UNM vs UNH

For growth investors, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the stronger pick with 11.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 1% for Unum Group (UNM). Unum Group (UNM) offers the better valuation at 18. 8x trailing P/E (9. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) a "Buy" — based on 52 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, Unum Group (UNM) is the cheapest at 18.

8x versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated at 27. 8x. On forward P/E, Unum Group is actually cheaper at 9. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Unum Group (UNM) delivered a total return of +192.

1%, compared to -2. 5% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UNH returned +220. 3% versus UNM's +175. 7%. 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), Unum Group (UNM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

48β versus UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's 0. 59β — meaning UNH is approximately 23% more volatile than UNM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Unum Group (UNM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 77% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is pulling ahead at 11.

8% versus 2. 1% for Unum Group (UNM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated grew EPS -14. 7% year-over-year, compared to -54. 8% for Unum Group. Over a 3-year CAGR, UNH leads at 11. 4% 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.

Unum Group (UNM) is the more profitable company, earning 5.

7% net margin versus 2. 7% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — meaning it keeps 5. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UNM leads at 7. 2% versus 4. 2% for UNH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UNM leads at 38. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Unum Group (UNM) trades at 9.

2x forward P/E versus 20. 1x for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated — 10. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UNM: 22. 1% to $98. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 2. 2% for Unum Group (UNM).

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

48), 2. 2% yield, +175. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UNM: +175. 7%, UNH: +220. 3%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (UNM (Financial Services) and UNH (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.