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CNO vs UNM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? CNO Financial Group (CNO) vs. Unum Group (UNM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- CNO targets middle-income pre-retirees with individual insurance products, while UNM focuses on group benefits like disability and life insurance for employers.
- CNO shows stronger year-to-date performance at +3.35% compared to UNM's +1.18%.
- Both stocks trade at similar forward P/E ratios (price-to-earnings) around 18-19, but UNM offers a higher dividend yield of 2.37% versus CNO's 1.56%.
- CNO benefits from recent positive analyst upgrades and value metrics, with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
- UNM reaffirmed 2026 premium growth targets of 4-7%, but faces neutral ratings amid price target cuts.
- Recent momentum favors CNO, trading near its 52-week high, while UNM lags below its peak.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines CNO Financial Group and UNM Group, two players in the insurance sector offering distinct products amid evolving market conditions. Investors seeking exposure to life, health, and supplemental insurance may find value in analyzing their relative performance, valuation, and growth prospects. Traders focused on sector rotation or dividend strategies can use this head-to-head to gauge momentum and sentiment shifts in recent market activity. With interest rate dynamics and economic resilience influencing insurance stocks, understanding these contrasts aids informed positioning in a competitive field.
CNO Overview and Recent Performance
CNO Financial Group, Inc. is a holding company specializing in health insurance, annuities, individual life insurance, and financial services targeted at middle-income pre-retirees and retirees in the U.S. Operating under brands like Bankers Life, Washington National, and Colonial Penn, it distributes products through agents, online, and direct channels. In recent market activity, the stock has shown resilience, trading around $43.71 near its 52-week high of $44.86, with year-to-date gains of 3.35% and a market cap of $4.1 billion. Strong Q4 2025 results featured operating earnings per share growth of 11%, driven by insurance margins and investment returns, boosting sentiment. Analysts highlight its undervalued status with a P/B ratio of 1.52 versus the industry average and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), amid 30-day returns around 8%.
UNM Overview and Recent Performance
UNM Group provides financial protection benefits including group long-term and short-term disability, life insurance, and voluntary products through segments like Unum US, International, and Colonial Life. It serves employers in the U.S., U.K., and Poland via brokers and agents. Recently, shares trade at about $77.48, down from a 52-week high of $83.13, with year-to-date performance at 1.18% and a larger market cap of $12.5 billion. The company reaffirmed 2026 targets for 4-7% premium growth and 8-12% EPS expansion off a $10 billion base, supported by persistency and sales. Q4 2025 revenue edged up 0.2%, but analyst sentiment remains neutral with recent price target reductions, such as BofA's cut to $77, ahead of Q1 earnings.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
CNO and UNM operate in the insurance sector but differ in business models: CNO emphasizes individual annuities and supplemental health for retirees, while UNM leads in employer-sponsored group disability and life coverage. Growth drivers include CNO's expected 7.4% EPS rise in 2026 versus UNM's premium and EPS targets; UNM benefits from scale and international exposure. Recent momentum favors CNO with superior YTD returns and proximity to highs, contrasting UNM's pullback. Risk factors like interest sensitivity and claims volatility are shared, but CNO's smaller size amplifies volatility. Market sentiment leans positive for CNO via buy ratings, while UNM holds steady pre-earnings. Trade-offs pit UNM's higher yield and size against CNO's relative outperformance.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently favors CNO over UNM based on stronger trend consistency, year-to-date gains, and favorable analyst positioning amid recent insurance sector dynamics. CNO's undervaluation metrics and post-earnings stability suggest higher probability of near-term upside, though both warrant monitoring for catalysts like rate changes.
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 UNM is a StrongBuy.
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 whileUNM’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- CNO’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- UNM’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 UNM’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CNO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- UNM’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
CNO (@Life/Health Insurance) experienced а +5.50% price change this week, while UNM (@Life/Health Insurance) price change was +6.78% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Life/Health Insurance industry was +3.45%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.38%, and the average quarterly price growth was +3.35%.
Reported Earning Dates
CNO is expected to report earnings on Aug 03, 2026.
UNM is expected to report earnings on Jul 28, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Life/Health Insurance (+3.45% 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 | UNM | CNO / UNM | |
| Capitalization | 4.7B | 14.8B | 32% |
| EBITDA | N/A | N/A | - |
| Gain YTD | 19.511 | 21.094 | 92% |
| P/E Ratio | 20.31 | 20.07 | 101% |
| Revenue | 4.51B | 13.2B | 34% |
| Total Cash | N/A | 35.5B | - |
| Total Debt | 4.3B | 3.76B | 114% |
CNO | UNM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 34 | 47 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 58 Fair valued | 48 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 14 | 3 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 89 | 91 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 41 | 41 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 18 | 9 | |
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.
UNM's Valuation (48) in the Life Or Health Insurance industry is in the same range as CNO (58). This means that UNM’s stock grew similarly to CNO’s over the last 12 months.
UNM's Profit vs Risk Rating (3) in the Life Or Health Insurance industry is in the same range as CNO (14). This means that UNM’s stock grew similarly to CNO’s over the last 12 months.
CNO's SMR Rating (89) in the Life Or Health Insurance industry is in the same range as UNM (91). This means that CNO’s stock grew similarly to UNM’s over the last 12 months.
CNO's Price Growth Rating (41) in the Life Or Health Insurance industry is in the same range as UNM (41). This means that CNO’s stock grew similarly to UNM’s over the last 12 months.
UNM's P/E Growth Rating (9) in the Life Or Health Insurance industry is in the same range as CNO (18). This means that UNM’s stock grew similarly to CNO’s over the last 12 months.
| CNO | UNM | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 61% | 3 days ago 45% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 46% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 74% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 68% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 68% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 70% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 62% | 3 days ago 70% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 17 days ago 50% | 18 days ago 44% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 72% | 3 days ago 43% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 56% | 3 days ago 66% |
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UNM and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, UNM has been loosely correlated with CNO. These tickers have moved in lockstep 64% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if UNM jumps, then CNO could also see price increases.