How to Buy Sanlam Shares in South Africa
Sanlam is one of South Africa’s most established financial services groups, and its shares have been listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for over two decades. This guide explains how to buy Sanlam shares in South Africa, what the current share price looks like, why investors choose Sanlam, and what risks to be aware of before you invest.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company | Sanlam Limited |
| JSE Code | SLM |
| Industry | Financial Services and Insurance |
| Exchange | Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) |
| Namibian Stock Exchange | Also listed as SLA |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Headquarters | Bellville, South Africa |
Quick Answer: How to Buy Sanlam Shares
To buy Sanlam shares in South Africa, open an account with Easy Equities, complete your identity verification, deposit funds, search for Sanlam using the ticker SLM, and place your order. You can invest any rand amount thanks to fractional share investing, with no minimum required.
About Sanlam
Sanlam is a leading financial services group delivering long-term growth through its operations in high-potential emerging markets. With a history spanning over a century, Sanlam is driven by its purpose to empower generations to be financially confident, secure, and prosperous.
The group demutualised in 1998, and Sanlam Ltd then listed on the JSE and the Namibian Stock Exchange. Since then, it has grown from a South African insurer into a diversified pan-African and Asian financial services group with a presence across multiple continents.
Its operating segments include Sanlam Life and Savings, Pan-Africa, Asia, Sanlam Investments, and Santam.
Sanlam sells multiple insurance products and provides a variety of investment and wealth management services. Its products and services are organised into five categories: life insurance, general insurance, investment management, credit and structuring, and administration.
With a presence in 31 countries, Sanlam is focused on high-potential emerging markets in Africa and Asia that have attractive structural drivers for long-term growth. Sanlam’s diversified geographic scope and market-leading positions across South Africa, Pan-Africa, and Asia, alongside strategic partners in each region, provide compelling near- to long-term opportunities to capture growth and service the unmet financial services needs of large, marginalised client populations.
As of early 2026, Sanlam has approximately 23,930 employees.
Why Invest in Sanlam Shares?
Record Business Performance
Sanlam announced strong operational results for the 2025 financial year, reflecting strong growth in new business and earnings across its diversified businesses. The group achieved a record R496 billion in new business, up 22% from 2024 on an equivalent basis, driven by strong inflows into the South African asset management business and solid contributions across life and general insurance.
Net client cash flows more than doubled to R127 billion, supported by robust life insurance inflows, living annuity sales, and improved client retention.
Consistent Dividend Income
Sanlam is a dividend-paying stock with a reliable track record of returning value to shareholders.
Sanlam declared a dividend of 485 cents per share for 2025 (up from 444 cents in 2024), reflecting the company’s strong cash flow, resilience, and the board’s confidence in the business.
The dividend was raised 9% to 485 cents per share from 445 cents, reflecting strong cash flow, resilience, and board confidence in the business.
Sanlam Limited’s dividend yield was 5.12% in 2024, with a payout ratio of 41.68%.
Long-Term Growth Strategy
These results reaffirm Sanlam’s financial strength, supporting its Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to drive faster growth and generate more cash in the years ahead.
Expansion through integration, global partnerships, and entry into high-growth markets positions Sanlam for improved earnings diversification and resilience. Digital transformation, operational efficiencies, and asset management restructuring support stronger net margins and long-term revenue growth.
Diversified Revenue Base
The group attributed the strong operational performance to its strong position across high-growth emerging markets and the quality of its diversified business platforms and distribution capabilities. During the year, Sanlam restructured its operations to strengthen its franchise in the retail mass market in South Africa, reinforced its partnership with Allianz in Pan-Africa, and reshaped its asset management operations to focus on high-growth asset classes.
Growing Asian Presence
Sanlam strengthened its position in the Shriram ecosystem in India, increasing stakes in Shriram Wealth, Shriram Asset Management, Shriram Insights Share Brokers, as well as receiving regulatory approval on increases in Shriram General and Life Insurance shareholdings. By early 2026, effective holdings in both entities exceeded 50%, while a strategic capital injection from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group into Shriram Finance supported long-term growth capital.
How to Buy Sanlam Shares on Easy Equities
The simplest and most accessible way to buy Sanlam shares in South Africa is through Easy Equities. The platform allows you to invest in SLM shares directly on the JSE, using any rand amount, with no minimum share quantity required.
Read our full guide on how to buy shares on Easy Equities for a complete walkthrough of the platform.
Step 1: Open an Account with Easy Equities
Visit the Easy Equities website or download the app on your phone. Click on the sign-up option and enter your personal details including your full name, email address, and date of birth. Choose a secure password to complete registration.
