Want to see GB:SDLF full AI Analyst Report?
Top Page
Standard Life plc
(LSE:SDLF)
Select Model
Select Model
Rating:56Neutral
Price Target:
956.00 p
▲(2.03% Upside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:08/25/26
The score is held back primarily by weak and volatile fundamentals (recurring losses and a sharp cash-flow reversal in 2025), despite improved leverage. Offsetting this, technicals are favorable with price trading above key moving averages and positive MACD, and corporate developments (PRT partnership and liability management) are supportive. Valuation is mixed: a high dividend yield helps, but negative earnings (negative P/E) constrain the valuation profile.
Positive Factors
Lower Leverage
Material debt reduction lowers balance-sheet risk and improves financial flexibility. A less levered structure can support resilience through periods of weak earnings, although the thinner equity base limits the benefit.
Negative Factors
Persistent Unprofitability
Repeated losses reduce earnings visibility and weaken the ability to build capital organically. Negative margins also make future results more dependent on market conditions, balance-sheet actions and successful operational improvement.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Lower Leverage
Material debt reduction lowers balance-sheet risk and improves financial flexibility. A less levered structure can support resilience through periods of weak earnings, although the thinner equity base limits the benefit.
Read all positive factors
Standard Life plc (SDLF) vs. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWC)
Market Cap
£9.42B
Dividend Yield6.02%
Average Volume (3M)1.66M
Price to Earnings (P/E)―
Beta (1Y)1.15
Revenue Growth48.90%
EPS Growth57.89%
CountryUK
Employees5,519
SectorFinancial
Sector Strength70
IndustryInsurance - Life
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)-0.47
Shares Outstanding1,006,836,700
10 Day Avg. Volume1,572,943
30 Day Avg. Volume1,656,631
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio0.27
Price to Book (P/B)10.00
Price to Sales (P/S)0.20
P/FCF Ratio1.92
Enterprise Value/Market CapN/A
Enterprise Value/RevenueN/A
Enterprise Value/Gross ProfitN/A
Enterprise Value/EbitdaN/A
Forecast
1Y Price Target
£965.00Price Target Upside2.99% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering6
EPS Forecast (FY)0.66
Revenue Forecast (FY)£6.25B
Standard Life plc Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
Standard Life plc, a long-established financial services firm founded in 1782 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom, specializes in providing long-term savings and retirement solutions throughout Europe. Its operations are organized into key...
Standard Life plc Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:Sep 08, 2025
(Q2-2025)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Sep 07, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted Phoenix's strong financial performance, strategic progress, and market positioning, particularly in the retirement solutions and workplace sectors. However, challenges remain in the retail business and IFRS losses, partly due to market volatility.Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance
Phoenix delivered 9% growth in operating cash generation and 25% growth in IFRS adjusted operating profit. The solvency capital coverage ratio improved from 172% to 175%.
Negative Updates
IFRS Loss After Tax
Phoenix reported an IFRS loss after tax of GBP 156 million, despite strong operational performance.
