L vs. PUK: Loews vs. Prudential Stock Comparison
How do Loews (L) and Prudential (PUK) 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
Loews (L) and Prudential (PUK) both belong to the Insurance industry, though L is classified under Property & Casualty Insurance while PUK falls under Life & Health Insurance.
Loews (L) trades as ordinary local shares, while Prudential (PUK) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | L | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Loews Corp. | Prudential plc ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Hong Kong |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Property & Casualty Insurance | Life & Health Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 22.19 billion USD | 30.28 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | June 29, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | L | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 7.24% | -7.39% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 19.27% | 8.09% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.13% | -6.78% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | L | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 16.13% | 29.81% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.49 | 0.64 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -26.11% | -62.24% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 805.54K | 1.21M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | L | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.18 | -0.39 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.26 | -0.54 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Prudential (PUK) at 18.74% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Loews (L) at 8.21% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.
L
Insurance industry group
8.21%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- L
- 8.21%
- Min
- -10.66%
PUK
Insurance industry group
18.74%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- PUK
- 18.74%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Prudential (PUK) at 25.49% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Loews (L) at 7.93%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
L
Insurance industry group
7.93%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- L
- 7.93%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
PUK
Insurance industry group
25.49%
- Max
- 29.92%
- PUK
- 25.49%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Loews (L) in Insurance and Prudential (PUK) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | L | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 8.21% | 18.74% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.71% | 1.60% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 7.93% | 25.49% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Prudential (PUK) at 68.98% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Loews (L) at 5.44%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Prudential (PUK) at 82.74% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Loews (L) at 24.34% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for PUK.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | L | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.44% | 68.98% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.96% | -- |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 24.34% | 82.74% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 33.10% | 61.41% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Loews (L) in Insurance and Prudential (PUK) 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: Loews (L) in Insurance and Prudential (PUK) 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 | L | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Loews (L) at 0.23% and Prudential (PUK) at 1.10% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
L
Insurance industry group
0.23%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- L
- 0.23%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PUK
Insurance industry group
1.10%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- PUK
- 1.10%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Loews (L) at 3.46% and Prudential (PUK) at 18.71% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
L
Insurance industry group
3.46%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- L
- 3.46%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PUK
Insurance industry group
18.71%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- PUK
- 18.71%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | L | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.23% | 1.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 3.46% | 18.71% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Prudential (PUK) at 8.72 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Loews (L) at 15.17 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for PUK, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
L
Insurance industry group
15.17
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- L
- 15.17
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
PUK
Insurance industry group
8.72
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- PUK
- 8.72
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Loews (L) at 1.18 and Prudential (PUK) at 2.12 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
L
Insurance industry group
1.18
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- L
- 1.18
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
PUK
Insurance industry group
2.12
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- PUK
- 2.12
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Loews (L) at 1.22 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Prudential (PUK) at 6.29 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.
L
Insurance industry group
1.22
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- L
- 1.22
- Min
- 0.30
PUK
Insurance industry group
6.29
- PUK
- 6.29
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | L | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 15.17 | 8.72 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.18 | 2.12 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.22 | 6.29 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |