MCY vs HCI vs HRTG vs ALL

For growth investors, HCI Group, Inc.

(HCI) is the stronger pick with 20. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 7% for Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG). Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG) offers the better valuation at 4. 4x trailing P/E (6. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HCI Group, Inc. (HCI) a "Buy" — based on 14 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, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(HRTG) is the cheapest at 4. 4x versus Mercury General Corporation at 10. 0x. On forward P/E, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: HCI Group, Inc. wins at 0. 19x versus Mercury General Corporation's 1. 43x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(HRTG) delivered a total return of +201. 4%, compared to +58. 8% for Mercury General Corporation (MCY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HCI returned +436. 8% versus HRTG's +119. 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), The Allstate Corporation (ALL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus Mercury General Corporation's 0. 54β — meaning MCY is approximately 369% more volatile than ALL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HCI Group, Inc. (HCI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 25% for Mercury General Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), HCI Group, Inc.

(HCI) is pulling ahead at 20. 2% versus 3. 7% for Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 214. 4% year-over-year, compared to 15. 6% for Mercury General Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, HCI leads at 22. 3% 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.

HCI Group, Inc.

(HCI) is the more profitable company, earning 33. 2% net margin versus 9. 0% for Mercury General Corporation — meaning it keeps 33. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HCI leads at 47. 7% versus 11. 1% for MCY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HCI leads at 73. 2%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, HCI Group, Inc. (HCI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 19x versus Mercury General Corporation's 1. 43x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG) trades at 6. 1x forward P/E versus 10. 9x for Mercury General Corporation — 4. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HRTG: 39. 1% to $39. 00.

In this comparison, ALL (1.

8% yield), MCY (1. 3% yield), HCI (1. 0% yield) pay a dividend. HRTG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

12), 1. 8% yield, +258. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALL: +258. 7%, HRTG: +119. 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.

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: MCY is a small-cap deep-value stock; HCI is a small-cap high-growth stock; HRTG is a small-cap deep-value stock; ALL is a mid-cap deep-value stock. MCY, HCI, ALL pay a dividend while HRTG 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.