ECPG
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
Financial - Mortgages
Market Cap$1.80B
5Y Perf.+164.0%
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Stock Comparison
ECPG vs PRA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PRA
ProAssurance Corporation
Insurance - Property & Casualty
Market Cap$1.27B
5Y Perf.+79.0%
ECPG vs PRA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ECPG | PRA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Mortgages | Insurance - Property & Casualty |
| Market Cap | $1.80B | $1.27B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.76B | $1.08B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $296M | $65M |
| Gross Margin | 69.0% | 25.5% |
| Operating Margin | 35.4% | 8.4% |
| Forward P/E | 6.5x | 21.7x |
| Total Debt | $4.13B | $435M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $157M | $36M |
ECPG vs PRA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ECPG
PRA
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encore Capital Grou… (ECPG) | 100 | 264.0 | +164.0% |
| ProAssurance Corpor… (PRA) | 100 | 179.0 | +79.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ECPG vs PRA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ECPG leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. ProAssurance Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ECPG
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
The Banking Pick
ECPG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.93
- Rev growth 33.9%, EPS growth 287.1%
- 220.6% 10Y total return vs PRA's -18.6%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
PRA
ProAssurance Corporation
The Insurance Pick
PRA is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.05, Low D/E 32.2%, current ratio 1.33x
- Beta 0.05, current ratio 1.33x
- Beta 0.05 vs ECPG's 0.93, lower leverage
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ECPG | 33.9% NII/revenue growth vs PRA's -2.7% |
| Value | ECPG | Lower P/E (6.5x vs 21.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | ECPG | 14.6% margin vs PRA's 6.0% |
| Stability / Safety | PRA | Beta 0.05 vs ECPG's 0.93, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ECPG | +105.7% vs PRA's +7.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ECPG | 5.6% ROA vs PRA's 1.2%, ROIC 9.8% vs 3.2% |
ECPG vs PRA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2016
FY 2025
ECPG vs PRA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLECPGLAGGINGPRA
PRAProAssurance Corporat…
1leads
ECPGEncore Capital Group,…
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PRAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ECPG4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ECPG4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ECPG5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ECPG6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
PRA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
ECPG1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ECPG leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ECPG is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.8B annually — 1.6x PRA's $1.1B. ECPG is the more profitable business, keeping 14.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PRA's 6.0%.
| Metric | ECPGEncore Capital Gr… | PRAProAssurance Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $709M | $101M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $296M | $65M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $166M | -$17M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +69.0% | +25.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +35.4% | +8.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.6% | +6.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.2% | -1.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -2.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | +2.5% |
ECPG leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ECPG leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.7x trailing earnings, ECPG trades at a 69% valuation discount to PRA's 24.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ECPG's 8.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PRA's 19.5x.
| Metric | ECPGEncore Capital Gr… | PRAProAssurance Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.8B | $1.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.8B | $1.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.69x | 24.95x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 6.48x | 21.73x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.75x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.85x | 19.51x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.02x | 1.16x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.02x | 0.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.15x | — |
ECPG leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ECPG leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ECPG delivers a 30.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $31 in annual profit, vs $5 for PRA. PRA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.32x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ECPG's 4.23x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ECPG scores 7/9 vs PRA's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ECPGEncore Capital Gr… | PRAProAssurance Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +30.7% | +5.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.6% | +1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.8% | +3.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.6% | +4.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 4.23x | 0.32x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4.0B | $399M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $157M | $36M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.1B | $435M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.36x | 4.53x |
ECPG leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ECPG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ECPG five years ago would be worth $20,000 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,016 for PRA. Over the past 12 months, ECPG leads with a +105.7% total return vs PRA's +7.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ECPG at 20.9% vs PRA's 9.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ECPGEncore Capital Gr… | PRAProAssurance Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +50.0% | +2.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +105.7% | +7.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +76.6% | +32.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +100.0% | +0.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +220.6% | -18.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +20.9% | +9.8% |
ECPG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PRA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PRA is the less volatile stock with a 0.05 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ECPG's 0.93 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PRA currently trades 99.4% from its 52-week high vs ECPG's 90.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ECPGEncore Capital Gr… | PRAProAssurance Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.93x | 0.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $92.64 | $24.85 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.67 | $22.72 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.5% | +99.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.3 | 49.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 321K | 798K |
PRA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
ECPG leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ECPG as "Buy" and PRA as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 1.3% upside for ECPG (target: $85) vs -25.8% for PRA (target: $18).
| Metric | ECPGEncore Capital Gr… | PRAProAssurance Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $85.00 | $18.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.0% | 0.0% |
ECPG leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
ECPG leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). PRA leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallEncore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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ECPG vs PRA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ECPG or PRA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Encore Capital Group, Inc.
(ECPG) is the stronger pick with 33. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 7% for ProAssurance Corporation (PRA). Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG) offers the better valuation at 7. 7x trailing P/E (6. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG) a "Buy" — based on 15 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 — ECPG or PRA?
On trailing P/E, Encore Capital Group, Inc.
(ECPG) is the cheapest at 7. 7x versus ProAssurance Corporation at 24. 9x. On forward P/E, Encore Capital Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ECPG or PRA?
Over the past 5 years, Encore Capital Group, Inc.
(ECPG) delivered a total return of +100. 0%, compared to +0. 2% for ProAssurance Corporation (PRA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ECPG returned +220. 6% versus PRA's -18. 6%. 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 — ECPG or PRA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ProAssurance Corporation (PRA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
05β versus Encore Capital Group, Inc. 's 0. 93β — meaning ECPG is approximately 1787% more volatile than PRA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ProAssurance Corporation (PRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 4% for Encore Capital Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ECPG or PRA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Encore Capital Group, Inc.
(ECPG) is pulling ahead at 33. 9% versus -2. 7% for ProAssurance Corporation (PRA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Encore Capital Group, Inc. grew EPS 287. 1% year-over-year, compared to -3. 9% for ProAssurance Corporation. 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 — ECPG or PRA?
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
(ECPG) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 6% net margin versus 4. 6% for ProAssurance Corporation — meaning it keeps 14. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ECPG leads at 35. 4% versus 6. 6% for PRA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ECPG leads at 69. 0%, 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 ECPG or PRA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Encore Capital Group, Inc.
(ECPG) trades at 6. 5x forward P/E versus 21. 7x for ProAssurance Corporation — 15. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ECPG: 1. 3% to $85. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ECPG or PRA?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is ECPG or PRA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, ProAssurance Corporation (PRA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
05)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PRA: -18. 6%, ECPG: +220. 6%), 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 ECPG and PRA?
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: ECPG is a small-cap high-growth stock; PRA is a small-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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Revenue Growth>
%
(ECPG: 33.9% · PRA: -2.0%)Net Margin>
%
(ECPG: 14.6% · PRA: 6.0%)P/E Ratio<
x
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