Sun Life (SLF) is a Top Dividend Stock Right Now: Should You Buy?

Company Overview - Sun Life (SLF) is headquartered in Toronto and operates in the Finance sector, with a stock price change of 4.77% since the beginning of the year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.64 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.1%, which is significantly higher than the Insurance - Life Insurance industry's yield of 1.76% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.53% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $2.55 represents a 6.3% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, Sun Life has increased its dividend 5 times, achieving an average annual increase of 8.94% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 46%, indicating that it pays out 46% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Expectations - Sun Life is expected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $5.27 per share, reflecting an 8.44% increase from the previous year [5] Investment Appeal - Sun Life is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend and strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6] - The company is viewed as a solid dividend option, particularly in contrast to high-growth businesses or tech start-ups that typically do not offer dividends [6]