GNW vs ESNT

For growth investors, Essent Group Ltd.

(ESNT) is the stronger pick with 12. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 9% for Genworth Financial, Inc. (GNW). Essent Group Ltd. (ESNT) offers the better valuation at 9. 0x trailing P/E (8. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Essent Group Ltd. (ESNT) a "Buy" — based on 19 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.

On trailing P/E, Essent Group Ltd.

(ESNT) is the cheapest at 9. 0x versus Genworth Financial, Inc. at 16. 9x. On forward P/E, Essent Group Ltd. is actually cheaper at 8. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, Genworth Financial, Inc.

(GNW) delivered a total return of +111. 1%, compared to +34. 2% for Essent Group Ltd. (ESNT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ESNT returned +226. 7% versus GNW's +148. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Essent Group Ltd.

(ESNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Genworth Financial, Inc. 's 0. 71β — meaning GNW is approximately 88% more volatile than ESNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Essent Group Ltd. (ESNT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 15% for Genworth Financial, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Essent Group Ltd.

(ESNT) is pulling ahead at 12. 0% versus -10. 9% for Genworth Financial, Inc. (GNW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Essent Group Ltd. grew EPS 5. 4% year-over-year, compared to -20. 6% for Genworth Financial, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ESNT leads at 7. 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.

Essent Group Ltd.

(ESNT) is the more profitable company, earning 57. 6% net margin versus 3. 5% for Genworth Financial, Inc. — meaning it keeps 57. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ESNT leads at 67. 5% versus 6. 8% for GNW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ESNT leads at 93. 6%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Essent Group Ltd.

(ESNT) trades at 8. 7x forward P/E versus 21. 3x for Genworth Financial, Inc. — 12. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, ESNT (1.

8% yield) pays a dividend. GNW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Essent Group Ltd.

(ESNT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 38), 1. 8% yield, +226. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ESNT: +226. 7%, GNW: +148. 4%), 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.

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.

ESNT pays a dividend while GNW does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.