L vs CNA

For growth investors, Loews Corporation (L) is the stronger pick with 5.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 1% for CNA Financial Corporation (CNA). CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) offers the better valuation at 9. 3x trailing P/E (9. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Loews Corporation (L) a "Buy" — based on 4 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, CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) is the cheapest at 9.

3x versus Loews Corporation at 13. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Loews Corporation (L) delivered a total return of +80.

8%, compared to +27. 0% for CNA Financial Corporation (CNA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: L returned +171. 2% versus CNA's +136. 4%. 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), CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

24β versus Loews Corporation's 0. 31β — meaning L is approximately 28% more volatile than CNA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 48% for Loews Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Loews Corporation (L) is pulling ahead at 5.

4% versus 5. 1% for CNA Financial Corporation (CNA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CNA Financial Corporation grew EPS 33. 2% year-over-year, compared to 24. 3% for Loews Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, L leads at 9. 0% 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.

Loews Corporation (L) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

2% net margin versus 8. 7% for CNA Financial Corporation — meaning it keeps 9. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: L leads at 12. 6% versus 11. 0% for CNA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — L leads at 43. 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CNA Financial Corporation (CNA) offers the highest yield at 8. 8%, versus 0. 2% for Loews Corporation (L).

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

24), 8. 8% yield, +136. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CNA: +136. 4%, L: +171. 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.

CNA pays a dividend while L 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.