MFC vs. SLF: Manulife Financial vs. Sun Life Financial Stock Comparison
How do Manulife Financial (MFC) 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
Manulife Financial (MFC) 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 | MFC | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Manulife Financial Corporation | Sun Life Financial Inc. |
| Country/Region | Canada | 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 | 71.43 billion USD | 39.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 24, 1999 | March 23, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MFC | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 36.28% | 30.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 38.35% | 20.05% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 22.50% | 9.37% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MFC | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.87% | 21.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.85 | 0.88 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -26.99% | -30.77% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.92M | 666.75K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MFC | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.53 | 1.20 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.19 | 1.61 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Manulife Financial (MFC) at 12.24% 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.
MFC
Insurance industry group
12.24%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- MFC
- 12.24%
- 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)
Manulife Financial (MFC) at 18.97% 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.
MFC
Insurance industry group
18.97%
- Max
- 29.92%
- MFC
- 18.97%
- 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 Manulife Financial (MFC) 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 | MFC | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 12.24% | 11.55% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.59% | 0.74% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 18.97% | 8.63% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Only one side can be read here: Sun Life Financial (SLF) reports revenue growth of 11.50%, ranked against its industry; Manulife Financial (MFC) has no revenue growth figure this period.
EPS Growth
Both Manulife Financial (MFC) at 8.10% 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 | MFC | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -- | 11.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 29.95% | 123.82% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 8.10% | 16.92% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -5.86% | 5.68% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Manulife Financial (MFC) 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: Manulife Financial (MFC) 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 | MFC | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Manulife Financial (MFC) at 4.32% and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 5.12% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
MFC
Insurance industry group
4.32%
- Max
- 5.12%
- MFC
- 4.32%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- 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)
Both Manulife Financial (MFC) at 54.30% and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 70.41% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
MFC
Insurance industry group
54.30%
- Max
- 76.67%
- MFC
- 54.30%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- 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 | MFC | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.32% | 5.12% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 54.30% | 70.41% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Manulife Financial (MFC) at 17.23 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.
MFC
Insurance industry group
17.23
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- MFC
- 17.23
- Median
- 12.23
- 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 Manulife Financial (MFC) at 2.11 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.
MFC
Insurance industry group
2.11
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- MFC
- 2.11
- 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 Manulife Financial (MFC) at 2.13 and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 2.26 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
MFC
Insurance industry group
2.13
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- MFC
- 2.13
- 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 | MFC | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 17.23 | 18.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.11 | 1.12 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.13 | 2.26 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |