AIZ vs CNO

For growth investors, Assurant, Inc.

(AIZ) is the stronger pick with 7. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 9% for CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO). Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) offers the better valuation at 13. 4x trailing P/E (11. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, Assurant, Inc.

(AIZ) is the cheapest at 13. 4x versus CNO Financial Group, Inc. at 19. 5x. On forward P/E, CNO Financial Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Assurant, Inc. wins at 0. 54x versus CNO Financial Group, Inc. 's 4. 80x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CNO Financial Group, Inc.

(CNO) delivered a total return of +81. 9%, compared to +54. 6% for Assurant, Inc. (AIZ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AIZ returned +202. 1% versus CNO's +171. 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), Assurant, Inc.

(AIZ) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 53β versus CNO Financial Group, Inc. 's 0. 80β — meaning CNO is approximately 53% more volatile than AIZ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 38% versus 154% for CNO Financial Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(AIZ) is pulling ahead at 7. 9% versus 0. 9% for CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Assurant, Inc. grew EPS 20. 3% year-over-year, compared to -37. 2% for CNO Financial Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AIZ leads at 7. 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.

Assurant, Inc.

(AIZ) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 8% net margin versus 5. 1% for CNO Financial Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AIZ leads at 8. 5% versus 6. 5% for CNO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AIZ leads at 77. 2%, 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, Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 54x versus CNO Financial Group, Inc. 's 4. 80x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO) trades at 10. 5x forward P/E versus 11. 4x for Assurant, Inc. — 1. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AIZ: 8. 1% to $252. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 1. 4% for Assurant, Inc. (AIZ).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Assurant, Inc.

(AIZ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 53), 1. 4% yield, +202. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AIZ: +202. 1%, CNO: +171. 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: AIZ is a mid-cap deep-value stock; CNO is a small-cap quality compounder 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.