Read all updates
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive
Negative
Strong Financial Performance
Phoenix delivered 9% growth in operating cash generation and 25% growth in IFRS adjusted operating profit. The solvency capital coverage ratio improved from 172% to 175%.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
In the 2025 half-year results call, Phoenix Group's leadership highlighted significant progress towards their strategic goals, emphasizing strong financial performance and strategic positioning. Key metrics included a 9% growth in operating cash generation, reaching GBP 705 million, and a 25% increase in IFRS adjusted operating profit, amounting to GBP 451 million. The solvency capital coverage ratio improved slightly to 175%, and the leverage ratio decreased from 36% to 34%, moving closer to the 30% target. The company has achieved a 20% profit growth in the pensions and savings sector and a 36% increase in profits for retirement solutions. They also reported a robust GBP 3.2 billion in BPA volumes year-to-date. The call emphasized the group's strategic focus on organic growth, cost efficiency, and leveraging digital capabilities, supported by a strong capital position and strategic partnerships, positioning them to capture growth opportunities in the expanding UK retirement market.Standard Life plc Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
38
Negative
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
Cash Flow
42
Neutral
| Breakdown | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | |||||
| Total Revenue | 37.25B | 25.02B | 26.71B | -8.66B | 24.38B |
| Gross Profit | 32.51B | 20.52B | 22.37B | -13.91B | 16.32B |
| EBITDA | 313.00M | -789.00M | 549.00M | -3.85B | -168.00M |
| Net Income | -443.00M | -1.09B | 56.00M | -2.72B | -837.00M |
Balance Sheet | |||||
| Total Assets | 332.24B | 307.86B | 299.31B | 281.04B | 327.77B |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 7.30B | 9.45B | 7.22B | 8.84B | 9.11B |
| Total Debt | 59.00M | 4.23B | 3.88B | 4.65B | 4.82B |
| Total Liabilities | 330.95B | 305.61B | 295.77B | 276.80B | 318.94B |
| Stockholders Equity | 738.00M | 1.71B | 2.99B | 3.71B | 5.82B |
Cash Flow | |||||
| Free Cash Flow | 3.85B | 4.07B | 6.92B | -3.32B | -1.26B |
| Operating Cash Flow | 3.85B | 4.07B | 6.92B | -3.32B | -1.26B |
| Investing Cash Flow | -32.00M | -39.00M | -20.00M | 0.00 | 304.00M |
| Financing Cash Flow | -947.00M | -849.00M | -566.00M | -966.00M | -857.00M |
Standard Life plc Technical Analysis
Neutral
937.00
Price Trends
895.85
Positive
832.00
Positive
759.83
Positive
Market Momentum
9.40
Positive
52.44
Neutral
66.32
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:SDLF, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 937 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 923.83, above the 50-day MA of 895.85, and above the 200-day MA of 759.83, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 9.40 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 52.44 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 66.32 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for GB:SDLF.
Standard Life plc Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
69 Neutral | £25.18B | 9.52 | 18.25% | 0.02% | 34.59% | 6.85% | |
68 Neutral | $18.00B | 11.42 | 9.92% | 3.81% | 9.73% | 1.22% | |
61 Neutral | £5.95B | 10.80 | 37.02% | 1.68% | 164.23% | 13.81% | |
59 Neutral | £869.85M | 158.12 | 0.25% | 6.65% | 192.47% | ― | |
56 Neutral | £9.42B | -19.60 | -44.30% | 6.04% | 48.90% | 57.89% | |
56 Neutral | £15.95B | 25.00 | 27.28% | 7.27% | 136.58% | 192.71% | |
55 Neutral | £8.36B | 27.72 | 9.49% | 5.76% | 52.52% | ― |
* Financial Sector Average
GB:SDLF
Standard Life plc
921.00
317.69
52.66%
GB:CSN
Chesnara
370.00
113.81
44.42%
GB:LGEN
Legal & General
290.30
74.01
34.22%
GB:PRU
Prudential
1,000.50
46.55
4.88%
GB:STJ
St. James's Place
1,166.50
-45.49
-3.75%
GB:MNG
M&G Plc
346.00
108.32
45.57%
Standard Life plc Corporate Events
Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Standard Life seals £2bn PRT partnership to target largest UK pension schemes
Positive
Aug 20, 2026
Standard Life plc has formed a strategic UK Pension Risk Transfer partnership with CVC, Prudential Financial Inc., Goldman Sachs, MSAD and other institutional investors, backed by up to £2bn of capital over five years. The collaboration is de...
Business Operations and StrategyDelistings and Listing Changes
Standard Life Adds Shares to LSE Listing via Employee Share Plan
Positive
Aug 11, 2026
Standard Life plc has admitted 121,338 new ordinary shares of 10 pence each to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market under its existing block admission arrangements. The shares were allotted pursuant to the company’s Share...
