Earnings news release (pa e q424 earnings)
Sun Life Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results
The information in this document is based on the unaudited interim financial results of
- Underlying net income(1) of
$965 million decreased$18 million or 2% from Q4'23 (full year -$3,856 million increased$128 million or 3% from 2023); underlying ROE(1) was 16.5% (full year - 17.2%). -
- Wealth & asset management underlying net income(1):
$486 million , up$47 million or 11% (full year -$1,823 million , up$97 million or 6%). - Group - Health & Protection underlying net income(1):
$266 million , down$99 million or 27% (full year -$1,196 million , down$117 million or 9%). - Individual - Protection underlying net income(1):
$339 million , up$55 million or 19% (full year -$1,270 million , up$133 million or 12%). - Corporate expenses & other(1):
$(126) million net loss, an increase of$(21) million in net loss or 20% (full year -$(433) million net loss, an improvement of$15 million in net loss or 3%).
- Wealth & asset management underlying net income(1):
- Reported net income of
$237 million decreased$512 million or 68% from Q4'23 (full year -$3,049 million decreased$37 million or 1% from 2023); reported ROE(1) was 4.0% (full year - 13.6%). - Assets under management ("AUM")(1) of
$1,542 billion increased$142 billion or 10% fromDecember 31, 2023 .
"In 2024 Sun Life achieved strong underlying net income in
"In the fourth quarter we saw sustained momentum in our
Financial and Operational Highlights
Quarterly results |
Year-to-date |
||||
Profitability |
Q4'24 |
Q4'23 |
2024 |
2023 |
|
Underlying net income ($ millions)(1) |
965 |
983 |
3,856 |
3,728 |
|
Reported net income - Common shareholders ($ millions) |
237 |
749 |
3,049 |
3,086 |
|
Underlying EPS ($)(1)(2) |
1.68 |
1.68 |
6.66 |
6.36 |
|
Reported EPS ($)(2) |
0.41 |
1.28 |
5.26 |
5.26 |
|
Underlying ROE(1) |
16.5% |
18.4% |
17.2% |
17.8% |
|
Reported ROE(1) |
4.0% |
14.0% |
13.6% |
14.7% |
|
Growth |
Q4'24 |
Q4'23 |
2024 |
2023 |
|
Wealth sales & asset management gross flows ($ millions)(1) |
60,999 |
45,750 |
196,074 |
173,820 |
|
Group - Health & Protection sales ($ millions)(1) |
1,270 |
1,459 |
2,737 |
2,942 |
|
Individual - Protection sales ($ millions)(1) |
743 |
707 |
2,983 |
2,491 |
|
Assets under management ("AUM") ($ billions)(1) |
1,542 |
1,400 |
1,542 |
1,400 |
|
New business Contractual Service Margin ("CSM") ($ millions)(1) |
306 |
381 |
1,473 |
1,253 |
|
Financial Strength |
Q4'24 |
Q4'23 |
|||
LICAT ratios (at period end)(3) |
|||||
|
152% |
149% |
|||
Sun Life Assurance(4) |
146% |
141% |
|||
Financial leverage ratio (at period end)(1)(5) |
20.1% |
21.5% |
|||
- Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. For more details, see the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section in this document and in our Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the period ended
December 31, 2024 ("2024 Annual MD&A"). - All earnings per share ("EPS") measures refer to fully diluted EPS, unless otherwise stated.
- Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test ("LICAT") ratio. Our LICAT ratios are calculated in accordance with the OSFI-mandated guideline, Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test.
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada ("Sun Life Assurance") isSLF Inc.'s principal operating life insurance subsidiary.- The calculation for the financial leverage ratio includes the CSM balance (net of taxes) in the denominator. The CSM (net of taxes) was
$10.3 billion as atDecember 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023 -$9.6 billion ).
EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE |
|
Financial and Operational Highlights - Quarterly Comparison (Q4'24 vs. Q4'23)
($ millions) |
Q4'24 |
|||||
Underlying net income by business type(1)(2): |
Sun Life |
Asset |
|
|
|
Corporate |
Management |
||||||
Wealth & asset management |
486 |
360 |
101 |
- |
25 |
- |
Group - Health & Protection |
266 |
- |
153 |
113 |
- |
- |
Individual - Protection |
339 |
- |
112 |
48 |
179 |
- |
Corporate expenses & other |
(126) |
- |
- |
- |
(29) |
(97) |
Underlying net income(1) |
965 |
360 |
366 |
161 |
175 |
(97) |
Reported net income (loss) - Common shareholders |
237 |
326 |
253 |
(7) |
11 |
(346) |
Change in underlying net income (% year-over-year) |
(2)% |
9% |
5% |
(36)% |
22% |
nm(3) |
Change in reported net income (% year-over-year) |
(68)% |
10% |
(27)% |
nm(3) |
(75)% |
nm(3) |
Wealth sales & asset management gross flows(1) |
60,999 |
54,008 |
4,938 |
- |
2,053 |
- |
Group - Health & Protection sales(1) |
1,270 |
- |
88 |
1,161 |
21 |
- |
Individual - Protection sales(1) |
743 |
- |
142 |
- |
601 |
- |
Change in wealth sales & asset management gross flows |
33% |
41% |
(9)% |
- |
2% |
- |
(% year-over-year) |
||||||
Change in group sales (% year-over-year) |
(13)% |
- |
(49)% |
(9)% |
31% |
- |
Change in individual sales (% year-over-year) |
5% |
- |
(17)% |
- |
12% |
- |
- Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. For more details, see the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section in this document and in the 2024 Annual MD&A.
- For more information about the business types in Sun Life's business groups, see section A - How We Report Our Results in the 2024 Annual MD&A.
- Not meaningful.
Underlying net income(1) of
- Wealth & asset management(1) up
$47 million: Higher fee income in Asset Management,Canada , andAsia , partially offset by lower net investment results inCanada . - Group - Health & Protection(1)(2) down
$99 million: Unfavourable morbidity experience inU.S. medical stop-loss and less favourable morbidity experience inCanada , partially offset by business growth inCanada . - Individual - Protection(1)(2) up
$55 million: Improved protection experience inAsia andCanada and higher contributions from joint ventures inAsia . - Corporate expenses & other(1)
$(21) million increase in net loss primarily reflecting higher expenses largely from continued investments in ourAsia businesses and incentive compensation inAsia .
Reported net income of
- Lower tax-exempt investment income of
$234 million in Corporate; - An impairment charge of
$186 million on an intangible asset related to bancassurance inVietnam reflecting updates resulting from changes in regulatory and macro-economic factors; and - A non-recurring provision in
U.S. Dental; partially offset by - Market-relatedimpacts primarily reflecting improved real estate experience(3).
Underlying ROE was 16.5% and reported ROE was 4.0% (Q4'23 - 18.4% and 14.0%, respectively).
- Refer to section C - Profitability in this document for more information on notable items attributable to reported and underlying net income items and the Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document for a reconciliation between reported net income and underlying net income. For more information about the business types in Sun Life's operating segments/business groups, see section A - How We Report Our Results in the
2024 Annual MD&A. - Effective Q1'24, reflects a refinement in the allocation methodology for expenses from Individual - Protection to Group - Health & Protection business types in the
U.S. business group. - Real estate experience reflects the difference between the actual value of real estate investments compared to management's longer-term expected returns supporting insurance contract liabilities ("real estate experience").
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EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE |
Business Group Highlights
Asset Management: A global leader in both public and alternative asset classes through MFS and SLC Management
Asset Management underlying net income of
- MFS(1) up
$40 million (upUS$25 million): Higher fee income from higher average net assets ("ANA") partially offset by higher expenses. The MFS pre-tax net operating profit margin(2) improved to 40.5% for Q4'24, compared to 39.4% in the prior year. - SLC Management down
$11 million: Lower fee-related earnings mostly offset by higher net seed investment income. Fee-related earnings(2) decreased 14% reflecting higher expenses primarily from incentive compensation, partially offset by higher AUM driven by strong capital raising and deployment across the platform. Fee-related earnings margin(2) was 23.0% for Q4'24, compared to 24.2% in the prior year.
Reported net income of
Foreign exchange translation led to an increase of
Asset Management ended Q4'24 with
MFS continued to experience solid fixed income flows, generating
lnfraRed
The SLC Management team also won the 2024 Insurance Investor North American Award for Insurance Investment Strategy of the Year, reflecting the effort, innovation, and strength of talent that defines our team and highlights our commitment to our Clients.
- Wealth & asset management up
$9 million: Business growth and higher fee income driven by higher AUM largely offset by lower net investment results, including unfavourable credit experience. - Group - Health & Protection down
$6 million: Business growth and higher investment results more than offset by less favourable morbidity experience reflecting higher claims volumes and longer claims durations. - Individual - Protection up
$13 million: Favourable mortality experience driven by lower claims, and higher investment results. - Lower earnings on surplus across all businesses primarily reflecting lower net interest income.
Reported net income of
- Wealth sales & asset management gross flows of
$5 billion were down 9%, reflecting timing of defined benefit solution sales in Group Retirement Services ("GRS") and lower guaranteed product sales in Individual Wealth, partially offset by higher mutual fund sales in Individual Wealth. - Group - Health & Protection sales of
$88 million were down 49%, reflecting higher large case sales in the prior year. - Individual - Protection sales of
$142 million were down 17%, reflecting lower third-party sales.
MFS Investment Management ("MFS").- Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. For more details, see the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section in this document and in the 2024 Annual MD&A.
- Assumption changes and management actions ("ACMA").
- Compared to the prior year.
EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE |
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We remain focused on building innovative health solutions, including online pharmacy services through the Lumino Health Pharmacy App, provided by Pillway and its affiliates, which offers quick and easy access to medications and pharmacist support. Registered users increased 40% from the prior quarter. Further, in October, we launched the Designed for Health report, which focuses on chronic disease in the workplace and offers new insights and strategies to support employee health.
In November, we launched a three-year partnership with Tribal
- Group - Health & Protection(2) down
US$71 million: Unfavourable morbidity experience in medical stop-loss driven by claims severity. - Individual - Protection(2) down
US$1 million: In line with the prior year.
Reported net loss was
Foreign exchange translation led to an increase of
We continue to expand our capabilities and advance our strategy to help our members access the health care and coverage they need. In Health and Risk Solutions, we launched Clinical 360+, an expanded stop-loss program that gives members digital access to personalized tools and care services through one easy app in collaboration with specialized health partners. Members can now directly interact with clinicians and resources tailored to their specific health needs. Our Clinical 360+ program helps increase early care intervention and improve health outcomes for our members.
In Employee Benefits, we expanded our Healthcare Professional long-term disability coverage to provide more income protection and return- to-work support for non-physician healthcare providers. Offering competitive benefits has become a powerful tool for healthcare organizations to recruit and retain talent, while helping to mitigate the provider shortages across the
- Wealth & asset management up
$9 million: Higher fee income primarily driven by higher AUM. - Individual - Protection up
$41 million: Improved protection experience and higher contributions from joint ventures. - Regional office expenses & other
$(18) million increased net loss reflecting continued investments in the business across the region and higher incentive compensation.
Reported net income of
Foreign exchange translation led to an increase of
- Individual sales of
$601 million were up 12%, driven by higher sales in International due to a large case sale,India reflecting growth in the bancassurance and direct-to-consumer channels, andHong Kong from growth in agency and bancassurance channels. - Wealth sales & asset management gross flows were in line with prior year as higher money market fund sales in
the Philippines and higherMandatory Provident Fund ("MPF") sales inHong Kong were offset by lower fixed income fund sales inIndia .
New business CSM of
- Tribal Wi-Chi-Way-Win
Capital Corporation is 100% Indigenous owned by Five Manitoba Tribal Councils and several Independent Manitoba First Nations. - Effective Q1'24, reflects a refinement in the allocation methodology for expenses from Individual - Protection to Group - Health & Protection business types in the
U.S. business group. - Compared to the prior year.
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EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE |
We are committed to helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security through financial literacy initiatives across the region. In
We launched MPF Navigator in
Corporate
Underlying net loss was
Reported net loss was
In 2024, Sun Life was certified as a
- Pensions & Investments, a global news source of money management.
EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE |
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Table of Contents
A. |
How We Report Our Results |
|
B. |
Financial Summary |
|
C. |
Profitability |
|
D. |
Growth |
11 |
E. |
Contractual Service Margin |
13 |
F. |
Financial Strength |
15 |
G. |
Performance by Business Segment |
17 |
1. Asset Management |
18 |
|
2. |
20 |
|
3. |
21 |
|
4. |
22 |
|
5. Corporate |
23 |
|
H. |
Non-IFRSFinancial Measures |
24 |
I. |
Forward-lookingStatements |
30 |
6 |
|
EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE |
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including
A. How We Report Our Results
Unless otherwise noted, all amounts are in Canadian dollars. Amounts in this document are impacted by rounding. Certain 2023 results in the Drivers of Earnings and Contractual Service Margin ("CSM") Movement Analysis were refined to more accurately reflect how the business is managed.
1. Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures
We report certain financial information using non-IFRS financial measures, as we believe that these measures provide information that is useful to investors in understanding our performance and facilitate a comparison of our quarterly and full year results from period to period. These non-IFRS financial measures do not have any standardized meaning and may not be comparable with similar measures used by other companies. For certain non-IFRS financial measures, there are no directly comparable amounts under IFRS. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be viewed in isolation from or as alternatives to measures of financial performance determined in accordance with IFRS. Additional information concerning non-IFRS financial measures and, if applicable, reconciliations to the closest IFRS measures are available in section H - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document, section M - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in our 2024 Annual MD&A, and the Supplementary Financial Information package on www.sunlife.comunder Investors - Financial results and reports.
2. Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this document are forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Additional information concerning forward-looking statements and important risk factors that could cause our assumptions, estimates, expectations and projections to be inaccurate and our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements can be found in section I - Forward-looking Statements in this document.
3. Additional Information
Additional information about
EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE |
|
B. Financial Summary
($ millions, unless otherwise noted) |
Quarterly results |
Year-to-date |
|||
Profitability |
Q4'24 |
Q3'24 |
Q4'23 |
2024 |
2023 |
Net income (loss) |
|||||
Underlying net income (loss)(1) |
965 |
1,016 |
983 |
3,856 |
3,728 |
Reported net income (loss) - Common shareholders |
237 |
1,348 |
749 |
3,049 |
3,086 |
Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") ($) |
|||||
Underlying EPS (diluted)(1) |
1.68 |
1.76 |
1.68 |
6.66 |
6.36 |
Reported EPS (diluted) |
0.41 |
2.33 |
1.28 |
5.26 |
5.26 |
Retuon equity ("ROE") (%) |
|||||
Underlying ROE(1) |
16.5% |
17.9% |
18.4% |
17.2% |
17.8% |
Reported ROE(1) |
4.0% |
23.8% |
14.0% |
13.6% |
14.7% |
Growth |
Q4'24 |
Q3'24 |
Q4'23 |
2024 |
2023 |
Sales |
|||||
Wealth sales & asset management gross flows(1) |
60,999 |
41,915 |
45,750 |
196,074 |
173,820 |
Group - Health & Protection sales(1) |
1,270 |
445 |
1,459 |
2,737 |
2,942 |
Individual - Protection sales(1) |
743 |
730 |
707 |
2,983 |
2,491 |
Total AUM ($ billions)(1) |
1,542.3 |
1,514.6 |
1,399.6 |
1,542.3 |
1,399.6 |
New business Contractual Service Margin ("CSM")(1) |
306 |
383 |
381 |
1,473 |
1,253 |
Financial Strength |
Q4'24 |
Q3'24 |
Q4'23 |
||
LICAT ratios |
|||||
|
152% |
152% |
149% |
||
Sun Life Assurance(2) |
146% |
147% |
141% |
||
Financial leverage ratio(1)(3) |
20.1% |
20.4% |
21.5% |
||
Book value per common share ($) |
40.63 |
39.88 |
36.51 |
||
Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic EPS |
575 |
578 |
584 |
||
(millions) |
|||||
Closing common shares outstanding (millions) |
574 |
577 |
585 |
- Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. For more details, see section H - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada ("Sun Life Assurance") isSLF Inc.'s principal operating life insurance subsidiary.- The calculation for the financial leverage ratio includes the CSM balance (net of taxes) in the denominator. The CSM (net of taxes) was
$10.3 billion as atDecember 31, 2024 (September 30, 2024 -$9.9 billion ;December 31, 2023 -$9.6 billion ).
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EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE |
C. Profitability
The following table reconciles our Common shareholders' net income ("reported net income") and underlying net income. All factors discussed in this document that impact underlying net income are also applicable to reported net income. Certain adjustments and notable items also impact the CSM, such as mortality experience and assumption changes; see section E - Contractual Service Margin in this document for more information.
