UVE vs HRTG

For growth investors, Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(UVE) is the stronger pick with 4. 9% 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 Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (UVE) a "Buy" — based on 4 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 Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. at 6. 4x. 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: Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 15x versus Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 39x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

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

(UVE) delivered a total return of +202. 7%, compared to +201. 4% for Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UVE returned +165. 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), Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(UVE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 49β versus Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 50β — meaning HRTG is approximately 2% more volatile than UVE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (UVE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 20% for Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(UVE) is pulling ahead at 4. 9% versus 3. 7% for Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 214. 4% year-over-year, compared to 214. 4% for Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UVE leads at 9. 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.

Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(HRTG) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 1% net margin versus 11. 5% for Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HRTG leads at 30. 6% versus 15. 2% for UVE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HRTG leads at 63. 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.

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, Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. (UVE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 15x versus Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 39x. 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 9. 3x for Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. — 3. 2x 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, UVE (1.

9% yield) pays a dividend. HRTG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(UVE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 49), 1. 9% yield, +165. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UVE: +165. 8%, 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.

UVE pays 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.