Insurance - Life
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4 / 10Stock Comparison
PUK vs MET vs MFC vs PRU
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Insurance - Life
Insurance - Life
Insurance - Life
PUK vs MET vs MFC vs PRU — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Life | Insurance - Life | Insurance - Life | Insurance - Life |
| Market Cap | $39.88B | $51.39B | $66.34B | $34.58B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $33.63B | $76.94B | $83.02B | $61.82B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $5.53B | $3.62B | $5.78B | $3.48B |
| Gross Margin | 62.3% | 28.4% | 30.6% | 30.8% |
| Operating Margin | 59.6% | 6.3% | 8.5% | 8.2% |
| Forward P/E | 13.0x | 8.0x | 8.5x | 7.3x |
| Total Debt | $4.48B | $20.18B | $14.66B | $22.96B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $5.72B | $22.03B | $14.90B | $19.71B |
PUK vs MET vs MFC vs PRU — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prudential plc (PUK) | 100 | 127.1 | +27.1% |
| MetLife, Inc. (MET) | 100 | 218.9 | +118.9% |
| Manulife Financial … (MFC) | 100 | 318.8 | +218.8% |
| Prudential Financia… (PRU) | 100 | 163.1 | +63.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PUK vs MET vs MFC vs PRU
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PUK is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if momentum and efficiency is your priority.
- +45.8% vs PRU's +3.6%
- 3.1% ROA vs MET's 0.5%, ROIC 15.5% vs 13.1%
MET lags the leaders in this set but could rank higher in a more targeted comparison.
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%
- 247.7% 10Y total return vs MET's 153.9%
- 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
- Lower P/E (7.3x vs 8.0x)
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 9.4% revenue growth vs PRU's -14.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (7.3x vs 8.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Combined ratio 0.9 vs MET's 0.9 (lower = better underwriting) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.97 vs PUK's 1.14 | |
| Dividends | 5.5% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs MET's 2.9% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +45.8% vs PRU's +3.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.1% ROA vs MET's 0.5%, ROIC 15.5% vs 13.1% |
PUK vs MET vs MFC vs PRU — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
PUK vs MET vs MFC vs PRU — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
PUK leads in 2 of 6 categories
PRU leads 1 • MFC leads 1 • MET leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PUK leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MFC is the larger business by revenue, generating $83.0B annually — 2.5x PUK's $33.6B. PUK is the more profitable business, keeping 16.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MET's 4.7%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $33.6B | $76.9B | $83.0B | $61.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $11.6B | $5.9B | $6.0B | $5.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $5.5B | $3.6B | $5.8B | $3.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.7B | $16.5B | $32.1B | $9.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +62.3% | +28.4% | +30.6% | +30.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +59.6% | +6.3% | +8.5% | +8.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +16.4% | +4.7% | +7.0% | +5.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.0% | +21.5% | +38.7% | +15.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +110.5% | +4.4% | +2.7% | +6.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +20.3% | +35.9% | -4.7% | -12.8% |
Valuation Metrics
PRU leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.7x trailing earnings, PRU trades at a 45% valuation discount to MFC's 17.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PUK's 7.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MFC's 11.3x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $39.9B | $51.4B | $66.3B | $34.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $38.2B | $49.5B | $66.2B | $37.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.20x | 16.42x | 17.58x | 9.73x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 13.01x | 8.05x | 8.49x | 7.35x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | 9.06x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.37x | 8.66x | 11.34x | 7.70x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.42x | 0.67x | 1.48x | 0.57x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.89x | 1.81x | 1.30x | 0.98x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.17x | 2.84x | 2.82x | 5.51x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PUK leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PUK delivers a 31.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $31 in annual profit, vs $10 for PRU. PUK carries lower financial leverage with a 0.28x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MET's 0.70x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MET scores 8/9 vs PUK's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +31.0% | +12.7% | +11.2% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.1% | +0.5% | +0.6% | +0.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.5% | +13.1% | +11.5% | +10.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.2% | +1.0% | +0.7% | +0.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.28x | 0.70x | 0.28x | 0.65x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.2B | -$1.8B | -$237M | $3.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.7B | $22.0B | $14.9B | $19.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.5B | $20.2B | $14.7B | $23.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 78.17x | 5.51x | 5.64x | 4.76x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MFC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MFC five years ago would be worth $21,214 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,796 for PUK. Over the past 12 months, PUK leads with a +45.8% total return vs PRU's +3.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MFC at 29.3% vs PUK's 2.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.1% | -1.2% | +10.2% | -11.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +45.8% | +4.9% | +30.3% | +3.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +8.9% | +58.9% | +116.0% | +39.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -22.0% | +32.9% | +112.1% | +17.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.2% | +153.9% | +247.7% | +89.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.9% | +16.7% | +29.3% | +11.7% |
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 PUK's 1.14 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MFC currently trades 98.7% from its 52-week high vs PRU's 83.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.14x | 1.09x | 0.99x | 0.97x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $34.03 | $83.64 | $40.08 | $119.76 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.86 | $67.33 | $29.70 | $91.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.9% | +94.2% | +98.7% | +83.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.6 | 67.1 | 69.6 | 58.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 824K | 3.5M | 1.8M | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — MET and PRU each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: PUK as "Buy", MET as "Buy", MFC as "Buy", PRU as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 28.9% upside for MFC (target: $51) vs 4.7% for PRU (target: $104). For income investors, PRU offers the higher dividend yield at 5.54% vs PUK's 1.47%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $96.50 | $51.00 | $104.13 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 33 | 14 | 37 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | +2.9% | +4.9% | +5.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 13 | 6 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.34 | $2.27 | $2.66 | $5.50 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.2% | +7.6% | +2.7% | +2.9% |
PUK leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). PRU leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
PUK vs MET vs MFC vs PRU: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PUK or MET or 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. 7x trailing P/E (7. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Prudential plc (PUK) a "Buy" — based on 8 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 — PUK or MET or MFC or PRU?
On trailing P/E, Prudential Financial, Inc.
(PRU) is the cheapest at 9. 7x versus Manulife Financial Corporation at 17. 6x. On forward P/E, Prudential Financial, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PUK or MET or MFC or PRU?
Over the past 5 years, Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) delivered a total return of +112.
1%, compared to -22. 0% for Prudential plc (PUK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MFC returned +247. 7% versus PUK's +19. 2%. 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 — PUK or MET or MFC or PRU?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Prudential Financial, Inc.
(PRU) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 97β versus Prudential plc's 1. 14β — meaning PUK is approximately 17% more volatile than PRU relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Prudential plc (PUK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 70% for MetLife, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PUK or MET or 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 -19. 2% for MetLife, Inc.. 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 — PUK or MET or MFC or PRU?
Prudential plc (PUK) is the more profitable company, earning 14.
3% net margin versus 4. 4% for MetLife, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PUK leads at 17. 8% versus 6. 0% for MET. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PUK 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 PUK or MET or MFC or PRU more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Prudential Financial, Inc.
(PRU) trades at 7. 3x forward P/E versus 13. 0x for Prudential plc — 5. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MFC: 28. 9% to $51. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PUK or MET or MFC or PRU?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) offers the highest yield at 5. 5%, versus 1. 5% for Prudential plc (PUK).
09Is PUK or MET or 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, +247. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MFC: +247. 7%, PUK: +19. 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.
10What are the main differences between PUK and MET and 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: PUK is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MET is a mid-cap deep-value stock; 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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