First Merchants Corporation (FRME)vsSun Life Financial Inc. (SLF)
FRME
First Merchants Corporation
$43.24
-0.05%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.81B
SLF
Sun Life Financial Inc.
$82.27
-2.14%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $46.60B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Sun Life Financial Inc. generates 5371% more annual revenue ($34.90B vs $637.81M). FRME leads profitability with a 31.2% profit margin vs 8.8%. FRME appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.40. FRME earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 57/100 (C).
FRME
Buy57
out of 100
Grade: C
SLF
Hold49
out of 100
Grade: D+
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Keeps 31 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Strong operational efficiency at 22.6%
Reasonable price relative to book value
Generating 4.1B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
ROE of 7.4% — below average capital efficiency
Revenue declined 2.5%
Earnings declined 52.1%
Distress zone — elevated risk
Expensive relative to growth rate
0.2% revenue growth
Earnings declined 48.4%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : FRME
The strongest argument for FRME centers on Price/Book, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. Profitability is solid with margins at 31.2% and operating margin at 22.6%. PEG of 1.40 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : SLF
The strongest argument for SLF centers on Price/Book, Free Cash Flow.
Bear Case : FRME
The primary concerns for FRME are Return on Equity, Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.
Bear Case : SLF
The primary concerns for SLF are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
FRME profiles as a declining stock while SLF is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
FRME carries more volatility with a beta of 0.85 — expect wider price swings.
SLF is growing revenue faster at 0.2% — sustainability is the question.
SLF generates stronger free cash flow (4.1B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
FRME scores higher overall (57/100 vs 49/100), backed by strong 31.2% margins. Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
First Merchants Corporation
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
First Merchants Corporation is the financial holding company for First Merchants Bank providing community banking services. The company is headquartered in Muncie, Indiana.
Sun Life Financial Inc.
FINANCIAL SERVICES · INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED · USA
Sun Life Financial Inc., a financial services company, provides insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individuals and corporate clients around the world. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
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