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GNW vs MTG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Insurance - Specialty
GNW vs MTG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Life | Insurance - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $3.52B | $5.62B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.87B | $1.20B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $249M | $718M |
| Gross Margin | 7.6% | 93.6% |
| Operating Margin | 5.6% | 75.4% |
| Forward P/E | 21.3x | 8.6x |
| Total Debt | $1.51B | $646M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.04B | $376M |
GNW vs MTG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genworth Financial,… (GNW) | 100 | 299.7 | +199.7% |
| MGIC Investment Cor… (MTG) | 100 | 323.8 | +223.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GNW vs MTG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
GNW is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +32.3% vs MTG's +4.2%
MTG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 7 yrs, beta 0.43, yield 2.2%
- Rev growth 0.5%, EPS growth 8.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.1%
- 333.0% 10Y total return vs GNW's 148.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 0.5% revenue growth vs GNW's -10.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (8.6x vs 21.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Combined ratio 0.2 vs GNW's 0.9 (lower = better underwriting) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.43 vs GNW's 0.71, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 2.2% yield; 7-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +32.3% vs MTG's +4.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 11.0% ROA vs GNW's 0.3%, ROIC 12.7% vs 3.6% |
GNW vs MTG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
GNW vs MTG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MTG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GNW is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.9B annually — 5.7x MTG's $1.2B. MTG is the more profitable business, keeping 59.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GNW's 3.6%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.9B | $1.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $466M | $913M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $249M | $718M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $384M | $705M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +7.6% | +93.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.6% | +75.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +59.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.6% | +58.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.1% | -3.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.7% | +1.3% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — GNW and MTG each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 8.5x trailing earnings, MTG trades at a 50% valuation discount to GNW's 16.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, GNW's 5.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MTG's 6.3x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.5B | $5.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.0B | $5.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.93x | 8.46x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.26x | 8.64x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.43x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.70x | 6.30x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.55x | 4.63x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.39x | 1.17x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.77x | 6.60x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MTG leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MTG delivers a 14.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $3 for GNW. MTG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.13x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GNW's 0.15x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GNW scores 7/9 vs MTG's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.5% | +14.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.3% | +11.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.6% | +12.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.6% | +14.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.15x | 0.13x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$523M | $271M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.0B | $376M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.5B | $646M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.71x | 27.10x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — GNW and MTG each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GNW five years ago would be worth $21,109 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $20,097 for MTG. Over the past 12 months, GNW leads with a +32.3% total return vs MTG's +4.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MTG at 24.2% vs GNW's 20.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.9% | -7.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +32.3% | +4.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +74.8% | +91.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +111.1% | +101.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +148.4% | +333.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +20.5% | +24.2% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — GNW and MTG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MTG is the less volatile stock with a 0.43 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GNW's 0.71 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GNW currently trades 96.7% from its 52-week high vs MTG's 88.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.71x | 0.43x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.45 | $29.97 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.63 | $24.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.7% | +88.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.1 | 40.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.0M | 1.9M |
Analyst Outlook
MTG leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GNW as "Hold" and MTG as "Buy". MTG is the only dividend payer here at 2.21% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $30.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 7 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.59 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +9.1% | +14.0% |
MTG leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 3 categories are tied.
GNW vs MTG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GNW or MTG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) is the stronger pick with 0.
5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 9% for Genworth Financial, Inc. (GNW). MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) offers the better valuation at 8. 5x trailing P/E (8. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) a "Buy" — based on 22 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.
02Which has the better valuation — GNW or MTG?
On trailing P/E, MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) is the cheapest at 8.
5x versus Genworth Financial, Inc. at 16. 9x. On forward P/E, MGIC Investment Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GNW or MTG?
Over the past 5 years, Genworth Financial, Inc.
(GNW) delivered a total return of +111. 1%, compared to +101. 0% for MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MTG returned +333. 0% versus GNW's +148. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GNW or MTG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
43β versus Genworth Financial, Inc. 's 0. 71β — meaning GNW is approximately 67% more volatile than MTG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 15% for Genworth Financial, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — GNW or MTG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) is pulling ahead at 0.
5% versus -10. 9% for Genworth Financial, Inc. (GNW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MGIC Investment Corporation grew EPS 8. 7% year-over-year, compared to -20. 6% for Genworth Financial, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MTG leads at 1. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — GNW or MTG?
MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) is the more profitable company, earning 60.
8% net margin versus 3. 5% for Genworth Financial, Inc. — meaning it keeps 60. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MTG leads at 76. 5% versus 6. 8% for GNW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MTG leads at 94. 9%, 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.
07Is GNW or MTG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) trades at 8.
6x forward P/E versus 21. 3x for Genworth Financial, Inc. — 12. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — GNW or MTG?
In this comparison, MTG (2.
2% yield) pays a dividend. GNW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is GNW or MTG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
43), 2. 2% yield, +333. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MTG: +333. 0%, GNW: +148. 4%), 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.
10What are the main differences between GNW and MTG?
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.
MTG pays a dividend while GNW 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.
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