Financial Counselors Inc. Buys 1,774 Shares of Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF)

Financial Counselors Inc. raised its position in shares of Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF) (TSE:SLF) by 29.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,823 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,774 shares during the period. Financial Counselors Inc.’s holdings in Sun Life Financial were worth $454,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in shares of Sun Life Financial by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 62,589 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,635,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Sun Life Financial by 1.8% in the second quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 12,160 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $596,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Addison Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Sun Life Financial by 124.9% in the third quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 650 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its position in shares of Sun Life Financial by 1.3% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 33,507 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,642,000 after purchasing an additional 426 shares during the period. Finally, Evergreen Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Sun Life Financial by 9.5% during the 2nd quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 5,373 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $263,000 after buying an additional 466 shares in the last quarter. 52.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on SLF shares. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Sun Life Financial in a report on Thursday, September 5th. They set an “equal weight” rating on the stock. StockNews.com cut Sun Life Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th.

Sun Life Financial Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:SLF opened at $61.39 on Friday. Sun Life Financial Inc. has a 12 month low of $46.41 and a 12 month high of $61.86. The stock has a market cap of $35.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a 50 day moving average of $58.36 and a 200 day moving average of $53.53.

Sun Life Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 27th will be issued a $0.621 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 27th. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.05%. This is a boost from Sun Life Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.59. Sun Life Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 55.23%.

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial Inc, a financial services company, provides savings, retirement, and pension products worldwide. The company operates in five segments: Asset Management, Canada, U.S., Asia, and Corporate. It offers various insurance products, such as term and permanent life; personal health, which includes prescription drugs, dental, and vision care; critical illness; long-term care; and disability, as well as reinsurance.