Insurance - Diversified
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AIG vs MET vs PRU vs HIG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Insurance - Life
Insurance - Life
Insurance - Diversified
AIG vs MET vs PRU vs HIG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Diversified | Insurance - Life | Insurance - Life | Insurance - Diversified |
| Market Cap | $41.69B | $52.27B | $34.86B | $36.71B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $26.65B | $76.13B | $61.82B | $28.76B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $3.16B | $3.38B | $3.48B | $4.06B |
| Gross Margin | 38.5% | 25.6% | 30.8% | 35.8% |
| Operating Margin | 15.0% | 6.1% | 8.2% | 13.8% |
| Forward P/E | 9.9x | 8.2x | 7.4x | 10.1x |
| Total Debt | $9.19B | $20.18B | $22.96B | $4.37B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.27B | $22.03B | $19.71B | $133M |
AIG vs MET vs PRU vs HIG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Internatio… (AIG) | 100 | 258.4 | +158.4% |
| MetLife, Inc. (MET) | 100 | 222.6 | +122.6% |
| Prudential Financia… (PRU) | 100 | 164.3 | +64.3% |
| The Hartford Financ… (HIG) | 100 | 348.6 | +248.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AIG vs MET vs PRU vs HIG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
AIG lags the leaders in this set but could rank higher in a more targeted comparison.
MET is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if growth exposure is your priority.
- Rev growth 10.2%, EPS growth -19.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.3%
- 10.2% revenue growth vs PRU's -14.0%
- +7.9% vs AIG's -3.7%
PRU is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta 0.97, yield 5.5%
- Lower P/E (7.4x vs 10.1x)
- 5.5% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs HIG's 1.5%
HIG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 237.7% 10Y total return vs MET's 156.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.29, Low D/E 23.0%, current ratio 17.65x
- Beta 0.29, yield 1.5%, current ratio 17.65x
- Combined ratio 0.8 vs MET's 0.9 (lower = better underwriting)
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 10.2% revenue growth vs PRU's -14.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (7.4x vs 10.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Combined ratio 0.8 vs MET's 0.9 (lower = better underwriting) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.29 vs MET's 1.09, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 5.5% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs HIG's 1.5% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +7.9% vs AIG's -3.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.8% ROA vs MET's 0.5%, ROIC 16.3% vs 13.1% |
AIG vs MET vs PRU vs HIG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
AIG vs MET vs PRU vs HIG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
HIG leads in 2 of 6 categories
AIG leads 1 • PRU leads 1 • MET leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AIG leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MET is the larger business by revenue, generating $76.1B annually — 2.9x AIG's $26.6B. HIG is the more profitable business, keeping 14.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MET's 4.4%. On growth, MET holds the edge at +29.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $26.6B | $76.1B | $61.8B | $28.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.6B | $5.7B | $5.4B | $4.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $3.2B | $3.4B | $3.5B | $4.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.5B | $18.1B | $9.8B | $5.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +38.5% | +25.6% | +30.8% | +35.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.0% | +6.1% | +8.2% | +13.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.9% | +4.4% | +5.6% | +14.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.2% | +23.8% | +15.8% | +20.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.8% | +29.1% | +6.3% | +6.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +81.9% | -34.3% | -12.8% | +40.9% |
Valuation Metrics
PRU leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.8x trailing earnings, PRU trades at a 41% valuation discount to MET's 16.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AIG's 6.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MET's 8.8x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $41.7B | $52.3B | $34.9B | $36.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $49.6B | $50.4B | $38.1B | $41.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.31x | 16.70x | 9.80x | 10.02x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.92x | 8.19x | 7.40x | 10.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | 0.44x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.76x | 8.81x | 7.76x | 7.94x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.56x | 0.68x | 0.57x | 1.30x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.08x | 1.84x | 0.98x | 2.02x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 12.58x | 2.89x | 5.56x | 6.38x |
Profitability & Efficiency
HIG leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HIG delivers a 22.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $8 for AIG. AIG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.22x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MET's 0.70x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HIG scores 9/9 vs AIG's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.7% | +11.9% | +10.3% | +22.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.9% | +0.5% | +0.6% | +4.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.9% | +13.1% | +10.0% | +16.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.5% | +1.0% | +0.9% | +5.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.22x | 0.70x | 0.65x | 0.23x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.9B | -$1.8B | $3.2B | $4.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.3B | $22.0B | $19.7B | $133M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $9.2B | $20.2B | $23.0B | $4.