GL vs. UNM: Globe Life vs. Unum Stock Comparison
How do Globe Life (GL) and Unum (UNM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Globe Life (GL) and Unum (UNM) are both classified in the Life & Health Insurance sub-industry within the broader Insurance industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | GL | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Globe Life Inc. | Unum Group |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life & Health Insurance | Life & Health Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 11.86 billion USD | 11.89 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 1, 1980 | November 6, 1986 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GL | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 22.37% | 4.52% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 12.75% | 25.65% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.63% | 29.12% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GL | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 21.23% | 29.31% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.46 | 0.28 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -61.62% | -23.00% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 504.63K | 1.86M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GL | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.85 | 0.01 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.13 | 0.01 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Globe Life (GL) at 19.26% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Unum (UNM) at 2.25% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.
GL
Insurance industry group
19.26%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- GL
- 19.26%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
UNM
Insurance industry group
2.25%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- UNM
- 2.25%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Globe Life (GL) at 18.89% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while Unum (UNM) at 1.94% keeps a bottom-quartile share.
GL
Insurance industry group
18.89%
- Max
- 29.92%
- GL
- 18.89%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
UNM
Insurance industry group
1.94%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- UNM
- 1.94%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Globe Life (GL) in Insurance and Unum (UNM) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GL | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.26% | 2.25% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.32% | 0.51% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 18.89% | 1.94% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Globe Life (GL) at 3.74% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Unum (UNM) at 1.52% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Globe Life (GL) at 17.84% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Unum (UNM) at -54.86% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GL | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 3.74% | 1.52% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.67% | 3.02% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 17.84% | -54.86% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 23.50% | -13.07% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Globe Life (GL) in Insurance and Unum (UNM) in Insurance both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Globe Life (GL) in Insurance and Unum (UNM) in Insurance run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GL | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Unum (UNM) at 2.61% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Globe Life (GL) at 0.79% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, UNM the richer one.
GL
Insurance industry group
0.79%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- GL
- 0.79%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNM
Insurance industry group
2.61%
- Max
- 5.12%
- UNM
- 2.61%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Unum (UNM) reports payout ratio above 100% at 128.23%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Globe Life (GL) reports 8.43%, ranking against industry peers normally.
GL
Insurance industry group
8.43%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- GL
- 8.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNM
Insurance industry group
128.23%
- UNM
- 128.23%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GL | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.79% | 2.61% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 8.43% | 128.23% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Globe Life (GL) at 10.52 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Unum (UNM) at 52.21 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for UNM’s trailing earnings.
GL
Insurance industry group
10.52
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- GL
- 10.52
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
UNM
Insurance industry group
52.21
- UNM
- 52.21
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Globe Life (GL) at 1.89 and Unum (UNM) at 0.95 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
GL
Insurance industry group
1.89
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- GL
- 1.89
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
UNM
Insurance industry group
0.95
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- UNM
- 0.95
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Unum (UNM) at 1.11 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Globe Life (GL) at 1.81 is valued near its industry’s middle — UNM is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
GL
Insurance industry group
1.81
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- GL
- 1.81
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
UNM
Insurance industry group
1.11
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- UNM
- 1.11
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GL | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 10.52 | 52.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.89 | 0.95 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.81 | 1.11 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |