SLF
Sun Life Financial Inc.
Insurance - Diversified
Market Cap$40.44B
5Y Perf.+112.3%
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Stock Comparison
SLF vs MET
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MET
MetLife, Inc.
Insurance - Life
Market Cap$52.27B
5Y Perf.+122.6%
SLF vs MET — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SLF | MET |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Diversified | Insurance - Life |
| Market Cap | $40.44B | $52.27B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $41.86B | $76.13B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $3.74B | $3.38B |
| Gross Margin | 31.2% | 25.6% |
| Operating Margin | 11.5% | 6.1% |
| Forward P/E | 12.6x | 8.2x |
| Total Debt | $22.04B | $20.18B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $9.68B | $22.03B |
SLF vs MET — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SLF
MET
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Life Financial … (SLF) | 100 | 212.3 | +112.3% |
| MetLife, Inc. (MET) | 100 | 222.6 | +122.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SLF vs MET
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SLF leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. MetLife, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SLF
Sun Life Financial Inc.
The Insurance Pick
SLF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.39, yield 3.6%
- Rev growth 22.3%, EPS growth 16.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 130.8%
- 181.5% 10Y total return vs MET's 156.8%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
MET
MetLife, Inc.
The Insurance Pick
MET is the clearest fit if your priority is value.
- Lower P/E (8.2x vs 12.6x)
Best for: value
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SLF | 22.3% revenue growth vs MET's 10.2% |
| Value | MET | Lower P/E (8.2x vs 12.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | SLF | 8.9% margin vs MET's 4.4% |
| Stability / Safety | SLF | Beta 0.39 vs MET's 1.09 |
| Dividends | SLF | 3.6% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs MET's 2.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SLF | +26.3% vs MET's +7.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SLF | 1.0% ROA vs MET's 0.5%, ROIC 10.2% vs 13.1% |
SLF vs MET — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
SLF vs MET — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSLFLAGGINGMET
METMetLife, Inc.
2leads
SLFSun Life Financial In…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs METMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SLF5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MET5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MET5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SLF6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SLF2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SLF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MET is the larger business by revenue, generating $76.1B annually — 1.8x SLF's $41.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 8.9% (SLF) to 4.4% (MET). On growth, SLF holds the edge at +172.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $41.9B | $76.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.3B | $5.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $3.7B | $3.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $6.8B | $18.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.2% | +25.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +6.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.9% | +4.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.2% | +23.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +172.4% | +29.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.1% | -34.3% |
SLF leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MET leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 16.1x trailing earnings, SLF trades at a 3% valuation discount to MET's 16.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MET's 8.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SLF's 12.7x.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $40.4B | $52.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $49.5B | $50.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.13x | 16.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.58x | 8.19x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.89x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.65x | 8.81x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.30x | 0.68x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.23x | 1.84x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.04x | 2.89x |
MET leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MET leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SLF delivers a 14.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $12 for MET. MET carries lower financial leverage with a 0.70x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SLF's 0.87x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MET scores 8/9 vs SLF's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.6% | +11.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +0.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.2% | +13.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.2% | +1.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.87x | 0.70x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $12.4B | -$1.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $9.7B | $22.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $22.0B | $20.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.12x | 5.39x |
MET leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SLF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SLF five years ago would be worth $15,518 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,534 for MET. Over the past 12 months, SLF leads with a +26.3% total return vs MET's +7.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SLF at 18.0% vs MET's 17.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +17.3% | +0.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +26.3% | +7.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.5% | +61.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +55.2% | +35.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +181.5% | +156.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.0% | +17.3% |
SLF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SLF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SLF is the less volatile stock with a 0.39 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MET's 1.09 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.39x | 1.09x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $74.16 | $83.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $56.22 | $67.33 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.5% | +95.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 75.2 | 66.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 549K | 3.5M |
SLF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — SLF and MET each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SLF as "Hold" and MET as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 20.4% upside for MET (target: $97) vs -0.4% for SLF (target: $73). For income investors, SLF offers the higher dividend yield at 3.63% vs MET's 2.83%.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $72.70 | $96.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.6% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 13 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.60 | $2.27 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.1% | +7.4% |
Evenly matched — SLF and MET each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
SLF leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). MET leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Best OverallSun Life Financial Inc. (SLF)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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SLF vs MET: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SLF or MET a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) is the stronger pick with 22. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 2% for MetLife, Inc. (MET). Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) offers the better valuation at 16. 1x trailing P/E (12. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MetLife, Inc. (MET) a "Buy" — based on 33 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — SLF or MET?
On trailing P/E, Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) is the cheapest at 16. 1x versus MetLife, Inc. at 16. 7x. On forward P/E, MetLife, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SLF or MET?
Over the past 5 years, Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) delivered a total return of +55. 2%, compared to +35. 3% for MetLife, Inc. (MET). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SLF returned +181. 5% versus MET's +156. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SLF or MET?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus MetLife, Inc. 's 1. 09β — meaning MET is approximately 180% more volatile than SLF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MetLife, Inc. (MET) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 70% versus 87% for Sun Life Financial Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SLF or MET?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) is pulling ahead at 22. 3% versus 10. 2% for MetLife, Inc. (MET). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sun Life Financial Inc. grew EPS 16. 7% year-over-year, compared to -19. 2% for MetLife, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SLF leads at 130. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — SLF or MET?
Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 9% net margin versus 4. 4% for MetLife, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SLF leads at 11. 4% versus 6. 0% for MET. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SLF leads at 100. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is SLF or MET more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, MetLife, Inc.
(MET) trades at 8. 2x forward P/E versus 12. 6x for Sun Life Financial Inc. — 4. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MET: 20. 4% to $96. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — SLF or MET?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 2. 8% for MetLife, Inc. (MET).
09Is SLF or MET better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 3. 6% yield, +181. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SLF: +181. 5%, MET: +156. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between SLF and MET?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: SLF is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MET is a mid-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(SLF: 172.4% · MET: 29.1%)Net Margin>
%
(SLF: 8.9% · MET: 4.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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