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AGO vs RDN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Insurance - Specialty
AGO vs RDN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Specialty | Insurance - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $3.70B | $5.13B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.01B | $1.25B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $503M | $583M |
| Gross Margin | 92.9% | 92.3% |
| Operating Margin | 65.2% | 61.2% |
| Forward P/E | 12.4x | 7.6x |
| Total Debt | $1.70B | $1.13B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $388M | $25M |
AGO vs RDN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assured Guaranty Lt… (AGO) | 100 | 318.2 | +218.2% |
| Radian Group Inc. (RDN) | 100 | 236.9 | +136.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AGO vs RDN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
AGO is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth -3.2%, EPS growth 48.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.8%
- -3.2% revenue growth vs RDN's -3.4%
- Combined ratio 0.2 vs RDN's 0.4 (lower = better underwriting)
RDN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 11 yrs, beta 0.37, yield 2.8%
- 250.2% 10Y total return vs AGO's 249.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.37, Low D/E 23.7%, current ratio 4.28x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -3.2% revenue growth vs RDN's -3.4% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (7.6x vs 12.4x), PEG 0.49 vs 1.09 | |
| Quality / Margins | Combined ratio 0.2 vs RDN's 0.4 (lower = better underwriting) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.37 vs AGO's 0.45, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 2.8% yield, 11-year raise streak, vs AGO's 1.7% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +14.3% vs AGO's -4.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.7% ROA vs AGO's 4.2%, ROIC 8.9% vs 7.0% |
AGO vs RDN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
AGO vs RDN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AGO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RDN and AGO operate at a comparable scale, with $1.2B and $1.0B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 49.6% (AGO) to 46.7% (RDN). On growth, AGO holds the edge at +40.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.0B | $1.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $751M | $807M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $503M | $583M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $259M | $116M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +92.9% | +92.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +65.2% | +61.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +49.6% | +46.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +25.5% | +9.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +40.1% | -5.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.9% | +17.3% |
Valuation Metrics
AGO leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 8.1x trailing earnings, AGO trades at a 11% valuation discount to RDN's 9.1x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AGO offers better value at 0.42x vs RDN's 0.58x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.7B | $5.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.0B | $6.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.11x | 9.09x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.44x | 7.63x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.42x | 0.58x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.68x | 7.73x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.70x | 4.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.70x | 1.09x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.29x | 15.23x |
Profitability & Efficiency
RDN leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RDN delivers a 12.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $9 for AGO. RDN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.24x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AGO's 0.29x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.8% | +12.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.2% | +6.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.0% | +8.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.5% | +10.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.29x | 0.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.3B | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $388M | $25M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.7B | $1.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.44x | 12.64x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — AGO and RDN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AGO five years ago would be worth $18,165 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,795 for RDN. Over the past 12 months, RDN leads with a +14.3% total return vs AGO's -4.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AGO at 17.8% vs RDN's 17.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.6% | +5.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -4.3% | +14.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +63.5% | +63.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +81.6% | +77.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +249.3% | +250.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.8% | +17.7% |
Risk & Volatility
RDN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
RDN is the less volatile stock with a 0.37 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AGO's 0.45 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. RDN currently trades 96.9% from its 52-week high vs AGO's 89.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.45x | 0.37x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $92.40 | $38.84 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $78.77 | $31.50 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.3% | +96.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.7 | 57.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 309K | 1.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — AGO and RDN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AGO as "Buy" and RDN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 13.9% upside for AGO (target: $94) vs 6.3% for RDN (target: $40). For income investors, RDN offers the higher dividend yield at 2.80% vs AGO's 1.67%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $94.00 | $40.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.7% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 16 | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.38 | $1.06 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +13.5% | +8.4% |
AGO leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). RDN leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
AGO vs RDN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AGO or RDN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Assured Guaranty Ltd.
(AGO) is the stronger pick with -3. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 4% for Radian Group Inc. (RDN). Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO) offers the better valuation at 8. 1x trailing P/E (12. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO) a "Buy" — based on 9 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — AGO or RDN?
On trailing P/E, Assured Guaranty Ltd.
(AGO) is the cheapest at 8. 1x versus Radian Group Inc. at 9. 1x. On forward P/E, Radian Group Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Radian Group Inc. wins at 0. 49x versus Assured Guaranty Ltd. 's 1. 09x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AGO or RDN?
Over the past 5 years, Assured Guaranty Ltd.
(AGO) delivered a total return of +81. 6%, compared to +77. 9% for Radian Group Inc. (RDN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RDN returned +250. 2% versus AGO's +249. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AGO or RDN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Radian Group Inc.
(RDN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 37β versus Assured Guaranty Ltd. 's 0. 45β — meaning AGO is approximately 19% more volatile than RDN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Radian Group Inc. (RDN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 29% for Assured Guaranty Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AGO or RDN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Assured Guaranty Ltd.
(AGO) is pulling ahead at -3. 2% versus -3. 4% for Radian Group Inc. (RDN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Assured Guaranty Ltd. grew EPS 48. 2% year-over-year, compared to 5. 6% for Radian Group Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AGO leads at 4. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — AGO or RDN?
Assured Guaranty Ltd.
(AGO) is the more profitable company, earning 63. 8% net margin versus 46. 7% for Radian Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 63. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AGO leads at 84. 0% versus 61. 2% for RDN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGO leads at 92. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is AGO or RDN more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, Radian Group Inc. (RDN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 49x versus Assured Guaranty Ltd. 's 1. 09x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Radian Group Inc. (RDN) trades at 7. 6x forward P/E versus 12. 4x for Assured Guaranty Ltd. — 4. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AGO: 13. 9% to $94. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — AGO or RDN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Radian Group Inc. (RDN) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 1. 7% for Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO).
09Is AGO or RDN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Radian Group Inc.
(RDN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 37), 2. 8% yield, +250. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RDN: +250. 2%, AGO: +249. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between AGO and RDN?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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