of low but sometimes indicators can waffle before they make a move up. Insurance companies need 2 things to happen. Interest rates to go up and a strong stock market.

DON'T BUY

Problems with lifecos is that very low interest rates are really bad for their business. They can't really make any money. They put out variable annuities and can't reinvest very profitably. Regular insurance premiums have to go into the bond area which has very low interest rates.

DON'T BUY

Very difficult to be positive on the lifecos. Scaling back part of their life operations in the US. One of the key problems with lifecos is to invest their premiums while they’re suffering in the stock market. This will continue for the time being.

DON'T BUY

Management has stated that the dividend is safe “for now”. 7.5%. If the market gets worse and interest rates continue to go lower, anything can happen. Just announced they are going to change their US business. Wouldn't be a buyer of any insurance company right now until you get a good feeling that interest rates are going to rocket higher.

DON'T BUY

25-35 year long-term hold? With that good time frame, you can make a lot of long-term investment decisions. If you don't get carried away, you will do very well. They should not be paying their 7.8% current dividend as they are impairing their long-term earnings ability. He feels we are in a secular bear market, which means it doesn't make a lot of progress for the foreseeable future.

TOP PICK

Preferred D 4.45% Series 4. Have been really beaten up. A perpetual so it is longer term. Trading under par. Has tremendous upside and is giving a very generous yield.

WEAK BUY

You should have a little bit in your portfolio. To him, the balance sheet is in question and there are write-downs coming.

RISKY

Lifecos have to go to the bond market to fund their liabilities and they still have a lot of equity exposure. Doesn't have a clear operational strategy as its competitors. Probably getting pummelled down on tax loss selling so would be worth a trade. Great dividend, which may very well get cut.

DON'T BUY

Market is pricing in a 25% cut in dividend. It is not a MFC-T and does not have same balance sheet or hedging, so does not have to cut its dividend by a half. Problem with lifecos is that bond interest rates have come down tremendously. If he had to own a lifeco it would be GWO-T.

DON'T BUY

Dividend yield is almost 8% now. In the short term, low interest rates and a really lousy equity market spells death to financials, especially insurance companies.

DON'T BUY

Hit a 52 week low today. Earnings expectations are declining on this and other insurance companies. Interest rates and low interest rate spreads are hurting insurers. Tough equity markets are persisting.

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Sun Life Financial Inc (SLF.TO)