Sun Life Financial Inc

SLF-T

(A Top Pick Oct 02/18, Up 20%) And it still looks cheap. It is so well positioned globally. Earnings are rising double digits. The dividend is growing and he thinks this will continue. They have been able to handle the low interest rate environment so well and continue to generate earnings growth.

It's a big growth area is in Asia. It has been a terrific performer lately. They have to invest unearned insurance premiums. With interest rates so low people are afraid. But SLF-T is a growing money management firm and that area is doing better. They raise their dividend regularly.

It trades at a premium to the group, but they have more capital deployment opportunities.

Zero interest rates are horrendous for insurance companies. SLF-T is trying to become a wealth partner for people into retirement. This would turn them into a fee based business and there has been some success here. He finds other assets, like Canadian banks, easier to understand so he has not entered into this space.

Bit of rotation from banks to insurers. High dividend, exposure to Asia-Pacific. Long-term demographics make sense. Low interest rates are a headwind.

Issue is that interest rates remain low. Has grown asset management franchise. Better global franchise. Bought into alternative asset classes. Insurance business is plodding along. Good dividend yield, not a high multiple. Prefers the banks, but not a bad idea at these levels.

Insuranace companies make money investing the proceeds of premiums into bonds. If bond yields are low it hurts their profitability. SLF-T has done a good job to diversify their business geographically. He also likes how they have moved into money management. He likes it and will continue holding it. Yield 4%

All financials are not the same. Insurance companies have been the place to be recently. It's at support. Stick with the insurance companies but perhaps broaden out which ones you are in to avoid execution risk.

Not a bad stock, it's the best of the life insurers. But he's concerned about the financials in general. In for a more difficult time, as spreads are not conducive to profits. Late in the game to buy. Dividend's not bad. Tariffs could cause interest rates to decline even further.

(A Top Pick May 30/18, Up 3%) He liked it then and likes it even more now. Lifecos are a good defensive play at this time, especially when they are all so well capitalized.

The insurance companies are a fairly defensive position to be in. They have significant excess capital. In the most recent quarter there was new business strain, which leads to profitability later on. This is a reasonable investment to make. (Analysts’ price target is $56.45)

This is a solid stock. He did own it and took profits. He would buy back if it got to $50. A good defensive play. Good yield.

He sold it 8 months ago, but still likes it. It's come back well. Definitely the best Canadian insurer to buy, but he's backing away from Canadian financials as a whole. It's a long-term hold that pays a good dividend. They're on top of the investment markets.

Insurance in a portfolio? He sold their Power Financial holding last year. Following the banking crisis it just has not recovered. It owns GreatWest Life and IGM -- neither has done well. Insurance is a better bet than banks, he thinks. He would prefer SLF-T in Canada and AFG-N in the US.