BHF
Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
Insurance - Life
Market Cap$3.53B
5Y Perf.+107.6%
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Stock Comparison
BHF vs PFG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PFG
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Insurance - Diversified
Market Cap$21.67B
5Y Perf.+159.0%
BHF vs PFG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | BHF | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Life | Insurance - Diversified |
| Market Cap | $3.53B | $21.67B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.45B | $15.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-65M | $1.19B |
| Gross Margin | 54.8% | 45.2% |
| Operating Margin | -2.9% | 9.1% |
| Forward P/E | 3.2x | 10.7x |
| Total Debt | $3.15B | $4.20B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $5.39B | $4.43B |
BHF vs PFG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
BHF
PFG
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighthouse Financi… (BHF) | 100 | 207.6 | +107.6% |
| Principal Financial… (PFG) | 100 | 259.0 | +159.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BHF vs PFG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PFG leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and dividend income and shareholder returns. Brighthouse Financial, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically 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 is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 42.2%, EPS growth 24.8%, 3Y rev CAGR -2.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.37, Low D/E 46.2%
- Beta 0.37, yield 2.9%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
PFG
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
The Insurance Pick
PFG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 17 yrs, beta 1.00, yield 3.0%
- 195.8% 10Y total return vs BHF's -11.9%
- Combined ratio 0.9 vs BHF's 0.9 (lower = better underwriting)
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BHF | 42.2% revenue growth vs PFG's -3.1% |
| Value | BHF | Lower P/E (3.2x vs 10.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | PFG | Combined ratio 0.9 vs BHF's 0.9 (lower = better underwriting) |
| Stability / Safety | BHF | Beta 0.37 vs PFG's 1.00 |
| Dividends | PFG | 3.0% yield, 17-year raise streak, vs BHF's 2.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PFG | +33.0% vs BHF's +5.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PFG | 0.4% ROA vs BHF's -0.0%, ROIC 9.0% vs 9.2% |
BHF vs PFG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
BHF vs PFG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPFGLAGGINGBHF
BHFBrighthouse Financial…
1leads
PFGPrincipal Financial G…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BHFMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
PFG5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
BHF5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
PFG5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PFG6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
PFG2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PFG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PFG is the larger business by revenue, generating $15.6B annually — 2.9x BHF's $5.5B. PFG is the more profitable business, keeping 7.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BHF's -1.2%. On growth, PFG holds the edge at -3.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.5B | $15.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$6M | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$65M | $1.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$469M | $4.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +54.8% | +45.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -2.9% | +9.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.2% | +7.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -8.6% | +28.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -39.7% | -3.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -172.2% | -40.8% |
PFG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
BHF leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.7x trailing earnings, BHF trades at a 44% valuation discount to PFG's 19.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BHF's 2.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PFG's 12.9x.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.5B | $21.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.3B | $21.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.65x | 19.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 3.20x | 10.75x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 13.78x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.07x | 12.86x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.57x | 1.39x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.52x | 1.82x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 4.88x |
BHF leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PFG leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PFG delivers a 9.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $-1 for BHF. PFG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.34x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BHF's 0.46x.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -1.1% | +9.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.0% | +0.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.2% | +9.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.2% | +0.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.46x | 0.34x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$2.2B | -$227M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.4B | $4.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.2B | $4.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.04x | 644.64x |
PFG leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PFG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PFG five years ago would be worth $17,072 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,606 for BHF. Over the past 12 months, PFG leads with a +33.0% total return vs BHF's +5.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PFG at 15.0% vs BHF's 12.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -4.5% | +12.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +5.6% | +33.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +42.1% | +52.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +26.1% | +70.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -11.9% | +195.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.4% | +15.0% |
PFG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BHF and PFG each lead in 1 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 PFG's 1.00 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PFG currently trades 97.1% from its 52-week high vs BHF's 93.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.37x | 1.00x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $66.33 | $103.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $42.07 | $75.00 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.0% | +97.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.7 | 69.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 590K | 1.5M |
Evenly matched — BHF and PFG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
PFG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BHF as "Hold" and PFG as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 9.4% upside for BHF (target: $68) vs -5.5% for PFG (target: $95). For income investors, PFG offers the higher dividend yield at 3.03% vs BHF's 2.89%.
| Metric | BHFBrighthouse Finan… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $67.50 | $94.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.9% | +3.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 17 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.78 | $3.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.9% | +4.2% |
PFG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
PFG leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). BHF leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallPrincipal Financial Group, … (PFG)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
BHF vs PFG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BHF or PFG 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 -3. 1% for Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG). 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 Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF) a "Hold" — based on 20 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 PFG?
On trailing P/E, Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
(BHF) is the cheapest at 10. 7x versus Principal Financial Group, Inc. at 19. 1x. On forward P/E, Brighthouse Financial, Inc. is actually cheaper at 3. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BHF or PFG?
Over the past 5 years, Principal Financial Group, Inc.
(PFG) delivered a total return of +70. 7%, compared to +26. 1% for Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PFG returned +195. 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 PFG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
(BHF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 37β versus Principal Financial Group, Inc. 's 1. 00β — meaning PFG is approximately 174% more volatile than BHF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 46% for Brighthouse Financial, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BHF or PFG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
(BHF) is pulling ahead at 42. 2% versus -3. 1% for Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Brighthouse Financial, Inc. grew EPS 24. 8% year-over-year, compared to -21. 4% for Principal Financial Group, 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 PFG?
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
(PFG) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 6% net margin versus 7. 0% for Brighthouse Financial, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PFG leads at 9. 1% versus 7. 6% for BHF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BHF leads at 70. 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 BHF or PFG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Brighthouse Financial, Inc.
(BHF) trades at 3. 2x forward P/E versus 10. 7x for Principal Financial Group, Inc. — 7. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BHF: 9. 4% to $67. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — BHF or PFG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 2. 9% for Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF).
09Is BHF or PFG 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%, PFG: +195. 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 PFG?
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; PFG is a mid-cap income-oriented 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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(BHF: -39.7% · PFG: -3.7%)P/E Ratio<
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