March 6, 2025
Top 10 Stock Sun Life Financial Strong Buy Recommendation
How to read the ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Snapshot: Sun Life Financial – Top 10 Stock in SDG 13: Climate Action
Sun Life Financial is listed as a top 10 stock on March 06, 2025 in the market index SDG 13 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. While only half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit above-average performance, the professional market sentiment is positive and it may be a solid investment proposition, especially if a growth recovery is to be expected soon. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 100 (top 100% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for Sun Life Financial on March 06, 2025.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).
For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).
360° View: Obermatt 360° View Sun Life Financial Strong Buy
| 360 METRICS | March 6, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 51 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 25 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 32 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 70 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 100 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 100 (better than 100% compared with alternatives) for 2022, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Sun Life Financial are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half the metrics below and half above average for Sun Life Financial. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 51, which means that the share price of Sun Life Financial is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means that the stock price is lower than for 51% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank has a good rank of 70, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 70% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 25, which means that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, invested capital growth, and stock returns. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 32, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 68 comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 100, Sun Life Financial is better positioned than 100% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit above-average performance, but the other half are below market levels. The company enjoys a good value (Value Rank of 51) and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 70), but growth expectations are below-average (Growth Rank of 25) and the financing structure is on the risky side(Safety Rank of 32). This combination is rather dangerous, because high debt levels (low safety) require growth to finance the debt burden. The current low growth level may be temporary, because professionals are actually optimistic (positive sentiment). Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this assessment. Companies with less growth typically have a lower price than fast-growing competitors. Even though professional investor sentiment is strong, we recommend further evaluating whether the future of Sun Life Financial is as challenging as the stock's low price suggests. Since the professional community is optimistic, the stock might just be going through a more challenging phase now, indicating that timing might be good now. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Sun Life Financial positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 70 (better than 70% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Sun Life Financial is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators where all but one are above average for Sun Life Financial. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 81 (better than 81% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. The Professional Investors rank is also good at 59, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 59% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 79 which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are on the positive side when discussing this company (more positive news than for 79% of competitors). But Analyst Opinions Change has a below-average rank of 22, which means that stock research experts are currently changing their opinions for the worse when it comes to recommending this stock. In other words, they are getting more critical of investments in Sun Life Financial. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 70 (more positive than 70% compared with investment alternatives), Sun Life Financial has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. This is an early sign of caution, even if the stock has significantly appreciated. If analysts change their opinions, the stock may become too expensive. If the price is on the way down, the trend may continue. This may be a stock with a good reputation and history, but it may have reached its breaking point by now. Investors should look at the Value Ranks as well. If they indicate trouble, it might just materialize in the future. ...read more
Value Strategy: Sun Life Financial Stock Price Value better than average
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 51 (better than 51% compared with alternatives), Sun Life Financial shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for Sun Life Financial. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) is 72 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 72% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning Sun Life Financial's profit levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 38, which means that the stock price is lower as regards to invested capital than for 38% of comparable investments. On the other hand, Price-to-Sales is less favorable than 83% of alternatives (only 17% of peers have an even less favorable ratio). The same is valid for dividend yield, which is lower than 8% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive as regards to the company's expected dividend payouts. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 51, is a buy recommendation based on Sun Life Financial's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. This is a puzzling picture, because it means that profits are high while dividends are low. Since the stock price is low compared with invested capital but high in respect to expected revenues, it means that the company has more invested capital than peers for generating the same amount of revenue. Since profits are higher, it could be a "cash cow" situation (using the classic Boston Consulting BCG matrix naming convention) where the company is on a downward trend, still living from the profits of past products. As the company pays low dividends, it may harbor the opinion that a turnaround is possible, and it rather invests the cash than pay it out to shareholders, thus sealing the company's fate early. Any investment optimism should only be a buy trigger once thorough research is completed. ...read more
Growth Strategy: Sun Life Financial Growth Momentum low
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 25 (better than 25% compared with alternatives), Sun Life Financial shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four metrics below average for Sun Life Financial. While Profit Growth has a good rank of 63, as professionals currently expect the company to grow its profits more than 63% of its competitors, all other growth indicators are below market averages. Sales Growth has a rank of 37, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 63% of its competitors, while Capital Growth has a rank of 31 and Stock Returns have been below market median, with a rank of 29 (71% of alternative investments were better). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 25, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. While revenue growth and capital growth are good growth momentum indicators, profit is less reliable, because profits may increase due to cost-cutting measures which typically indicate negative growth momentum. "You can save a dollar only once" is the saying about such situations. Growth Investors should look at company priorities closely if they are interested in growth, because the increase in profits is not usually an indicator of growth, and stock prices have been below market, too. ...read more
Safety Strategy: Sun Life Financial Debt Financing Safety below-average
| SAFETY METRICS | March 6, 2025 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 19 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 88 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 30 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 32 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 32 (better than 32% compared with alternatives), the company Sun Life Financial has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of Sun Life Financial is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for Sun Life Financial and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 88, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 88% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 19, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 81% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 30, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 70% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 32 (worse than 68% compared with alternatives), Sun Life Financial has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. A good Refinancing Rank means that the problems of the company may not be around the corner. But high Leverage is only good if things go well, and low Liquidity is a signal for caution. The financing signals for Sun Life Financial are on the riskier side, requiring the company's future to be on the safer side. Investors may want to look at Growth and Sentiment ranks before making an investment decision. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: Sun Life Financial Lowest Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | March 6, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 51 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 25 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 30 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 21 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 21 (worse than 79% compared with investment alternatives), Sun Life Financial (Life & Health Insurance, Canada) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Sun Life Financial are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 51 (better than 51% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 25), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 32), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 21, is a sell recommendation based on Sun Life Financial's financial characteristics. As the company Sun Life Financial's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 51) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 25) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 32), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 51% of comparable companies, may indicate the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity. ...read more
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