Step 2: Verify Your Identity
Easy Equities is a regulated Financial Service Provider and is required by law to verify your identity before you can deposit or trade. You will need to upload the following:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| South African ID, Passport, or Driver’s License | Identity verification |
| Proof of Residential Address (bank statement or utility bill) | Address confirmation |
Verification is fully digital and typically completed within minutes.
Step 3: Deposit Funds
Once your account is verified, deposit money using one of the available payment methods:
| Payment Method | Availability |
|---|---|
| EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) | Available |
| Capitec Pay | Available |
| Instant EFT | Available |
| Apple Pay | Available |
| Google Pay | Available |
Easy Equities has no minimum deposit requirement, and you can start investing in Sanlam shares from as little as R5 using fractional shares.
Step 4: Search for Sanlam (SLM)
Log in to your account and use the search bar to find Sanlam. You can type “Sanlam” or the JSE ticker “SLM” and the stock will appear in your results. Make sure you are selecting the JSE-listed SLM share if you want to invest in rands from a South African account.
Step 5: Enter Your Investment Amount and Place Your Order
Easy Equities uses a rand-based model, so you enter how much money you want to invest rather than how many shares to buy. This fractional share approach means you can invest any amount regardless of the current Sanlam share price.
Review the order details, confirm the applicable fees, and submit. Your Sanlam shares will then appear in your Easy Equities portfolio and can be monitored from your dashboard at any time.
Requirements to Buy Sanlam Shares
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 years or older |
| South African ID or Passport | Required for FICA verification |
| Proof of Address | Bank statement or utility bill |
| South African Bank Account | Required for deposits and withdrawals |
| Minimum Investment | From R5 via Easy Equities fractional shares |
| Platform | Easy Equities (ZAR account) |
Fees and Costs
One of the reasons Easy Equities is popular among South African retail investors is its straightforward, transparent fee structure with no hidden charges.
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Brokerage Commission | 0.25% per trade |
| Clearing Fee | 0.31% per trade |
| VAT | Applied to fees |
| Monthly Platform Fee | None |
| Inactivity Fee | None |
| Withdrawal Fee | None |
| Deposit Fee | None |
For a long-term investor in Sanlam shares, the total cost per trade works out to roughly 0.56% of the trade value before VAT. There are no ongoing fees to hold shares in your account.
Sanlam Share Price Overview
SLM closed its last reported trading day at 92.09 ZAR per share on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
SLM reached its all-time high on February 23, 2026, at a price of 10,847 ZAC.
Sanlam is the 20th most traded stock on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange over the recent three-month period, having traded a total volume of 236 million shares in 381,100 deals, valued at ZAR 23.8 billion over that period.
The live and most current Sanlam share price is shown in the widget at the top of this page. Share prices change throughout each trading day and should always be checked before placing an order.
Pros and Cons of Investing in Sanlam Shares
Pros
- Over a century of operating history, making Sanlam one of South Africa’s most established financial institutions
- Consistent dividend payments with the 2025 dividend raised 9% to 485 cents per share
- Diversified business across life insurance, general insurance, investment management, credit, and structuring
- Strong geographic reach across 25 African countries and growing presence in Asia through the Shriram partnership
- Record new business of R496 billion in 2025, up 22% on a normalised basis
- Significant market liquidity as one of the 20 most traded stocks on the JSE
- Accessible through Easy Equities from as little as R5 via fractional shares
Cons
- Rising digital disruption, weak market demographics, and South African overexposure threaten Sanlam’s traditional revenue streams, market share, and earnings stability.
- Net operational earnings were affected by lower investment returns and foreign exchange losses arising from the strengthening of the rand towards the end of 2025.
- Expansion and regulatory challenges risk persistent costs, operational inefficiencies, and margin compression, undermining scale benefits.
- The share price can be affected by broader South African economic conditions, interest rate cycles, and global market sentiment
- Insurance and financial services are complex businesses that require some understanding to evaluate properly
Investment Insight: Who Should Invest in Sanlam?
Long-Term Investors
Sanlam is well-suited to investors with a long-term outlook. With a history spanning over a century, Sanlam is driven by its purpose to empower generations to be financially confident, secure, and prosperous. Sanlam’s solutions, delivered through its clusters, create a unique ecosystem that enables Sanlam to serve its clients’ financial services needs over their lifetimes.1
For investors focused on wealth building over five years or more, Sanlam offers a combination of capital growth potential and regular dividend income that has historically rewarded patient shareholders.
Dividend-Focused Investors
Sanlam’s dividend policy is based on cash operating earnings, which is equal to the portion of the business clusters’ reported operating earnings that are distributed to the Group as cash dividends. This structured approach to dividends provides a level of predictability that income-focused investors value.
