These Canadian insurers prosper in Asia

Article Excerpt

SUN LIFE FINANCIAL $46.82 (Toronto symbol SLF; Shares outstanding: 613.7 million; Market cap: $28.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 3.7%; www.sunlife.ca) sells life insurance, savings, retirement and pension products. The company mainly operates in Canada, the U.S., Asia and the U.K. and has $927.3 bil lion in assets under management. In the quarter ended March 31, 2017, Sun Life’s earnings per share fell 2.1%, to $0.93 from $0.95 a year earlier. Canadian earnings increased 5%, as lower death-related claims offset higher expenses. Sun Life continues to expand in Asia, where earnings rose 16% in the latest quarter. Demand for insurance is growing fast there as the middle class expands and the company continues to make profitable acquisitions in the region. In the quarter, U.S. earnings fell 28%, due to an increase in death-related claims. As well, the overall shift in the U.S. mutual fund industry from active to passive investment strategies has lowered fees and profit margins. Still, the overall outlook for…