LNC vs. MET: Lincoln National vs. MetLife Stock Comparison
This page compares Lincoln National (LNC) with MetLife (MET) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | LNC | MET |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 18.10% | 15.85% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | LNC | MET |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Volatility | 33.46% | 23.21% |
| Beta | 1.17 | 0.77 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.93M | 3.49M |
Company Profile
Lincoln National (LNC) and MetLife (MET) 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 | LNC | MET |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Lincoln National Corporation | MetLife Inc. |
| 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 | 7.13 billion USD | 57.16 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | April 5, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Lincoln National (LNC) at 4.08 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while MetLife (MET) at 17.18 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
LNC
Insurance industry group
4.08
- Max
- 25.24
- Q3
- 16.46
- Median
- 12.28
- Q1
- 8.66
- LNC
- 4.08
- Min
- 3.44
MET
Insurance industry group
17.18
- Max
- 25.24
- MET
- 17.18
- Q3
- 16.46
- Median
- 12.28
- Q1
- 8.66
- Min
- 3.44
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Both Lincoln National (LNC) at 0.38 and MetLife (MET) at 0.74 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
LNC
Insurance industry group
0.38
- Max
- 3.96
- Q3
- 2.13
- Median
- 1.17
- Q1
- 0.82
- LNC
- 0.38
- Min
- 0.13
MET
Insurance industry group
0.74
- Max
- 3.96
- Q3
- 2.13
- Median
- 1.17
- Q1
- 0.82
- MET
- 0.74
- Min
- 0.13
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Lincoln National (LNC) at 0.77 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while MetLife (MET) at 2.10 is valued near its industry’s middle — LNC is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
LNC
Insurance industry group
0.77
- Max
- 3.70
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.61
- Q1
- 1.12
- LNC
- 0.77
- Min
- -0.14
MET
Insurance industry group
2.10
- Max
- 3.70
- Q3
- 2.21
- MET
- 2.10
- Median
- 1.61
- Q1
- 1.12
- Min
- -0.14
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | LNC | MET |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 4.08 | 17.18 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.38 | 0.74 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 0.77 | 2.10 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | -- | -- |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Both Lincoln National (LNC) at 18.77% and MetLife (MET) at 13.01% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
LNC
Insurance industry group
18.77%
- Max
- 38.88%
- Q3
- 22.34%
- LNC
- 18.77%
- Median
- 14.13%
- Q1
- 9.51%
- Min
- -6.23%
MET
Insurance industry group
13.01%
- Max
- 38.88%
- Q3
- 22.34%
- Median
- 14.13%
- MET
- 13.01%
- Q1
- 9.51%
- Min
- -6.23%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Lincoln National (LNC) at 9.17% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while MetLife (MET) at 4.67% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
LNC
Insurance industry group
9.17%
- Max
- 38.86%
- Q3
- 19.36%
- Median
- 11.07%
- LNC
- 9.17%
- Q1
- 5.09%
- Min
- -2.80%
MET
Insurance industry group
4.67%
- Max
- 38.86%
- Q3
- 19.36%
- Median
- 11.07%
- Q1
- 5.09%
- MET
- 4.67%
- Min
- -2.80%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Lincoln National (LNC) in Insurance and MetLife (MET) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | LNC | MET |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 18.77% | 13.01% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 0.28% | 0.45% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 9.17% | 4.67% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | LNC | MET |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 1.96% | 7.88% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | -1.04% | 3.92% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | LNC | MET |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | -68.33% | -21.04% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | -9.17% | 18.50% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Lincoln National (LNC) in Insurance and MetLife (MET) 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-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Lincoln National (LNC) in Insurance and MetLife (MET) 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 at a Glance
| Metric | LNC | MET |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Lincoln National (LNC) at 4.83% and MetLife (MET) at 2.67% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
LNC
Insurance industry group
4.83%
- Max
- 5.43%
- LNC
- 4.83%
- Q3
- 2.64%
- Median
- 1.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MET
Insurance industry group
2.67%
- Max
- 5.43%
- MET
- 2.67%
- Q3
- 2.64%
- Median
- 1.35%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Lincoln National (LNC) at 19.69% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while MetLife (MET) at 43.91% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
LNC
Insurance industry group
19.69%
- Max
- 86.52%
- Q3
- 35.43%
- LNC
- 19.69%
- Median
- 14.92%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MET
Insurance industry group
43.91%
- Max
- 86.52%
- MET
- 43.91%
- Q3
- 35.43%
- Median
- 14.92%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | LNC | MET |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.83% | 2.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 19.69% | 43.91% |