HGTY vs KNSL

For growth investors, Hagerty, Inc.

(HGTY) is the stronger pick with 22. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 18. 0% for Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL). Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) offers the better valuation at 14. 3x trailing P/E (15. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Hagerty, Inc. (HGTY) a "Hold" — based on 5 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, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

(KNSL) is the cheapest at 14. 3x versus Hagerty, Inc. at 27. 8x. On forward P/E, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 15. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

(KNSL) delivered a total return of +85. 2%, compared to +5. 6% for Hagerty, Inc. (HGTY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KNSL returned +1607% versus HGTY's +5. 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), Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

(KNSL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 29β versus Hagerty, Inc. 's 0. 53β — meaning HGTY is approximately 86% more volatile than KNSL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 31% for Hagerty, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(HGTY) is pulling ahead at 22. 2% versus 18. 0% for Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hagerty, Inc. grew EPS 270. 0% year-over-year, compared to 21. 8% for Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KNSL leads at 30. 7% 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.

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

(KNSL) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 9% net margin versus 3. 4% for Hagerty, Inc. — meaning it keeps 26. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KNSL leads at 33. 8% versus 9. 6% for HGTY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HGTY leads at 80. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

(KNSL) trades at 15. 0x forward P/E versus 100. 9x for Hagerty, Inc. — 85. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KNSL: 40. 2% to $433. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) offers the highest yield at 0. 2%, versus 0. 2% for Hagerty, Inc. (HGTY).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

(KNSL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 29), +1607% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KNSL: +1607%, HGTY: +5. 6%), 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.