Business Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Standard Life Executives Boost Holdings Through Share Incentive Plan
Positive
Aug 6, 2026
Standard Life plc has disclosed that its directors and other senior executives acquired ordinary shares under the company’s Share Incentive Plan, in line with UK Market Abuse Regulation requirements. The monthly purchase, executed via Comput...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
Standard Life Confirms Voting Rights and Share Capital Structure
Neutral
Aug 3, 2026
Standard Life plc has confirmed that, as of 31 July 2026, its issued share capital consists of 1,006,801,367 ordinary shares, each carrying one vote, with no shares held in treasury. This disclosure clarifies that the total number of voting rights...
Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Standard Life Launches £5bn EMTN and £350m RT1 Note Offerings
Positive
Jul 17, 2026
Standard Life plc has published offering circulars for a £5 billion Euro Medium Term Note programme and £350 million Fixed Rate Reset Perpetual Restricted Tier 1 Contingent Convertible Notes. Both sets of notes are intended to be admitte...
Business Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Standard Life Discloses Executive Share Incentive Plan Purchases
Neutral
Jul 6, 2026
Standard Life plc has reported routine share acquisitions by senior executives under its Share Incentive Plan, a UK-compliant employee share ownership scheme. The plan allows eligible staff to buy partnership shares from salary contributions, with...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
Standard Life Confirms Share Capital and Voting Rights as of 30 June 2026
Neutral
Jul 1, 2026
Standard Life plc has confirmed that, as of 30 June 2026, its issued share capital consists of 1,006,724,247 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 10 pence each, with no shares held in treasury. Each ordinary share carries one vote on a poll, gi...
Executive/Board ChangesRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Standard Life COO Exercises Deferred Bonus Share Options and Sells Stock to Cover Tax
Neutral
Jun 17, 2026
Standard Life plc disclosed that Group Chief Operating Officer Jacqueline Noakes has exercised 14,531 nil-cost options over ordinary shares granted under the company’s Deferred Bonus Share Scheme linked to the 2022 financial year bonus. As p...
Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Standard Life Completes Full Redemption of £250m Tier 3 Notes
Positive
Jun 15, 2026
Standard Life plc has completed another step in its ongoing debt redemption programme, underscoring continued efforts to optimise its capital structure. The company has fully redeemed its £250 million 4.016 per cent Tier 3 subordinated notes ...
Business Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Standard Life Reports Stable Use of Shares in Employee Incentive Schemes
Positive
Jun 12, 2026
Standard Life plc has reported its latest six-month block listing return for its employee share schemes, covering the period from 12 December 2025 to 11 June 2026. Under the ShareSave Scheme, 467,284 shares were issued, reducing the balance of una...
Executive/Board ChangesRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Standard Life discloses PDMR share option exercises by senior executive
Neutral
Jun 8, 2026
Standard Life has disclosed that Group Chief People Officer Sara Thompson exercised nil-cost options granted under the company’s Long Term Incentive Plan and Deferred Bonus Share Scheme. The options related to awards from 2021 and 2023, whic...
Business Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Standard Life discloses executive participation in monthly share incentive plan
Positive
Jun 5, 2026
Standard Life plc reported its latest monthly transactions under the company’s Share Incentive Plan, in which Computershare Trustees purchased ordinary shares on behalf of participating employees at 760.500 pence per share. The scheme allows...
Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Standard Life Advances Debt Programme with Early Redemption of $350m Tier 2 Notes
Positive
Jun 4, 2026
Standard Life plc has completed the early redemption of its U.S.$350 million Fixed Rate Reset Tier 2 Notes due 2031, repaying them at par together with accrued interest. The move represents a further step in the group’s ongoing debt redempti...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
Standard Life Confirms Total Voting Rights and Share Capital
Neutral
Jun 1, 2026
Standard Life plc has confirmed that, as of 29 May 2026, its issued share capital consists of 1,006,654,579 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 10 pence each, and the company holds no shares in treasury. Each ordinary share carries one vote, g...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.