ORI vs CNA

For growth investors, Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) is the stronger pick with 10.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 1% for CNA Financial Corporation (CNA). CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) offers the better valuation at 9. 3x trailing P/E (9. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) a "Hold" — based on 5 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, CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) is the cheapest at 9.

3x versus Old Republic International Corporation at 10. 5x. On forward P/E, CNA Financial Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CNA Financial Corporation wins at 0. 69x versus Old Republic International Corporation's 0. 86x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) delivered a total return of +97.

8%, compared to +26. 8% for CNA Financial Corporation (CNA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ORI returned +210. 5% versus CNA's +135. 3%. 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), Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

14β versus CNA Financial Corporation's 0. 24β — meaning CNA is approximately 67% more volatile than ORI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 30% for Old Republic International Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) is pulling ahead at 10.

4% versus 5. 1% for CNA Financial Corporation (CNA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CNA Financial Corporation grew EPS 33. 2% year-over-year, compared to 15. 1% for Old Republic International Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CNA leads at 7. 4% 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.

Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

3% net margin versus 8. 7% for CNA Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 10. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ORI leads at 13. 0% versus 11. 0% for CNA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ORI leads at 50. 3%, 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.

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, CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 69x versus Old Republic International Corporation's 0. 86x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) trades at 9. 0x forward P/E versus 12. 7x for Old Republic International Corporation — 3. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ORI: 7. 1% to $42. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) offers the highest yield at 8. 9%, versus 8. 0% for Old Republic International Corporation (ORI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

14), 8. 0% yield, +210. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ORI: +210. 5%, CNA: +135. 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.

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.