MetLife (MET) vs Sun Life Financial (SLF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Sun Life Financial (SLF) has outperformed MetLife (MET) over the past year, gaining 24.6% versus a gain of 15.7%. Over five years, MET leads with a +46.1% price change compared with +35.7% for SLF. MetLife is the larger company by market cap ($60.87 billion vs $42.16 billion), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, MetLife trades at a lower forward P/E (8.6x vs 12.5x for Sun Life Financial). Sun Life Financial offers the higher dividend yield (4.85% vs 2.40%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | MET | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $95.78 | $75.82 |
| Market cap | $60.87B | $42.16B |
| 1-day change | -1.42% | -2.46% |
| YTD return | +21.33% | +21.51% |
| 1-year return | +15.75% | +24.64% |
| 5-year return | +46.07% | +35.71% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.35 | 17.71 |
| Forward P/E | 8.61 | 12.47 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.22 | $4.28 |
| Dividend yield | 2.40% | 4.85% |
| Annual dividend | $2.30 | $3.68 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $77.08B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.59% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $3.38B | — |
| Operating margin | 7.96% | — |
| Net margin | 4.38% | — |
| 52-week high | $100.93 | $84.38 |
| 52-week low | $67.33 | $57.22 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.10% | -10.14% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.11% | -15.66% |
| Average volume | 3.38M | 754.05K |
| Shares outstanding | 635.48M | 556.03M |
| Employees | 46,000 | 32,151 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Life Insurance | Life Insurance |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Sun Life Financial offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.85% vs 2.40%).
About MetLife
MET stock →MetLife, Inc., a financial services company, provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services worldwide. It operates in six segments: Group Benefits; Retirement and Income Solutions; Asia; Latin America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and MetLife Holdings.
Finance · Life Insurance · 46,000 employees
About Sun Life Financial
SLF stock →Sun Life Financial Inc., a financial services company, provides asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional customers in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Bermuda. 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.
Finance · Life Insurance · 32,151 employees
MET vs SLF FAQ
Which is bigger, MetLife or Sun Life Financial?
MetLife (MET) is larger, with a market capitalization of $60.87B compared with $42.16B for Sun Life Financial (SLF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MET or SLF?
SLF returned +24.64% over the past 12 months, compared with +15.75% for MET (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MET or SLF?
SLF has the lower trailing P/E at 17.7, versus 18.3 for MET. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, MetLife or Sun Life Financial?
Sun Life Financial has the higher yield at 4.85%, compared with 2.40% for MetLife.
Are MetLife and Sun Life Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Life Insurance industry within the Finance sector.