Quarterly results
($ millions, after-tax) |
Q4'24 |
Q3'24 |
Q4'23 |
Underlying net income (loss) by business type(1): |
|||
Wealth & asset management |
486 |
474 |
439 |
Group - Health & Protection |
266 |
345 |
365 |
Individual - Protection |
339 |
306 |
284 |
Corporate expenses & other |
(126) |
(109) |
(105) |
Underlying net income(1) |
965 |
1,016 |
983 |
Add: Market-related impacts |
(179) |
29 |
(193) |
Assumption changes and management actions ("ACMA") |
11 |
36 |
(1) |
Other adjustments |
(560) |
267 |
(40) |
Reported net income - Common shareholders |
237 |
1,348 |
749 |
Underlying ROE(1) |
16.5% |
17.9% |
18.4% |
Reported ROE(1) |
4.0% |
23.8% |
14.0% |
Notable items attributable to reported and underlying net income(1): |
|||
Mortality |
10 |
3 |
(5) |
Morbidity |
(22) |
60 |
91 |
Lapse and other policyholder behaviour ("policyholder behaviour") |
- |
(5) |
(11) |
Expenses |
(10) |
(25) |
(26) |
Credit(2) |
(34) |
(61) |
(18) |
Other(3) |
16 |
30 |
(2) |
- Represents a non-IFRS financial measure. For more details, see section H - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document. For more information about business types in Sun Life's business groups, see section A - How We Report Our Results in the 2024 Annual MD&A.
- Credit includes rating changes on assets measured at Fair value through profit or loss ("FVTPL"), and the Expected credit loss ("ECL") impact for assets measured at Fair value through other comprehensive income ("FVOCI").
- Other notable items are recorded in Net Insurance Service Result and Net Investment Result in the Drivers of Earnings analysis. For more details, see section H - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document.
EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE |
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Quarterly Comparison - Q4'24 vs. Q4'23
Underlying net income(1) of
- Wealth & asset management(1) up
$47 million: Higher fee income in Asset Management,Canada , andAsia , partially offset by lower net investment results inCanada . - Group - Health & Protection(1)(2) down
$99 million: Unfavourable morbidity experience inU.S. medical stop-loss and less favourable morbidity experience inCanada , partially offset by business growth inCanada . - Individual - Protection(1)(2) up
$55 million: Improved protection experience inAsia andCanada and higher contributions from joint ventures inAsia . - Corporate expenses & other(1)
$(21) million increase in net loss primarily reflecting higher expenses largely from continued investments in ourAsia businesses and incentive compensation inAsia .
Reported net income of
- Lower tax-exempt investment income of
$234 million in Corporate; - An impairment charge of
$186 million on an intangible asset related to bancassurance inVietnam reflecting updates resulting from changes in regulatory and macro-economic factors; and - A non-recurring provision in
U.S. Dental; partially offset by - Market-relatedimpacts primarily reflecting improved real estate experience(3).
Underlying ROE was 16.5% and reported ROE was 4.0% (Q4'23 - 18.4% and 14.0%, respectively).
1. Market-related impacts
Market-related impacts represent the difference between actual versus expected market movements(4). Market-related impacts resulted in a decrease of
2. Assumption changes and management actions
The net impact of assumption changes and management actions was an increase of
3. Other adjustments
Other adjustments decreased reported net income
4. Experience-related items
In the fourth quarter of 2024, notable experience items included:
- Unfavourable morbidity experience largely in
U.S. medical stop-loss, partially offset by favourable morbidity experience inCanada ; - Unfavourable credit experience primarily in
Canada ; and - Other experience was favourable primarily from
Canada .
5. Income taxes
The statutory tax rate is impacted by various items, such as lower taxes on income subject to tax in foreign jurisdictions, tax-exempt investment income, and other sustainable tax benefits.
The Q4'24 effective income tax rate(5) on underlying net income and reported net income was 17.4% and 63.2% respectively. The effective income tax rate on reported net income reflects the non-deductible impairment charge on an intangible asset in
6. Impacts of foreign exchange translation
Foreign exchange translation led to an increase of
- Refer to section H - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document for a reconciliation between reported net income and underlying net income.
- Effective Q1'24, reflects a refinement in the allocation methodology for expenses from Individual - Protection to Group - Health & Protection business types in the
U.S. business group. - Real estate experience reflects the difference between the actual value of real estate investments compared to management's longer-term expected returns supporting insurance contract liabilities ("real estate experience").
- Except for risk free rates which are based on current rates, expected market movements are based on our medium-term outlook which is reviewed annually.
- Our effective income tax rate on reported net income is calculated using Total income (loss) before income taxes, as detailed in Note 19 in our 2024 Annual Consolidated Financial Statements. Our effective income tax rate on underlying net income is calculated using pre-tax underlying net income, as detailed in section H - Non-IFRS Financial Measures in this document, and the associated income tax expense.
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EARNINGS NEWS RELEASE |
Attachments
Disclaimer
Supplementary financial information (pa e q424 finsupp)
2024 Annual Information Form (pa e q424 2024 aif)
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News