Empowered Funds LLC Purchases Shares of 21,397 Sun Life Financial Inc. $SLF

Key Points

• Empowered Funds LLC purchased 21,397 Sun Life Financial shares in the first quarter, valued at approximately $1.34 million. Institutional investors collectively own 52.26% of the company.
• Sun Life reported quarterly EPS of $1.46, beating the $1.39 consensus estimate, while shares recently traded at $81.95 near their 52-week high. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an $84.67 price target.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.96 per share, equivalent to $3.84 annually and a 4.7% yield, with a 66.12% payout ratio.

Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF - Free Report) TSE: SLF in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 21,397 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,339,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in SLF. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Sun Life Financial in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Sun Life Financial by 68.4% in the 4th quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 411 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. acquired a new position in shares of Sun Life Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sun Life Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Sun Life Financial during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 52.26% of the company's stock.

Sun Life Financial Stock Performance

Shares of SLF opened at $81.95 on Friday. Sun Life Financial Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $56.22 and a fifty-two week high of $84.38. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $78.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $70.95. The company has a market capitalization of $45.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.16 and a beta of 0.88.

Sun Life Financial (NYSE:SLF - Get Free Report) TSE: SLF last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.39 by $0.07. Sun Life Financial had a return on equity of 17.99% and a net margin of 7.66%.The firm had revenue of $10.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $994.33 million. Equities research analysts forecast that Sun Life Financial Inc. will post 5.69 EPS for the current year.

Sun Life Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 29th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.96 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 26th. This represents a $3.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.7%. Sun Life Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.12%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on SLF shares. BMO Capital Markets reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a research report on Friday, May 8th. National Bank Financial raised Sun Life Financial from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. Evercore cut Sun Life Financial from an "outperform" rating to an "in-line" rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Finally, Barclays reissued an "underweight" rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a report on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $84.67.

More Sun Life Financial News

Here are the key news stories impacting Sun Life Financial this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 earnings beat expectations. Sun Life reported earnings of $1.46 per share, up from $1.29 a year earlier and ahead of the $1.39 consensus estimate. Revenue was reported at $10.10 billion, while management highlighted double-digit underlying net income growth and an underlying return on equity of 19.1%. Sun Life Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Growth was geographically broad. Strong performance in Canada, the United States and Asia, including insurance growth and asset gains, suggests momentum is not dependent on a single market. This supports the outlook for earnings and capital generation. SLF Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Strong Insurance Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend supports income appeal. Sun Life declared a quarterly common-share dividend of $0.96, payable September 29 to shareholders of record August 26. The payment implies an annualized dividend of $3.84 and a yield of approximately 4.7%. Sun Life declares dividends on Common and Preferred Shares
• Neutral Sentiment: Board leadership will change in 2027. Joseph Natale is expected to succeed Scott Powers as board chair after the May 2027 annual meeting. The planned transition appears orderly, but investors may monitor whether it affects long-term strategy. Sun Life announces Chair succession
• Neutral Sentiment: The dividend was held steady. While the 4.7% yield remains attractive, the lack of an increase may limit the immediate boost for dividend-growth investors.

Sun Life Financial Company Profile

Sun Life Financial Inc, founded in 1865 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, is an international financial services organization that provides a range of insurance, wealth management and asset management solutions. The company serves individual and institutional clients, offering products designed to protect against life and health risks, help clients save for retirement, and manage investments on behalf of customers and third parties.

Core business activities include life and health insurance, group benefits for employers, retirement and pension products, and wealth management services such as mutual funds and segregated fund solutions.

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