CNO vs BLK

For growth investors, BlackRock, Inc.

(BLK) is the stronger pick with 14. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 9% for CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO). CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO) offers the better valuation at 19. 5x trailing P/E (10. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) 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.

On trailing P/E, CNO Financial Group, Inc.

(CNO) is the cheapest at 19. 5x versus BlackRock, Inc. at 25. 4x. On forward P/E, CNO Financial Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: BlackRock, Inc. wins at 2. 47x versus CNO Financial Group, Inc. 's 4. 80x.

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

(CNO) delivered a total return of +81. 9%, compared to +33. 5% for BlackRock, Inc. (BLK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BLK returned +245. 8% 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), CNO Financial Group, Inc.

(CNO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 80β versus BlackRock, Inc. 's 1. 28β — meaning BLK is approximately 60% more volatile than CNO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 154% for CNO Financial Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(BLK) is pulling ahead at 14. 3% versus 0. 9% for CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: BlackRock, Inc. grew EPS 15. 1% year-over-year, compared to -37. 2% for CNO Financial Group, Inc.. 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.

BlackRock, Inc.

(BLK) is the more profitable company, earning 31. 2% net margin versus 5. 1% for CNO Financial Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 31. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BLK leads at 37. 1% versus 6. 5% for CNO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BLK leads at 49. 4%, 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, BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 47x versus CNO Financial Group, Inc. 's 4. 80x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO) trades at 10. 5x forward P/E versus 20. 1x for BlackRock, Inc. — 9. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BLK: 22. 8% to $1311. 78.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) offers the highest yield at 1. 9%, versus 1. 5% for CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, CNO Financial Group, Inc.

(CNO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 80), 1. 5% yield, +171. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CNO: +171. 6%, BLK: +245. 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.

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.