Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSE:SLF) Given Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Shares of Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSE:SLF - Get Free Report) NYSE: SLF have been assigned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the ten ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is C$84.18.

A number of research firms have issued reports on SLF. Cormark increased their price target on Sun Life Financial from C$82.00 to C$85.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$78.00 to C$82.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. TD Securities raised their price target on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$81.00 to C$87.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$90.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on Sun Life Financial from C$79.00 to C$82.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Kevin Strain sold 85,943 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$84.71, for a total value of C$7,280,231.53. Also, Senior Officer Linda Dougherty acquired 5,800 shares of Sun Life Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The shares were purchased at an average price of C$84.83 per share, with a total value of C$492,014.00. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the company's stock.

Sun Life Financial Price Performance

SLF stock traded down C$0.38 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting C$85.61. The stock had a trading volume of 1,124,371 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,127,390. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$82.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$74.26. The firm has a market capitalization of C$49.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a current ratio of 65.29, a quick ratio of 84,866.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 53.77. Sun Life Financial has a 52 week low of C$64.38 and a 52 week high of C$88.54.

Sun Life Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be paid a $0.84 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 27th. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.92%. This is an increase from Sun Life Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. Sun Life Financial's dividend payout ratio is presently 61.36%.

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.