SLF
Sun Life Financial Inc.
Insurance - Diversified
Market Cap$40.44B
5Y Perf.+112.3%
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Stock Comparison
SLF vs PRU
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PRU
Prudential Financial, Inc.
Insurance - Life
Market Cap$34.86B
5Y Perf.+64.3%
SLF vs PRU — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SLF | PRU |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Diversified | Insurance - Life |
| Market Cap | $40.44B | $34.86B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $41.86B | $61.82B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $3.74B | $3.48B |
| Gross Margin | 31.2% | 30.8% |
| Operating Margin | 11.5% | 8.2% |
| Forward P/E | 12.6x | 7.4x |
| Total Debt | $22.04B | $22.96B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $9.68B | $19.71B |
SLF vs PRU — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SLF
PRU
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Life Financial … (SLF) | 100 | 212.3 | +112.3% |
| Prudential Financia… (PRU) | 100 | 164.3 | +64.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SLF vs PRU
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SLF leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Prudential Financial, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. 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 growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 22.3%, EPS growth 16.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 130.8%
- 181.5% 10Y total return vs PRU's 88.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.39, Low D/E 86.5%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
PRU
Prudential Financial, Inc.
The Insurance Pick
PRU is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta 0.97, yield 5.5%
- Lower P/E (7.4x vs 12.6x)
- 5.5% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs SLF's 3.6%
Best for: income & stability
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SLF | 22.3% revenue growth vs PRU's -14.0% |
| Value | PRU | Lower P/E (7.4x vs 12.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | SLF | 8.9% margin vs PRU's 5.6% |
| Stability / Safety | SLF | Beta 0.39 vs PRU's 0.97 |
| Dividends | PRU | 5.5% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs SLF's 3.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SLF | +26.3% vs PRU's +3.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SLF | 1.0% ROA vs PRU's 0.6%, ROIC 10.2% vs 10.0% |
SLF vs PRU — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
SLF vs PRU — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSLFLAGGINGPRU
PRUPrudential Financial,…
2leads
SLFSun Life Financial In…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PRUMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SLF6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
PRU5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SLF6/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SLF6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SLF2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
PRU2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SLF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PRU and SLF operate at a comparable scale, with $61.8B and $41.9B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 8.9% (SLF) to 5.6% (PRU). On growth, SLF holds the edge at +172.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | PRUPrudential Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $41.9B | $61.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.3B | $5.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $3.7B | $3.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $6.8B | $9.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.2% | +30.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +8.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.9% | +5.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.2% | +15.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +172.4% | +6.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.1% | -12.8% |
SLF leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
PRU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.8x trailing earnings, PRU trades at a 39% valuation discount to SLF's 16.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PRU's 7.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SLF's 12.7x.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | PRUPrudential Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $40.4B | $34.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $49.5B | $38.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.13x | 9.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.58x | 7.40x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.89x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.65x | 7.76x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.30x | 0.57x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.23x | 0.98x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.04x | 5.56x |
PRU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SLF leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SLF delivers a 14.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $10 for PRU. PRU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.65x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SLF's 0.87x.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | PRUPrudential Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.6% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.2% | +10.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.2% | +0.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.87x | 0.65x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $12.4B | $3.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $9.7B | $19.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $22.0B | $23.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.12x | 4.76x |
SLF leads this category, winning 6 of 8 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 $11,875 for PRU. Over the past 12 months, SLF leads with a +26.3% total return vs PRU's +3.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SLF at 18.0% vs PRU's 12.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | PRUPrudential Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +17.3% | -10.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +26.3% | +3.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.5% | +40.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +55.2% | +18.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +181.5% | +88.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.0% | +12.0% |
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 PRU's 0.97 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SLF currently trades 98.5% from its 52-week high vs PRU's 83.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | PRUPrudential Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.39x | 0.97x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $74.16 | $119.76 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $56.22 | $91.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.5% | +83.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 75.2 | 58.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 549K | 2.3M |
SLF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
PRU leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SLF as "Hold" and PRU as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 4.0% upside for PRU (target: $104) vs -0.4% for SLF (target: $73). For income investors, PRU offers the higher dividend yield at 5.50% vs SLF's 3.63%.
| Metric | SLFSun Life Financia… | PRUPrudential Financ… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $72.70 | $104.13 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 37 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.6% | +5.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.60 | $5.50 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.1% | +2.9% |
PRU leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
SLF leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). PRU leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook).
Best OverallSun Life Financial Inc. (SLF)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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SLF vs PRU: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SLF or PRU 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 -14. 0% for Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) offers the better valuation at 9. 8x trailing P/E (7. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) a "Hold" — based on 15 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 PRU?
On trailing P/E, Prudential Financial, Inc.
(PRU) is the cheapest at 9. 8x versus Sun Life Financial Inc. at 16. 1x. On forward P/E, Prudential Financial, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SLF or PRU?
Over the past 5 years, Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) delivered a total return of +55. 2%, compared to +18. 7% for Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SLF returned +181. 5% versus PRU's +88. 9%. 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 PRU?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Prudential Financial, Inc. 's 0. 97β — meaning PRU is approximately 150% more volatile than SLF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 65% versus 87% for Sun Life Financial Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SLF or PRU?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) is pulling ahead at 22. 3% versus -14. 0% for Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Prudential Financial, Inc. grew EPS 36. 3% year-over-year, compared to 16. 7% for Sun Life Financial 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 PRU?
Sun Life Financial Inc.
(SLF) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 9% net margin versus 5. 9% for Prudential Financial, 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 7. 9% for PRU. 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 PRU more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Prudential Financial, Inc.
(PRU) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 12. 6x for Sun Life Financial Inc. — 5. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PRU: 4. 0% to $104. 13.
08Which pays a better dividend — SLF or PRU?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) offers the highest yield at 5. 5%, versus 3. 6% for Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF).
09Is SLF or PRU 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%, PRU: +88. 9%), 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 PRU?
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; PRU 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% · PRU: 6.3%)Net Margin>
%
(SLF: 8.9% · PRU: 5.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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