BOC vs ERIE

For growth investors, Boston Omaha Corporation (BOC) is the stronger pick with 12.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 2% for Erie Indemnity Company (ERIE). Erie Indemnity Company (ERIE) offers the better valuation at 20. 4x trailing P/E (17. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Boston Omaha Corporation (BOC) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, Erie Indemnity Company (ERIE) delivered a total return of +14.

8%, compared to -60. 0% for Boston Omaha Corporation (BOC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ERIE returned +171. 6% versus BOC's -49. 1%. 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), Erie Indemnity Company (ERIE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

16β versus Boston Omaha Corporation's 0. 30β — meaning BOC is approximately 86% more volatile than ERIE relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Boston Omaha Corporation (BOC) is pulling ahead at 12.

5% versus 7. 2% for Erie Indemnity Company (ERIE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Boston Omaha Corporation grew EPS 82. 2% year-over-year, compared to -7. 5% for Erie Indemnity Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, BOC leads at 23. 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.

Erie Indemnity Company (ERIE) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

8% net margin versus -1. 2% for Boston Omaha Corporation — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ERIE leads at 17. 7% versus -7. 8% for BOC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BOC leads at 68. 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.

In this comparison, ERIE (2.

2% yield) pays a dividend. BOC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

16), 2. 2% yield, +171. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ERIE: +171. 6%, BOC: -49. 1%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (BOC (Communication Services) and ERIE (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

ERIE pays a dividend while BOC 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.