GSHD vs RYAN

For growth investors, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.

(RYAN) is the stronger pick with 21. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 2% for Goosehead Insurance, Inc (GSHD). Goosehead Insurance, Inc (GSHD) offers the better valuation at 40. 5x trailing P/E (19. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Goosehead Insurance, Inc (GSHD) a "Buy" — based on 18 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, Goosehead Insurance, Inc (GSHD) is the cheapest at 40.

5x versus Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. at 67. 5x. On forward P/E, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.

(RYAN) delivered a total return of +20. 0%, compared to -52. 6% for Goosehead Insurance, Inc (GSHD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GSHD returned +225. 2% versus RYAN's +20. 0%. 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), Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.

(RYAN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 23β versus Goosehead Insurance, Inc's 0. 64β — meaning GSHD is approximately 175% more volatile than RYAN relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.

(RYAN) is pulling ahead at 21. 3% versus 16. 2% for Goosehead Insurance, Inc (GSHD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Goosehead Insurance, Inc grew EPS -10. 3% year-over-year, compared to -33. 8% for Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RYAN leads at 20. 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.

Goosehead Insurance, Inc (GSHD) is the more profitable company, earning 7.

6% net margin versus 2. 1% for Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RYAN leads at 20. 5% versus 20. 4% for GSHD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RYAN leads at 90. 6%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.

(RYAN) trades at 14. 9x forward P/E versus 19. 4x for Goosehead Insurance, Inc — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GSHD: 59. 4% to $67. 14.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Goosehead Insurance, Inc (GSHD) offers the highest yield at 9. 1%, versus 0. 7% for Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. (RYAN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc.

(RYAN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 23), 0. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RYAN: +20. 0%, GSHD: +225. 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.

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.