AGO
Assured Guaranty Ltd.
Insurance - Specialty
Market Cap$3.83B
5Y Perf.+218.2%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
AGO vs AGM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
AGM
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$1.95B
5Y Perf.+171.0%
AGO vs AGM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AGO | AGM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Specialty | Financial - Credit Services |
| Market Cap | $3.83B | $1.95B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $954M | $1.32B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $402M | $210M |
| Gross Margin | 90.8% | 29.5% |
| Operating Margin | 55.2% | 19.4% |
| Forward P/E | 12.4x | 9.5x |
| Total Debt | $1.70B | $30.82B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $121M | $931M |
AGO vs AGM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AGO
AGM
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assured Guaranty Lt… (AGO) | 100 | 318.2 | +218.2% |
| Federal Agricultura… (AGM) | 100 | 271.0 | +171.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AGO vs AGM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AGM leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Assured Guaranty Ltd. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AGO
Assured Guaranty Ltd.
The Insurance Pick
AGO is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 15 yrs, beta 0.45, yield 1.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.45, Low D/E 30.6%
- Beta 0.45, yield 1.5%
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
AGM
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
The Banking Pick
AGM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -18.9%, EPS growth 1.1%
- 409.4% 10Y total return vs AGO's 247.7%
- PEG 0.63 vs AGO's 1.08
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AGM | -18.9% NII/revenue growth vs AGO's -19.8% |
| Value | AGM | Lower P/E (9.5x vs 12.4x), PEG 0.63 vs 1.08 |
| Quality / Margins | AGO | 42.1% margin vs AGM's 15.7% |
| Stability / Safety | AGO | Beta 0.45 vs AGM's 0.76, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AGM | 4.5% yield, 14-year raise streak, vs AGO's 1.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AGM | +5.8% vs AGO's -6.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AGO | 3.3% ROA vs AGM's 0.6%, ROIC 5.1% vs 0.6% |
AGO vs AGM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
Segment breakdown not available.
AGO vs AGM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAGOLAGGINGAGM
AGMFederal Agricultural …
2leads
AGOAssured Guaranty Ltd.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs AGMMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AGO4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AGM5/7
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AGO7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AGM4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
AGO2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AGO leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AGM and AGO operate at a comparable scale, with $1.3B and $954M in trailing revenue. AGO is the more profitable business, keeping 42.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AGM's 15.7%.
| Metric | AGOAssured Guaranty … | AGMFederal Agricultu… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $954M | $1.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $617M | $193M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $402M | $210M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $266M | $222M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +90.8% | +29.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +55.2% | +19.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +42.1% | +15.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +27.9% | +6.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -21.0% | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -33.4% | 0.0% |
AGO leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AGM leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.8x trailing earnings, AGM trades at a 10% valuation discount to AGO's 11.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AGM offers better value at 0.72x vs AGO's 1.04x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | AGOAssured Guaranty … | AGMFederal Agricultu… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.8B | $2.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.4B | $31.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.94x | 10.76x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.36x | 9.48x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.04x | 0.72x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.34x | 124.53x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.71x | 1.48x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.80x | 1.14x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 81.50x | 24.38x |
AGM leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AGO leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AGM delivers a 12.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $7 for AGO. AGO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.31x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AGM's 17.93x.
| Metric | AGOAssured Guaranty … | AGMFederal Agricultu… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.0% | +12.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | +0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.1% | +0.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.9% | +1.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.31x | 17.93x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.6B | $29.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $121M | $931M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.7B | $30.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.86x | 0.17x |
AGO leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AGM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AGM five years ago would be worth $18,168 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,180 for AGO. Over the past 12 months, AGM leads with a +5.8% total return vs AGO's -6.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AGO at 17.6% vs AGM's 14.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AGOAssured Guaranty … | AGMFederal Agricultu… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -7.2% | +2.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -6.4% | +5.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +62.5% | +50.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +71.8% | +81.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +247.7% | +409.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.6% | +14.5% |
AGM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AGO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AGO is the less volatile stock with a 0.45 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AGM's 0.76 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AGO currently trades 88.8% from its 52-week high vs AGM's 84.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AGOAssured Guaranty … | AGMFederal Agricultu… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.45x | 0.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $92.40 | $210.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $78.77 | $136.57 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.8% | +84.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.8 | 59.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 304K | 102K |
AGO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — AGO and AGM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AGO as "Buy" and AGM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.2% upside for AGM (target: $233) vs 14.6% for AGO (target: $94). For income investors, AGM offers the higher dividend yield at 4.53% vs AGO's 1.53%.
| Metric | AGOAssured Guaranty … | AGMFederal Agricultu… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $94.00 | $233.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | +4.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 15 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.25 | $8.11 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +13.1% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — AGO and AGM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
AGO leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). AGM leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallAssured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
AGO vs AGM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AGO or AGM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AGM) is the stronger pick with -18.
9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -19. 8% for Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO). Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AGM) offers the better valuation at 10. 8x trailing P/E (9. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 — AGO or AGM?
On trailing P/E, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AGM) is the cheapest at 10.
8x versus Assured Guaranty Ltd. at 11. 9x. On forward P/E, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation wins at 0. 63x versus Assured Guaranty Ltd. 's 1. 08x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AGO or AGM?
Over the past 5 years, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AGM) delivered a total return of +81.
7%, compared to +71. 8% for Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AGM returned +409. 4% versus AGO's +247. 7%. 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 — AGO or AGM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Assured Guaranty Ltd.
(AGO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 45β versus Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation's 0. 76β — meaning AGM is approximately 70% more volatile than AGO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 18% for Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AGO or AGM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AGM) is pulling ahead at -18.
9% versus -19. 8% for Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation grew EPS 1. 1% year-over-year, compared to -44. 1% for Assured Guaranty Ltd.. 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 — AGO or AGM?
Assured Guaranty Ltd.
(AGO) is the more profitable company, earning 46. 2% net margin versus 15. 7% for Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation — meaning it keeps 46. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AGO leads at 60. 0% versus 19. 4% for AGM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGO leads at 100. 7%, 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 AGO or AGM more undervalued right now?
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, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AGM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 63x versus Assured Guaranty Ltd. 's 1. 08x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AGM) trades at 9. 5x forward P/E versus 12. 4x for Assured Guaranty Ltd. — 2. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AGM: 30. 2% to $233. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — AGO or AGM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AGM) offers the highest yield at 4. 5%, versus 1. 5% for Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO).
09Is AGO or AGM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Assured Guaranty Ltd.
(AGO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 45), 1. 5% yield, +247. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AGO: +247. 7%, AGM: +409. 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.
10What are the main differences between AGO and AGM?
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(AGO: -21.0% · AGM: -18.9%)Net Margin>
%
(AGO: 42.1% · AGM: 15.7%)P/E Ratio<
x
(AGO: 11.9x · AGM: 10.8x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.