UNM vs LNC

For growth investors, Unum Group (UNM) is the stronger pick with 2.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 2% for Lincoln National Corporation (LNC). Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) offers the better valuation at 6. 2x trailing P/E (4. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Unum Group (UNM) a "Hold" — based on 30 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, Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) is the cheapest at 6.

2x versus Unum Group at 18. 8x. On forward P/E, Lincoln National Corporation is actually cheaper at 4. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Lincoln National Corporation wins at 0. 14x versus Unum Group's 4. 76x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Unum Group (UNM) delivered a total return of +193.

8%, compared to -35. 2% for Lincoln National Corporation (LNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UNM returned +177. 2% versus LNC's +24. 5%. 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), Unum Group (UNM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

48β versus Lincoln National Corporation's 1. 34β — meaning LNC is approximately 179% more volatile than UNM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Unum Group (UNM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 59% for Lincoln National Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Unum Group (UNM) is pulling ahead at 2.

1% versus 1. 2% for Lincoln National Corporation (LNC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Unum Group grew EPS -54. 8% year-over-year, compared to -68. 3% for Lincoln National Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, UNM leads at 3. 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.

Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) is the more profitable company, earning 6.

5% net margin versus 5. 7% for Unum Group — meaning it keeps 6. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LNC leads at 7. 3% versus 7. 2% for UNM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LNC leads at 57. 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, Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 14x versus Unum Group's 4. 76x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) trades at 4. 7x forward P/E versus 9. 2x for Unum Group — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UNM: 22. 0% to $98. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) offers the highest yield at 4. 9%, versus 2. 2% for Unum Group (UNM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Unum Group (UNM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

48), 2. 2% yield, +177. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UNM: +177. 2%, LNC: +24. 5%), 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.

In terms of investment character: UNM is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; LNC is a small-cap deep-value 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.