Insurance - Property & Casualty
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SAFT vs PLMR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Insurance - Property & Casualty
SAFT vs PLMR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Property & Casualty | Insurance - Property & Casualty |
| Market Cap | $1.07B | $3.01B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.25B | $874M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $99M | $197M |
| Gross Margin | 36.4% | 56.2% |
| Operating Margin | 10.1% | 29.0% |
| Forward P/E | 10.8x | 11.9x |
| Total Debt | $62M | $7M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $74M | $107M |
SAFT vs PLMR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety Insurance Gr… (SAFT) | 100 | 95.6 | -4.4% |
| Palomar Holdings, I… (PLMR) | 100 | 152.6 | +52.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SAFT vs PLMR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
SAFT is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.27, yield 5.0%
- Lower P/E (10.8x vs 11.9x)
- 5.0% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
PLMR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 58.2%, EPS growth 60.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 38.9%
- 498.1% 10Y total return vs SAFT's 79.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.24, Low D/E 0.8%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 58.2% revenue growth vs SAFT's 13.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (10.8x vs 11.9x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Combined ratio 0.7 vs SAFT's 0.9 (lower = better underwriting) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.24 vs SAFT's 0.27, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 5.0% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | -0.6% vs PLMR's -27.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 7.6% ROA vs SAFT's 4.1%, ROIC 25.5% vs 11.2% |
SAFT vs PLMR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
SAFT vs PLMR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PLMR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SAFT and PLMR operate at a comparable scale, with $1.3B and $874M in trailing revenue. PLMR is the more profitable business, keeping 22.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SAFT's 7.9%. On growth, PLMR holds the edge at +62.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $874M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $138M | $265M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $99M | $197M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $192M | $406M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.4% | +56.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.1% | +29.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +22.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.3% | +46.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.7% | +62.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +149.1% | +59.7% |
Valuation Metrics
SAFT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.9x trailing earnings, SAFT trades at a 31% valuation discount to PLMR's 15.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SAFT's 8.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PLMR's 11.1x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.1B | $3.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.1B | $2.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.88x | 15.84x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.80x | 11.87x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.16x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.25x | 11.10x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.85x | 3.44x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.20x | 3.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.57x | 7.36x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PLMR leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PLMR delivers a 22.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $23 in annual profit, vs $11 for SAFT. PLMR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SAFT's 0.07x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.3% | +22.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.1% | +7.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.2% | +25.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +15.8% | +11.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.07x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$12M | -$100M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $74M | $107M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $62M | $7M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 83.80x | 649.06x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PLMR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PLMR five years ago would be worth $16,795 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,574 for SAFT. Over the past 12 months, SAFT leads with a -0.6% total return vs PLMR's -27.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PLMR at 30.8% vs SAFT's 6.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -2.5% | -13.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -0.6% | -27.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.8% | +124.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +5.7% | +68.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +79.1% | +498.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.2% | +30.8% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SAFT and PLMR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PLMR is the less volatile stock with a 0.24 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SAFT's 0.27 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SAFT currently trades 86.5% from its 52-week high vs PLMR's 64.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.27x | 0.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $84.20 | $175.85 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $67.04 | $107.75 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.5% | +64.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.1 | 27.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 84K | 234K |
Analyst Outlook
SAFT leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SAFT as "Hold" and PLMR as "Buy". SAFT is the only dividend payer here at 5.01% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $110.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 3 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.0% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.65 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.9% | +1.2% |
PLMR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). SAFT leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
SAFT vs PLMR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SAFT or PLMR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Palomar Holdings, Inc.
(PLMR) is the stronger pick with 58. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 13. 0% for Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (SAFT). Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (SAFT) offers the better valuation at 10. 9x trailing P/E (10. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 — SAFT or PLMR?
On trailing P/E, Safety Insurance Group, Inc.
(SAFT) is the cheapest at 10. 9x versus Palomar Holdings, Inc. at 15. 8x. On forward P/E, Safety Insurance Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SAFT or PLMR?
Over the past 5 years, Palomar Holdings, Inc.
(PLMR) delivered a total return of +68. 0%, compared to +5. 7% for Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (SAFT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLMR returned +498. 1% versus SAFT's +79. 1%. 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 — SAFT or PLMR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Palomar Holdings, Inc.
(PLMR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 24β versus Safety Insurance Group, Inc. 's 0. 27β — meaning SAFT is approximately 12% more volatile than PLMR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 7% for Safety Insurance Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SAFT or PLMR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Palomar Holdings, Inc.
(PLMR) is pulling ahead at 58. 2% versus 13. 0% for Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (SAFT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Palomar Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 60. 0% year-over-year, compared to 40. 2% for Safety Insurance Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLMR leads at 38. 9% 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 — SAFT or PLMR?
Palomar Holdings, Inc.
(PLMR) is the more profitable company, earning 22. 5% net margin versus 7. 9% for Safety Insurance Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLMR leads at 28. 9% versus 10. 1% for SAFT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLMR leads at 73. 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.
07Is SAFT or PLMR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Safety Insurance Group, Inc.
(SAFT) trades at 10. 8x forward P/E versus 11. 9x for Palomar Holdings, Inc. — 1. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — SAFT or PLMR?
In this comparison, SAFT (5.
0% yield) pays a dividend. PLMR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is SAFT or PLMR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Safety Insurance Group, Inc.
(SAFT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 27), 5. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAFT: +79. 1%, PLMR: +498. 1%), 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 SAFT and PLMR?
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: SAFT is a small-cap deep-value stock; PLMR is a small-cap high-growth stock. SAFT pays a dividend while PLMR 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.
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