EQH vs PFG vs MET vs LNC

For growth investors, MetLife, Inc.

(MET) is the stronger pick with 10. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 2% for Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH). Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) offers the better valuation at 6. 2x trailing P/E (4. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH) a "Buy" — based on 21 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, Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) is the cheapest at 6.

2x versus Principal Financial Group, Inc. at 19. 1x. On forward P/E, Lincoln National Corporation is actually cheaper at 4. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Lincoln National Corporation wins at 0. 14x versus Principal Financial Group, Inc. 's 13. 78x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

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

(PFG) delivered a total return of +70. 7%, compared to -35. 2% for Lincoln National Corporation (LNC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PFG returned +195. 8% versus LNC's +24. 5%. 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), Principal Financial Group, Inc.

(PFG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 00β versus Equitable Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 40β — meaning EQH is approximately 40% more volatile than PFG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 4% for Equitable Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(MET) is pulling ahead at 10. 2% versus -6. 2% for Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MetLife, Inc. grew EPS -19. 2% year-over-year, compared to -227. 8% for Equitable Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MET leads at 4. 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.

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

(PFG) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 6% net margin versus -11. 8% for Equitable Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PFG leads at 9. 1% versus -10. 2% for EQH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EQH leads at 79. 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.

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, Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 14x versus Principal Financial Group, Inc. 's 13. 78x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) trades at 4. 7x forward P/E versus 10. 7x for Principal Financial Group, Inc. — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EQH: 37. 9% to $59. 14.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) offers the highest yield at 4. 9%, versus 2. 5% for Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH).

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

(PFG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 00), 3. 0% yield, +195. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PFG: +195. 8%, LNC: +24. 5%), 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: EQH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PFG is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; MET is a mid-cap deep-value stock; LNC is a small-cap deep-value 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.