GL vs. SLF: Globe Life vs. Sun Life Financial Stock Comparison
How do Globe Life (GL) and Sun Life Financial (SLF) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Globe Life (GL) and Sun Life Financial (SLF) are both classified in the Life & Health Insurance sub-industry within the broader Insurance industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | GL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Globe Life Inc. | Sun Life Financial Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | Canada |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life & Health Insurance | Life & Health Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 11.86 billion USD | 39.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 1, 1980 | March 23, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 22.37% | 30.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 12.75% | 20.05% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.63% | 9.37% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 21.23% | 21.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.46 | 0.88 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -61.62% | -30.77% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 504.63K | 666.75K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.85 | 1.20 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.13 | 1.61 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Globe Life (GL) at 19.26% and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 11.55% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
GL
Insurance industry group
19.26%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- GL
- 19.26%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
SLF
Insurance industry group
11.55%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- SLF
- 11.55%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Globe Life (GL) at 18.89% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 8.63%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
GL
Insurance industry group
18.89%
- Max
- 29.92%
- GL
- 18.89%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
SLF
Insurance industry group
8.63%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- SLF
- 8.63%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Globe Life (GL) in Insurance and Sun Life Financial (SLF) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.26% | 11.55% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.32% | 0.74% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 18.89% | 8.63% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Globe Life (GL) at 3.74% and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 11.50% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Globe Life (GL) at 17.84% and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 16.92% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 3.74% | 11.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.67% | 123.82% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 17.84% | 16.92% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 23.50% | 5.68% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Globe Life (GL) in Insurance and Sun Life Financial (SLF) in Insurance both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Globe Life (GL) in Insurance and Sun Life Financial (SLF) in Insurance run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 5.12% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Globe Life (GL) at 0.79% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SLF the richer one.
GL
Insurance industry group
0.79%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- GL
- 0.79%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SLF
Insurance industry group
5.12%
- SLF
- 5.12%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Globe Life (GL) at 8.43% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 70.41% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
GL
Insurance industry group
8.43%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- GL
- 8.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SLF
Insurance industry group
70.41%
- Max
- 76.67%
- SLF
- 70.41%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.79% | 5.12% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 8.43% | 70.41% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Globe Life (GL) at 10.52 and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 18.58 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
GL
Insurance industry group
10.52
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- GL
- 10.52
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
SLF
Insurance industry group
18.58
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- SLF
- 18.58
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Globe Life (GL) at 1.89 and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 1.12 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
GL
Insurance industry group
1.89
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- GL
- 1.89
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
SLF
Insurance industry group
1.12
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- SLF
- 1.12
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Globe Life (GL) at 1.81 and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 2.26 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
GL
Insurance industry group
1.81
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- GL
- 1.81
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
SLF
Insurance industry group
2.26
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- SLF
- 2.26
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 10.52 | 18.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.89 | 1.12 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.81 | 2.26 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |