Sun Life Financial (NYSE:SLF) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Sun Life Financial (NYSE:SLF) (TSE:SLF) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Monday.

Separately, National Bank Financial raised Sun Life Financial from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy”.

Sun Life Financial Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of SLF opened at $58.59 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $33.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.05, a P/E/G ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.03. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $59.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $56.50. Sun Life Financial has a 12 month low of $46.41 and a 12 month high of $62.85.

Sun Life Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 27th were paid a dividend of $0.621 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 27th. This is a positive change from Sun Life Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.59. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.24%. Sun Life Financial’s payout ratio is currently 57.46%.

Institutional Trading of Sun Life Financial

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Assetmark Inc. boosted its position in Sun Life Financial by 2,747.4% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 541 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 522 shares during the last quarter. Addison Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Sun Life Financial by 124.9% in the 3rd quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 650 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares during the period. Clean Yield Group purchased a new position in shares of Sun Life Financial in the third quarter worth approximately $39,000. Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Sun Life Financial in the fourth quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in Sun Life Financial during the third quarter valued at approximately $51,000. Institutional investors own 52.26% of the company’s stock.

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial Inc, a financial services company, provides savings, retirement, and pension products worldwide. The company operates in five segments: Asset Management, Canada, U.S., Asia, and Corporate. It offers various insurance products, such as term and permanent life; personal health, which includes prescription drugs, dental, and vision care; critical illness; long-term care; and disability, as well as reinsurance.