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CNO vs PRU
Which Stock Would AI Choose? CNO Financial Group (CNO) vs. Prudential Financial (PRU) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- CNO Financial Group (CNO) has delivered significantly stronger recent performance, with YTD returns of approximately 30.74% compared to Prudential Financial (PRU)'s 11.11%.
- Both companies operate in the insurance sector, but CNO focuses on middle-income U.S. consumers with health, life, and annuity products, while PRU maintains a broader, diversified model including asset management via PGIM and international operations.
- CNO trades at a higher trailing P/E ratio of 19.00 versus PRU's 12.57, reflecting differences in growth profiles and market positioning.
- Recent market activity shows CNO benefiting from earnings beats and analyst target increases, contributing to its outperformance relative to the S&P 500.
- PRU offers a higher dividend yield of around 4.59% and a larger market capitalization of $42.4 billion, providing scale advantages in certain risk factors.
- Relative momentum favors CNO in the near term, though PRU's stability and valuation metrics present trade-offs for different investor profiles.
Introduction
This comparison examines CNO and PRU to highlight how two established players in the insurance and financial services industry have navigated recent market conditions. Both stocks appeal to investors seeking exposure to the life insurance sector, yet they differ in scale, product focus, and performance trajectories. Traders monitoring relative performance, sector rotation, or defensive positioning amid economic uncertainty may find the analysis relevant for portfolio allocation decisions.
CNO Overview and Recent Performance
CNO Financial Group (CNO) provides health, life, and annuity products primarily to middle-income pre-retiree and retired Americans through brands such as Bankers Life and Colonial Penn. In recent weeks, the stock has shown notable strength, closing near $55.09 with a market capitalization of approximately $5.14 billion. Year-to-date returns reached about 30.74%, substantially outpacing the S&P 500's 9.41%, while the one-year return stood at 52.02%. Recent market activity included earnings that surpassed estimates, dividend increases, and upward revisions to price targets by several analysts, supporting positive sentiment and positioning the shares near 52-week highs.
PRU Overview and Recent Performance
Prudential Financial (PRU) operates a diversified model encompassing retirement strategies, group insurance, individual life products, international businesses, and the PGIM investment management segment with substantial assets under management. The stock recently closed at approximately $122.08 with a market capitalization of $42.4 billion. Year-to-date performance registered around 11.11%, ahead of the S&P 500 benchmark, with a one-year return of 24.26%. Recent market activity reflects preparation for upcoming quarterly results, with analysts noting a forward P/E near 11.95 and a dividend yield of about 4.59%, contributing to a relatively stable profile amid broader sector dynamics.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
CNO and PRU both serve insurance and retirement markets but contrast sharply in business models and scale. CNO targets a narrower U.S. middle-income segment with supplemental health and annuity offerings, while PRU benefits from global diversification, a large PGIM asset management franchise, and pension risk transfer capabilities. Recent momentum has favored CNO, evidenced by superior relative returns and earnings momentum, whereas PRU offers greater size-related stability, a lower valuation multiple, and a more attractive dividend yield. Sector exposure remains comparable within life insurance, yet PRU's international and asset-management elements introduce different sensitivity to interest rates and equity markets. Market sentiment reflects these trade-offs, with CNO attracting attention for growth and PRU for income and resilience.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including stronger trend consistency, earnings momentum, and relative outperformance in recent market activity, Tickeron’s AI models would currently assign a higher probabilistic weighting to CNO over PRU. PRU retains advantages in valuation and dividend characteristics that could support it in different market regimes. This assessment reflects data-driven positioning rather than a definitive forecast.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is CNO is a StrongBuy and PRU is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CNO’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whilePRU’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- CNO’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- PRU’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CNO’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while PRU’s TA Score has 2 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CNO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- PRU’s TA Score: 2 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
CNO (@Life/Health Insurance) experienced а +0.05% price change this week, while PRU (@Life/Health Insurance) price change was -0.71% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Life/Health Insurance industry was -4.07%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.47%, and the average quarterly price growth was +4.20%.
Reported Earning Dates
CNO is expected to report earnings on Nov 04, 2026.
PRU is expected to report earnings on Nov 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Life/Health Insurance (-4.07% weekly)Life insurance companies mainly sell policies that pay a death benefit as a lump sum upon the death of the insured to their beneficiaries. Life insurance policies may be sold as term life, (which guarantees payment of a stated death benefit and expires at the end of a specified term) or permanent /typically whole life (which is more expensive but lasts a lifetime and carries a cash accumulation component). Life insurance firms may also sell long-term disability policies that help to replace the insured individual’s income if they become sick or disabled. Health insurance, on the other hand, helps pay for medical expenses. Anthem, Inc., MetLife, Inc. and Aflac Incorporated are some of the largest U.S. companies in this industry.
| CNO | PRU | CNO / PRU | |
| Capitalization | 5.12B | 42.1B | 12% |
| EBITDA | N/A | N/A | - |
| Gain YTD | 31.211 | 11.139 | 280% |
| P/E Ratio | 19.07 | 11.07 | 172% |
| Revenue | 4.51B | 63B | 7% |
| Total Cash | N/A | 83.5B | - |
| Total Debt | 4.3B | 23.1B | 19% |
CNO | PRU | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 20 | 93 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 54 Fair valued | 10 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 4 | 38 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 88 | 98 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 41 | 17 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 20 | 94 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
PRU's Valuation (10) in the Financial Conglomerates industry is somewhat better than the same rating for CNO (54) in the Life Or Health Insurance industry. This means that PRU’s stock grew somewhat faster than CNO’s over the last 12 months.
CNO's Profit vs Risk Rating (4) in the Life Or Health Insurance industry is somewhat better than the same rating for PRU (38) in the Financial Conglomerates industry. This means that CNO’s stock grew somewhat faster than PRU’s over the last 12 months.
CNO's SMR Rating (88) in the Life Or Health Insurance industry is in the same range as PRU (98) in the Financial Conglomerates industry. This means that CNO’s stock grew similarly to PRU’s over the last 12 months.
PRU's Price Growth Rating (17) in the Financial Conglomerates industry is in the same range as CNO (41) in the Life Or Health Insurance industry. This means that PRU’s stock grew similarly to CNO’s over the last 12 months.
CNO's P/E Growth Rating (20) in the Life Or Health Insurance industry is significantly better than the same rating for PRU (94) in the Financial Conglomerates industry. This means that CNO’s stock grew significantly faster than PRU’s over the last 12 months.
| CNO | PRU | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 63% | 5 days ago 72% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 44% | 5 days ago 58% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 60% | N/A |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 63% | 5 days ago 53% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 62% | 5 days ago 58% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 61% | 5 days ago 57% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 63% | 8 days ago 60% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 48% | N/A |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 59% | 5 days ago 66% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 59% | 5 days ago 50% |
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CNO and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CNO has been loosely correlated with JXN. These tickers have moved in lockstep 63% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if CNO jumps, then JXN could also see price increases.
PRU and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, PRU has been closely correlated with MET. These tickers have moved in lockstep 71% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if PRU jumps, then MET could also see price increases.