AGO vs MBI

For growth investors, MBIA Inc.

(MBI) is the stronger pick with 90. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -19. 8% for Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO). Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO) offers the better valuation at 11. 9x trailing P/E (12. 4x 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.

Over the past 5 years, MBIA Inc.

(MBI) delivered a total return of +116. 0%, compared to +71. 8% for Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AGO returned +247. 7% versus MBI's +189. 6%. 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), Assured Guaranty Ltd.

(AGO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 45β versus MBIA Inc. 's 0. 81β — meaning MBI is approximately 83% more volatile than AGO relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), MBIA Inc.

(MBI) is pulling ahead at 90. 5% versus -19. 8% for Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MBIA Inc. grew EPS 62. 5% year-over-year, compared to -44. 1% for Assured Guaranty Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AGO leads at 5. 3% 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.

Assured Guaranty Ltd.

(AGO) is the more profitable company, earning 46. 2% net margin versus -221. 3% for MBIA Inc. — 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 -226. 3% for MBI. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MBI: 129.

5% to $14. 00.

In this comparison, AGO (1.

5% yield) pays a dividend. MBI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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%, MBI: +189. 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.

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: AGO is a small-cap deep-value stock; MBI is a small-cap high-growth stock. AGO pays a dividend while MBI 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.