SmarterDividends
SLF

Sun Life Financial Inc.

SLF

Financial Services · Insurance - Diversified · Stock · quarterly payer

$79.35

Overvalued · -17% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

3.41%

Annual Dividend

$2.71

Payout Ratio

62%

5-Yr Growth

8.3%

Ex-Date

Aug 26, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about SLF's dividend

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Oct 18, 2026, Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) has a forward dividend yield of 3.41%, based on an annual dividend of $2.71 per share and a share price of $79.35.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, SLF's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is C (64 out of 100), which rates the dividend as borderline.
  • By SmarterDividends' count, Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) has raised its dividend for 10 consecutive years as of Oct 18, 2026.
  • SLF last cut its regular dividend in 2015.
  • SLF's most recent ex-dividend date was Aug 26, 2026, for a dividend of $0.69 per share.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, SLF pays out 62% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
  • SLF's dividend has grown at an average rate of 8.3% a year over the past five years.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for SLF is $66.23 per share, 17% below the $79.35 share price, so SLF screens as overvalued.
  • Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "SLF Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 18, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/SLF

Summary

As of Oct 18, 2026, Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) yields 3.41% ($2.71 a year per share), has a dividend safety grade of C (64/100) and has 10 consecutive years of dividend increases on record.

Is SLF a good dividend stock?

Yes, with caveats

Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 3.41% ($2.71/yr), with 10 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. It's a solid income payer, but check the caveats below before buying.

Advantages

  • 10 consecutive years of dividend growth
  • Strong 8.3% 5-yr dividend growth
  • 49% total price return over 5 years

Risks

  • Cut its dividend in 2015

Key Data

Dividend Yield
3.41%
Payout Ratio
62%
Annual Dividend
$2.71
5-Yr Avg Growth
8.3%
Ex-Dividend Date
Aug 26, 2026
Years of Growth
10
Frequency
quarterly
Beta
0.79
Market Cap
$44.1B
P/E Ratio
18.5
5-Yr Total Return
49%
52-Week Range
$57.22 – $84.38
Dividend Safety
C · 64/100
Ever Cut?
Yes (2015)

SLF dividend changes

Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) pays a variable dividend: across the 99 payments on record since 2000, 52 were higher than the one before and 19 lower. The latest change was up 3.4% to $0.695 per share, going ex-dividend on May 27, 2026.

Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
May 27, 2026Higher$0.672 → $0.695+3.4%
Feb 25, 2026Higher$0.637 → $0.672+5.5%
May 28, 2025Higher$0.587 → $0.637+8.5%
Feb 26, 2025Lower$0.598 → $0.587−1.8%
Aug 28, 2024Higher$0.594 → $0.603+1.5%
May 29, 2024Higher$0.578 → $0.594+2.8%
Feb 27, 2024Higher$0.573 → $0.578+0.9%
Nov 28, 2023Higher$0.552 → $0.573+3.8%
May 30, 2023Higher$0.530 → $0.552+4.2%
Nov 22, 2022Higher$0.529 → $0.535+1.1%
Aug 23, 2022Lower$0.545 → $0.529−2.9%
May 31, 2022Higher$0.521 → $0.545+4.6%
Every SLF payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)
SLF ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Aug 26, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →SLF dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SLF a good dividend stock?

Yes, with caveats. Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 3.41% ($2.71/yr), with 10 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. It's a solid income payer, but check the caveats below before buying.

Is SLF undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, SLF's fair value is about $66.23 versus a $79.35 share price — so it looks overvalued (-17% vs. fair value).

Is SLF's dividend safe?

SLF has a dividend-safety grade of C (64/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 10-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2015, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is SLF's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for SLF is about $66.23 per share, about 17% below the current $79.35 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is SLF a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data SLF screens as "yes, with caveats" and overvalued. Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 3.41% ($2.71/yr), with 10 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of C. It's a solid income payer, but check the caveats below before buying. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will SLF cut its dividend?

SLF earns a dividend-safety grade of C (64/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2015). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does SLF pay a dividend?

Yes. Sun Life Financial Inc. pays a quarterly dividend of about $2.71 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 3.41%.

What is SLF's dividend yield?

As of Oct 18, 2026, SLF's forward dividend yield is 3.41%, based on a $2.71 annual dividend and a $79.35 share price.

What is SLF's dividend per share?

As of Oct 18, 2026, SLF pays $2.71 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is SLF's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 18, 2026, SLF's payout ratio is 62% of trailing 12-month earnings — a moderate level that's generally sustainable.

How many years has SLF grown its dividend?

As of Oct 18, 2026, SLF has increased its dividend for 10 consecutive years.

When is the next SLF ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 18, 2026, SLF's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Aug 26, 2026, for $0.69 per share.

SLF Dividend News

SLF
IncreaseSLF·Jun 10, 2026

Sun Life Raises Quarterly Dividend 3.4% to $0.695

Sun Life lifted its quarterly dividend 3.4% to $0.695 a share, extending a 10-year growth streak while its 3.47% yield trails the sector median.

Income Calculator

At $2.71 / yr per share

Per payment (quarterly)$67.75
Annual$271.00
Monthly avg$22.58

Similar Dividend Stocks

JPMJPMJPMorgan Chase & Co.1.94%Financial ServicesVVVisa Inc.0.67%Financial ServicesMAMAMastercard Incorporated0.56%Financial ServicesBACBACBank of America Corporation2.50%Financial Services

Compare SLF

SLF vs JPMSLF vs VSLF vs MASLF vs BAC

Explore more

Lists and tools related to SLF