Vise Technologies Inc. Increases Stake in Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF)

Vise Technologies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF - Free Report) TSE: SLF by 106.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,778 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 4,516 shares during the quarter. Vise Technologies Inc.'s holdings in Sun Life Financial were worth $521,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Human Investing LLC acquired a new position in shares of Sun Life Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Asset Planning Inc bought a new position in shares of Sun Life Financial during the 4th quarter worth approximately $40,000. BankPlus Trust Department acquired a new stake in Sun Life Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $40,000. GeoWealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Sun Life Financial by 4,657.1% in the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 999 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 978 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JFS Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Sun Life Financial by 432.0% during the fourth quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,032 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 838 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 52.26% of the company's stock.

Sun Life Financial Stock Performance

Shares of SLF stock traded up $0.37 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $64.13. 626,532 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 654,375. Sun Life Financial Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $46.41 and a fifty-two week high of $64.98. The firm has a market cap of $36.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $58.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $58.57.

Sun Life Financial (NYSE:SLF - Get Free Report) TSE: SLF last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The financial services provider reported $1.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.22 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $7.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.44 billion. Sun Life Financial had a return on equity of 16.86% and a net margin of 8.08%. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.40 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Sun Life Financial Inc. will post 5.19 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sun Life Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 28th will be given a dividend of $0.6332 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 28th. This represents a $2.53 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.95%. This is a boost from Sun Life Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.59. Sun Life Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.09%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SLF has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Sun Life Financial from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Scotiabank reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Cormark raised shares of Sun Life Financial from a "hold" rating to a "moderate buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Sun Life Financial from $82.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Sun Life Financial in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $88.00.

Sun Life Financial Company Profile

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.