BHF
Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
Insurance - Life
Market Cap$3.53B
5Y Perf.+107.6%
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Stock Comparison
BHF vs EQH
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
EQH
Equitable Holdings, Inc.
Insurance - Diversified
Market Cap$12.07B
5Y Perf.+124.4%
BHF vs EQH — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | BHF | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Life | Insurance - Diversified |
| Market Cap | $3.53B | $12.07B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.45B | $10.99B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-65M | $-1.38B |
| Gross Margin | 54.8% | 59.2% |
| Operating Margin | -2.9% | -10.9% |
| Forward P/E | 3.2x | 6.0x |
| Total Debt | $3.15B | $6.56B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $5.39B | $12.46B |
BHF vs EQH — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
BHF
EQH
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighthouse Financi… (BHF) | 100 | 207.6 | +107.6% |
| Equitable Holdings,… (EQH) | 100 | 224.4 | +124.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BHF vs EQH
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: BHF leads in 7 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
BHF
Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
The Insurance Pick
BHF carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 6 yrs, beta 0.37, yield 2.9%
- Rev growth 42.2%, EPS growth 24.8%, 3Y rev CAGR -2.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.37, Low D/E 46.2%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
EQH
Equitable Holdings, Inc.
The Insurance Pick
EQH is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 140.8% 10Y total return vs BHF's -11.9%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BHF | 42.2% revenue growth vs EQH's -6.2% |
| Value | BHF | Lower P/E (3.2x vs 6.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | BHF | Combined ratio 0.9 vs EQH's 1.1 (lower = better underwriting) |
| Stability / Safety | BHF | Beta 0.37 vs EQH's 1.40, lower leverage |
| Dividends | BHF | 2.9% yield, 6-year raise streak, vs EQH's 2.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BHF | +5.6% vs EQH's -13.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BHF | -0.0% ROA vs EQH's -0.5% |
BHF vs EQH — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
BHF vs EQH — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLBHFLAGGINGEQH
EQHEquitable Holdings, I…
2leads
BHFBrighthouse Financial…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs EQHMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
EQH4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
BHF3/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
BHF7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
EQH4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
BHF2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
EQH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
EQH is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.0B annually — 2.0x BHF's $5.5B. BHF is the more profitable business, keeping -1.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to EQH's -12.6%. On growth, EQH holds the edge at -9.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | EQHEquitable Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.5B | $11.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$6M | -$494M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$65M | -$1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$469M | $737M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +54.8% | +59.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -2.9% | -10.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.2% | -12.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -8.6% | +6.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -39.7% | -9.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -172.2% | -74.6% |
EQH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
BHF leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | EQHEquitable Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.5B | $12.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.3B | $6.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.65x | -8.88x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 3.20x | 5.96x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.07x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.57x | 1.03x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.52x | 7.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 17.78x |
BHF leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BHF leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BHF delivers a -1.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-1 in annual profit, vs $-49 for EQH. BHF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.46x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to EQH's 3.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BHF scores 6/9 vs EQH's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | EQHEquitable Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -1.1% | -49.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.0% | -0.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.2% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.2% | -0.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.46x | 3.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$2.2B | -$5.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.4B | $12.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.2B | $6.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.04x | -4.33x |
BHF leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
EQH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in EQH five years ago would be worth $13,515 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,606 for BHF. Over the past 12 months, BHF leads with a +5.6% total return vs EQH's -13.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors EQH at 24.8% vs BHF's 12.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | EQHEquitable Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -4.5% | -10.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +5.6% | -13.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +42.1% | +94.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +26.1% | +35.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -11.9% | +140.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.4% | +24.8% |
EQH leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BHF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BHF is the less volatile stock with a 0.37 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than EQH's 1.40 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BHF currently trades 93.0% from its 52-week high vs EQH's 75.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | EQHEquitable Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.37x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $66.33 | $56.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $42.07 | $35.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.0% | +75.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.7 | 64.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 590K | 4.0M |
BHF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — BHF and EQH each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BHF as "Hold" and EQH as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 37.9% upside for EQH (target: $59) vs 9.4% for BHF (target: $68). For income investors, BHF offers the higher dividend yield at 2.89% vs EQH's 2.46%.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | EQHEquitable Holding… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $67.50 | $59.14 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.9% | +2.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.78 | $1.05 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.9% | +23.4% |
Evenly matched — BHF and EQH each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
BHF leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). EQH leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallBrighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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BHF vs EQH: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BHF or EQH a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
(BHF) is the stronger pick with 42. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 2% for Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH). Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF) offers the better valuation at 10. 7x trailing P/E (3. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH) a "Buy" — based on 21 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 — BHF or EQH?
On forward P/E, Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 3. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BHF or EQH?
Over the past 5 years, Equitable Holdings, Inc.
(EQH) delivered a total return of +35. 1%, compared to +26. 1% for Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EQH returned +140. 8% versus BHF's -11. 9%. 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 — BHF or EQH?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
(BHF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 37β versus Equitable Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 40β — meaning EQH is approximately 283% more volatile than BHF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 46% versus 4% for Equitable Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BHF or EQH?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
(BHF) is pulling ahead at 42. 2% versus -6. 2% for Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Brighthouse Financial, Inc. grew EPS 24. 8% year-over-year, compared to -227. 8% for Equitable Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BHF leads at -2. 2% 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 — BHF or EQH?
Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
(BHF) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 0% net margin versus -11. 8% for Equitable Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BHF leads at 7. 6% versus -10. 2% for EQH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EQH leads at 79. 1%, 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 BHF or EQH more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
(BHF) trades at 3. 2x forward P/E versus 6. 0x for Equitable Holdings, Inc. — 2. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EQH: 37. 9% to $59. 14.
08Which pays a better dividend — BHF or EQH?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF) offers the highest yield at 2. 9%, versus 2. 5% for Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH).
09Is BHF or EQH better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
(BHF) 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. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BHF: -11. 9%, EQH: +140. 8%), 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 BHF and EQH?
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.
In terms of investment character: BHF is a small-cap high-growth stock; EQH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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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