Trailing Dividend / Share
$3.60
Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) Dividend History
Income profile from 2000 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
3.3%
Payout Ratio
55.1%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
8 years
SLF Dividend Income Check
Safety
55.1% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
8 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 5.7% and trend is rising.
SLF Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield3.3%
Trailing DPS$3.60
FrequencySemi-Annual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout55.1%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout17.6%
FCF SafetyWell Covered
Piotroski F-Score7/9
Growth
Growth Streak8 years
3Y CAGR5.7%
5Y CAGR6.9%
Yield on Cost (5Y)5.7%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield2.8%
Total Shareholder Yield6.1%
1Y Total Return23.9%
5Y Total Return75.1%
Div Contribution (5Y)22.7%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$17,51010Y ago$28,01520Y ago$28,530
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
SLF Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (27 years of payments)
SLF Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
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Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
Sun Life Financial Inc. distributes 55.1% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 17.6%, rated "Well Covered".
Piotroski F-Score: 7/9 — strong financial health.
Growth Track Record
SLF has raised its dividend for 8 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 5.7% and 5-year CAGR of 6.9%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, SLF returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 3.3% dividend yield, 2.8% buyback yield, 6.1% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 5.7% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 75.1%, with dividends contributing 22.7% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $28,015 today.
SLF Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
TTM Total$11.54
Avg/Payment$0.5769
Latest Change+3.2%
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2026Latest | $0.6941 | ↑ +3.2% | 3.66% | Jun 30, 2026 |
| Feb 25, 2026 | $0.6724 | ↑ +2.7% | 3.97% | Mar 31, 2026 |
| Nov 26, 2025 | $0.6545 | ↑ +2.8% | 4.28% | Dec 31, 2025 |
| Aug 27, 2025 | $0.6365 | ↑ +0.1% | 4.25% | Sep 29, 2025 |
| May 28, 2025 | $0.6358 | ↑ +8.6% | 3.80% | Jun 30, 2025 |
| Feb 26, 2025 | $0.5854 | ↓ -2.2% | 4.36% | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Nov 27, 2024 | $0.5988 | ↓ -0.5% | 3.89% | Dec 31, 2024 |
| Aug 28, 2024 | $0.6017 | ↑ +1.3% | 4.35% | Sep 27, 2024 |
SLF Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#4 yield in peer group
Div Yield
3.3%
#4 of 9
Safety
Sustainable
55.1% payout
Streak
8Y
6.9% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
6.1%
#7 of 9
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLFSun Life Financial I… | $43.0B | 3.3% | 55.1% | 8 | Sustainable |
3rd  MFCManulife Financial C… | $67.4B | 3.4% | 57.1% | 12 | Sustainable |
1st  PRUPrudential Financial… | $37.7B | 5.1% | 53.9% | 17 | Sustainable |
 METMetLife, Inc. | $57.4B | 2.6% | 44.7% | 13 | Sustainable |
2nd  LNCLincoln National Cor… | $7.3B | 4.6% | 27.6% | 0 | Sustainable |
 UNMUnum Group | $14.8B | 1.9% | 41.5% | 17 | Sustainable |
 PFGPrincipal Financial … | $24.3B | 2.7% | 57.7% | 17 | Sustainable |
 AFLAflac Incorporated | $60.5B | 1.9% | 32.9% | 42 | Sustainable |
 GLGlobe Life Inc. | $13.6B | 0.6% | 7.4% | 14 | Sustainable |
SLF Annual Dividend History (1998–2026)
29 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $1.37 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 3.1% |
| 2025 | $2.51 | 6.0% | 4 | $6.15 | 40.8% | 2.45x | 5.7% |
| 2024 | $2.37 | 7.6% | 4 | $5.27 | 45.0% | 2.22x | 5.4% |
| 2023 | $2.20 | 3.5% | 4 | $5.24 | 42.1% | 2.38x | 5.0% |
| 2022 | $2.13 | 15.3% | 4 | $4.89 | 43.6% | 2.30x | 4.8% |
| 2021 | $1.85 | 2.7% | 4 | $6.68 | 27.7% | 3.61x | 4.2% |
| 2020 | $1.80 | 13.9% | 4 | $4.08 | 44.1% | 2.27x | 4.1% |
| 2019 | $1.58 | 7.9% | 4 | $4.39 | 36.0% | 2.78x | 3.6% |
| 2018 | $1.47 | 0.6% | 4 | $4.77 | 30.7% | 3.26x | 3.3% |
| 2017 | $1.46 | -5.1% | 4 | $3.49 | 41.7% | 2.40x | 3.3% |
Consensus-Based Analysis Tools
Full Stock Analysis
Deep dive into SLF consensus models and risk factors.
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Intrinsic Valuation
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
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Historical Returns
26+ years return with dividends reinvested.
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DCA Calculator
See how regular investing compounds over time.
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Peer Comparison
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
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SLF — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying SLF stock.
How much dividend does SLF pay per share?
Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $3.60 per share, with a current dividend yield of +3.3%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is SLF's next ex-dividend date?
SLF's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. SLF typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is SLF's dividend safe?
SLF's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +55.1% and FCF payout ratio of +17.6%. The 8-year growth streak provides moderate confidence.
Is SLF a Dividend Payer?
Yes, Sun Life Financial Inc. is classified as a Dividend Payer with 8 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +6.9%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does SLF pay dividends?
Sun Life Financial Inc. pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $3.60 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 26+ years from 2000 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in SLF grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in SLF five years ago would be worth approximately $17,510 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is SLF's yield on cost for long-term holders?
SLF's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +5.7% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +3.3% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.