Diversification-Seeking Investors
Buying Sanlam stock gives you exposure to the broader South African financial services sector, pan-African insurance markets, and Asian financial services through a single JSE-listed share. For investors who want geographic and sectoral diversification within a single stock, Sanlam provides considerable breadth.
Short-Term Traders
Sanlam is among the 20 most traded stocks on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, which means there is strong daily liquidity for those who prefer to trade around price movements rather than hold for the long term. However, short-term trading carries considerably more risk and requires active market monitoring.
Risks to Consider Before Investing in Sanlam
Every investment carries risk. Understanding the specific risks associated with Sanlam before you invest is essential.
| Risk Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Market Risk | Sanlam’s share price can fall due to broader JSE market declines, interest rate changes, or global investor sentiment shifts |
| Currency Risk | Currency movements were a notable feature in 2025, with a significant strengthening of the rand, particularly in relation to the Indian rupee and US dollar, which affected earnings |
| Regulatory Risk | Changes in South African or international insurance regulations can affect how Sanlam operates and reports earnings |
| Competition Risk | Rising digital disruption and weak market demographics threaten traditional revenue streams7 as new fintech entrants challenge established insurers |
| Geographic Risk | Operations across 25 African countries expose Sanlam to political instability, economic volatility, and infrastructure challenges in certain markets |
| Earnings Concentration | A significant portion of earnings still comes from South Africa, meaning a local economic downturn can have an outsized impact on group performance |
As with any investment, never invest money you cannot afford to lose. Sanlam is a well-established business, but no stock is immune to loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Sanlam a good investment in South Africa?
Sanlam announced strong operational results for the 2025 financial year, reflecting strong growth in new business and earnings across its diversified businesses. The group has a long track record, pays consistent dividends, and is executing on a clear Vision 2030 growth strategy. Whether it is a good investment for you depends on your personal financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. Long-term investors seeking a combination of dividend income and exposure to South African financial services have historically found Sanlam rewarding.
2. Can I buy Sanlam shares with a small amount of money?
Yes. Through Easy Equities, you can invest in Sanlam shares from as little as R5 using fractional share investing. You do not need to buy a full share at the current market price. You simply enter the rand amount you want to invest and Easy Equities allocates the corresponding fraction of a share to your portfolio.
3. Does Sanlam pay dividends?
Yes. SLM dividends are paid annually. Sanlam declared a dividend of 485 cents per share for 2025, up from 445 cents in 2024, reflecting the company’s strong cash flow, resilience, and the board’s confidence in the business.5 The dividend yield has historically been around 5%, making Sanlam one of the more income-generating blue-chip shares available on the JSE.
4. How does the Sanlam share price move?
The price of Sanlam shares is influenced by market trends, economic conditions, and company performance. Interest rate decisions by the South African Reserve Bank, earnings releases, new business volumes, and broader JSE market movements all play a role in daily price fluctuations. The live Sanlam share price is shown in the widget at the top of this page.
5. Is Sanlam listed only on the JSE?
No. Sanlam is one of the largest and most established insurance and financial services groups in South Africa. The company demutualised in 1998 and is listed on both the JSE and the Namibian Stock Exchange. South African investors buying through Easy Equities will be purchasing shares on the JSE under the ticker SLM.
6. What is Sanlam’s Vision 2030 strategy?
Sanlam’s Vision 2030 strategy aims to drive faster growth and generate more cash in the years ahead. The group intends to scale its digital ecosystem, leveraging credit, banking, and loyalty rewards capabilities, in partnership with GoTyme Bank to drive cross-sell, acquisition, and retention across customer segments. This forward-looking strategy is designed to position Sanlam competitively as financial services shift toward digital delivery.
Start Investing in Sanlam Shares Today
Sanlam is one of South Africa’s most respected and widely held blue-chip shares. It offers investors long-term growth potential, consistent dividend income, and exposure to one of the most diversified financial services businesses on the African continent.
Getting started is straightforward. Open a free account on Easy Equities, complete your identity verification, deposit any amount from R5, search for SLM, and place your first order. The entire process takes only a few minutes and can be done from your phone.
For a full step-by-step walkthrough of the platform, read our guide on how to buy shares on Easy Equities.
Conclusion
Buying Sanlam shares in South Africa is accessible to any investor with a regulated platform account, a verified identity, and any amount of money to invest. The JSE ticker is SLM, and the most practical way to invest is through Easy Equities using fractional shares.
Sanlam achieved a record R496 billion in new business in 2025, up 22% from 2024 on an equivalent basis, which reflects the strength and momentum of the business heading into 2026. Combined with a raised dividend and a clear long-term strategy, Sanlam remains one of the most compelling long-term investment options available on the JSE for South African retail investors.
As always, invest with a clear plan, understand the risks, and never commit money you cannot afford to have tied up in the market.