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.67x | 5.39x | 4.76x | 20.73x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HIG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HIG five years ago would be worth $21,317 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,875 for PRU. Over the past 12 months, MET leads with a +7.9% total return vs AIG's -3.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HIG at 25.6% vs PRU's 12.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -7.3% | +0.5% | -10.8% | -2.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -3.7% | +7.9% | +3.7% | +7.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +53.5% | +61.5% | +40.4% | +98.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +69.6% | +35.3% | +18.7% | +113.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +66.2% | +156.8% | +88.9% | +237.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.4% | +17.3% | +12.0% | +25.6% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — MET and HIG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HIG is the less volatile stock with a 0.29 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MET's 1.09 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MET currently trades 95.8% from its 52-week high vs PRU's 83.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.40x | 1.09x | 0.97x | 0.29x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $87.46 | $83.64 | $119.76 | $144.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $71.25 | $67.33 | $91.89 | $119.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.8% | +95.8% | +83.6% | +92.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.6 | 66.3 | 58.5 | 42.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.1M | 3.5M | 2.3M | 1.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — PRU and HIG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: AIG as "Hold", MET as "Buy", PRU as "Hold", HIG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 20.4% upside for MET (target: $97) vs 4.0% for PRU (target: $104). For income investors, PRU offers the higher dividend yield at 5.50% vs HIG's 1.55%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $85.63 | $96.50 | $104.13 | $152.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 41 | 33 | 37 | 42 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.2% | +2.8% | +5.5% | +1.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 13 | 8 | 15 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.71 | $2.27 | $5.50 | $2.07 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +14.0% | +7.4% | +2.9% | +4.4% |
HIG leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). AIG leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 2 tied.
AIG vs MET vs PRU vs HIG: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AIG or MET or PRU or HIG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, MetLife, Inc.
(MET) is the stronger pick with 10. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 0% for Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) offers the better valuation at 9. 8x trailing P/E (7. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MetLife, Inc. (MET) a "Buy" — based on 33 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 — AIG or MET or PRU or HIG?
On trailing P/E, Prudential Financial, Inc.
(PRU) is the cheapest at 9. 8x versus MetLife, Inc. at 16. 7x. On forward P/E, Prudential Financial, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AIG or MET or PRU or HIG?
Over the past 5 years, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
(HIG) delivered a total return of +113. 2%, compared to +18. 7% for Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HIG returned +237. 7% versus AIG's +66. 2%. 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 — AIG or MET or PRU or HIG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
(HIG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 29β versus MetLife, Inc. 's 1. 09β — meaning MET is approximately 271% more volatile than HIG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, American International Group, Inc. (AIG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 70% for MetLife, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AIG or MET or PRU or HIG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), MetLife, Inc.
(MET) is pulling ahead at 10. 2% versus -14. 0% for Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: American International Group, Inc. grew EPS 62. 1% year-over-year, compared to -19. 2% for MetLife, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HIG leads at 8. 9% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — AIG or MET or PRU or HIG?
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
(HIG) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 6% net margin versus 4. 4% for MetLife, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HIG leads at 16. 8% versus 6. 0% for MET. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HIG leads at 46. 1%, 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 AIG or MET or PRU or HIG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Prudential Financial, Inc.
(PRU) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 10. 1x for The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. — 2. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MET: 20. 4% to $96. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — AIG or MET or PRU or HIG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) offers the highest yield at 5. 5%, versus 1. 5% for The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (HIG).
09Is AIG or MET or PRU or HIG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
(HIG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 29), 1. 5% yield, +237. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HIG: +237. 7%, MET: +156. 8%), 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 AIG and MET and PRU and HIG?
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.
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