Insurance - Life
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MFC vs PRU
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Insurance - Life
MFC vs PRU — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Life | Insurance - Life |
| Market Cap | $67.02B | $34.86B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $83.02B | $61.82B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $5.78B | $3.48B |
| Gross Margin | 30.6% | 30.8% |
| Operating Margin | 8.5% | 8.2% |
| Forward P/E | 8.6x | 7.4x |
| Total Debt | $14.66B | $22.96B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $14.90B | $19.71B |
MFC vs PRU — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manulife Financial … (MFC) | 100 | 322.1 | +222.1% |
| Prudential Financia… (PRU) | 100 | 164.3 | +64.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MFC vs PRU
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
MFC is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 9.4%, EPS growth 8.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 36.2%
- 244.9% 10Y total return vs PRU's 88.9%
- 9.4% revenue growth vs PRU's -14.0%
PRU carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta 0.97, yield 5.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.97, Low D/E 64.5%, current ratio 0.61x
- Beta 0.97, yield 5.5%, current ratio 0.61x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 9.4% revenue growth vs PRU's -14.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (7.4x vs 8.6x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 7.0% margin vs PRU's 5.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.97 vs MFC's 0.99 | |
| Dividends | 5.5% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs MFC's 4.9% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +31.9% vs PRU's +3.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 0.6% ROA vs MFC's 0.6%, ROIC 10.0% vs 11.5% |
MFC vs PRU — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
MFC vs PRU — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MFC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MFC and PRU operate at a comparable scale, with $83.0B and $61.8B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 7.0% (MFC) to 5.6% (PRU). On growth, MFC holds the edge at +2.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $83.0B | $61.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.0B | $5.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $5.8B | $3.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $32.1B | $9.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +30.6% | +30.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.5% | +8.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.0% | +5.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +38.7% | +15.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.7% | +6.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.7% | -12.8% |
Valuation Metrics
PRU leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.8x trailing earnings, PRU trades at a 45% valuation discount to MFC's 17.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PRU's 7.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MFC's 11.4x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $67.0B | $34.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $66.8B | $38.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.69x | 9.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.58x | 7.40x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 9.15x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.40x | 7.76x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.49x | 0.57x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.31x | 0.98x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.84x | 5.56x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MFC leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MFC delivers a 11.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $10 for PRU. MFC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.28x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PRU's 0.65x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.2% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.6% | +0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.5% | +10.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.7% | +0.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.28x | 0.65x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$237M | $3.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $14.9B | $19.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $14.7B | $23.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.64x | 4.76x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MFC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MFC five years ago would be worth $21,097 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,875 for PRU. Over the past 12 months, MFC leads with a +31.9% total return vs PRU's +3.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MFC at 29.7% vs PRU's 12.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.3% | -10.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +31.9% | +3.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +118.0% | +40.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +111.0% | +18.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +244.9% | +88.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +29.7% | +12.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — MFC and PRU each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PRU is the less volatile stock with a 0.97 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MFC's 0.99 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MFC currently trades 99.7% from its 52-week high vs PRU's 83.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.99x | 0.97x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $40.08 | $119.76 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $29.70 | $91.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.7% | +83.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.9 | 58.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.9M | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
PRU leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MFC as "Buy" and PRU as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 27.6% upside for MFC (target: $51) vs 4.0% for PRU (target: $104). For income investors, PRU offers the higher dividend yield at 5.50% vs MFC's 4.89%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $51.00 | $104.13 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 37 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.9% | +5.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.66 | $5.50 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.7% | +2.9% |
MFC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). PRU leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
MFC vs PRU: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MFC or PRU a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) is the stronger pick with 937.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 0% for Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) offers the better valuation at 9. 8x trailing P/E (7. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — MFC or PRU?
On trailing P/E, Prudential Financial, Inc.
(PRU) is the cheapest at 9. 8x versus Manulife Financial Corporation at 17. 7x. On forward P/E, Prudential Financial, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MFC or PRU?
Over the past 5 years, Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) delivered a total return of +111.
0%, compared to +18. 7% for Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MFC returned +244. 9% versus PRU's +88. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — MFC or PRU?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Prudential Financial, Inc.
(PRU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 97β versus Manulife Financial Corporation's 0. 99β — meaning MFC is approximately 1% more volatile than PRU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 65% for Prudential Financial, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — MFC or PRU?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) is pulling ahead at 937.
7% versus -14. 0% for Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Prudential Financial, Inc. grew EPS 36. 3% year-over-year, compared to 8. 1% for Manulife Financial Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, MFC leads at 36. 2% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — MFC or PRU?
Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) is the more profitable company, earning 9.
5% net margin versus 5. 9% for Prudential Financial, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MFC leads at 11. 6% versus 7. 9% for PRU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MFC leads at 100. 0%, 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.
07Is MFC or PRU more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Prudential Financial, Inc.
(PRU) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 8. 6x for Manulife Financial Corporation — 1. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MFC: 27. 6% to $51. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — MFC or PRU?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) offers the highest yield at 5. 5%, versus 4. 9% for Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC).
09Is MFC or PRU better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
99), 4. 9% yield, +244. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MFC: +244. 9%, PRU: +88. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between MFC and PRU?
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: MFC is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PRU is a mid-cap deep-value 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.
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