KMPR vs PGR

For growth investors, The Progressive Corporation (PGR) is the stronger pick with 21.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 6% for Kemper Corporation (KMPR). The Progressive Corporation (PGR) offers the better valuation at 13. 7x trailing P/E (12. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kemper Corporation (KMPR) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, The Progressive Corporation (PGR) is the cheapest at 13.

7x versus Kemper Corporation at 14. 3x. On forward P/E, Kemper Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, The Progressive Corporation (PGR) delivered a total return of +110.

2%, compared to -50. 9% for Kemper Corporation (KMPR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PGR returned +600. 9% versus KMPR's +40. 3%. 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), The Progressive Corporation (PGR) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

07β versus Kemper Corporation's 0. 58β — meaning KMPR is approximately -929% more volatile than PGR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Progressive Corporation (PGR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 27% versus 38% for Kemper Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Progressive Corporation (PGR) is pulling ahead at 21.

4% versus 3. 6% for Kemper Corporation (KMPR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Progressive Corporation grew EPS 118. 8% year-over-year, compared to -53. 4% for Kemper Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PGR leads at 16. 5% 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.

The Progressive Corporation (PGR) is the more profitable company, earning 11.

3% net margin versus 3. 0% for Kemper Corporation — meaning it keeps 11. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PGR leads at 14. 2% versus 3. 3% for KMPR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KMPR leads at 29. 7%, 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, Kemper Corporation (KMPR) trades at 8.

7x forward P/E versus 12. 1x for The Progressive Corporation — 3. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KMPR: 46. 6% to $48. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Kemper Corporation (KMPR) offers the highest yield at 3. 9%, versus 0. 6% for The Progressive Corporation (PGR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Progressive Corporation (PGR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

07), 0. 6% yield, +600. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PGR: +600. 9%, KMPR: +40. 3%), 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: KMPR is a small-cap deep-value stock; PGR is a mid-cap high-growth 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.