GL vs CNO vs FGL vs PFG vs LNC

For growth investors, Globe Life Inc.

(GL) is the stronger pick with 3. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -39. 0% for Founder Group Limited Ordinary Shares (FGL). 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 Globe Life Inc. (GL) a "Hold" — based on 28 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 CNO Financial Group, Inc. at 19. 5x. 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, CNO Financial Group, Inc.

(CNO) delivered a total return of +81. 9%, compared to -99. 4% for Founder Group Limited Ordinary Shares (FGL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PFG returned +195. 8% versus FGL's -99. 2%. 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), Globe Life Inc.

(GL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 48β versus Founder Group Limited Ordinary Shares's 1. 89β — meaning FGL is approximately 293% more volatile than GL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 2% for Founder Group Limited Ordinary Shares — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Globe Life Inc.

(GL) is pulling ahead at 3. 8% versus -39. 0% for Founder Group Limited Ordinary Shares (FGL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Globe Life Inc. grew EPS 17. 8% year-over-year, compared to -114. 5% for Founder Group Limited Ordinary Shares. Over a 3-year CAGR, FGL leads at 53. 1% 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.

Globe Life Inc.

(GL) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 4% net margin versus -5. 7% for Founder Group Limited Ordinary Shares — meaning it keeps 19. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GL leads at 24. 4% versus -6. 2% for FGL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LNC leads at 57. 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.

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 LNC: 21. 0% to $43. 50.

In this comparison, LNC (4.

9% yield), PFG (3. 0% yield), CNO (1. 5% yield), GL (0. 7% yield) pay a dividend. FGL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Globe Life Inc.

(GL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 48), 0. 7% yield, +175. 7% 10Y return). Founder Group Limited Ordinary Shares (FGL) carries a higher beta of 1. 89 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GL: +175. 7%, FGL: -99. 2%), 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 (GL (Financial Services) and CNO (Financial Services) and FGL (Industrials) and PFG (Financial Services) and LNC (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: GL is a mid-cap deep-value stock; CNO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; FGL is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PFG is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; LNC is a small-cap deep-value stock. GL, CNO, PFG, LNC pay a dividend while FGL 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.