Analyzing Baldwin Insurance Group (NASDAQ:BWIN) & Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC)

Baldwin Insurance Group (NASDAQ:BWIN) and Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, earnings and risk.

Risk and Volatility

Baldwin Insurance Group has a beta of 1.33, indicating that its stock price is 33% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Manulife Financial has a beta of 0.83, indicating that its stock price is 17% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

77.5% of Baldwin Insurance Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 52.6% of Manulife Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. 18.5% of Baldwin Insurance Group shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.0% of Manulife Financial shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Baldwin Insurance Group and Manulife Financial”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Baldwin Insurance Group	$1.39 billion	1.41	-$24.52 million	($0.43)	-38.37
Manulife Financial	$43.63 billion	1.41	$4.11 billion	$2.22	16.55

Manulife Financial has higher revenue and earnings than Baldwin Insurance Group. Baldwin Insurance Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Manulife Financial, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Baldwin Insurance Group and Manulife Financial, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Baldwin Insurance Group	2	4	2	0	2.00
Manulife Financial	0	0	5	1	3.17

Baldwin Insurance Group presently has a consensus target price of $33.83, indicating a potential upside of 105.05%. Manulife Financial has a consensus target price of $51.50, indicating a potential upside of 40.17%. Given Baldwin Insurance Group’s higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Baldwin Insurance Group is more favorable than Manulife Financial.

Profitability

This table compares Baldwin Insurance Group and Manulife Financial’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Baldwin Insurance Group	-1.89%	12.65%	3.67%
Manulife Financial	9.18%	16.43%	0.75%

Summary

Manulife Financial beats Baldwin Insurance Group on 10 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Baldwin Insurance Group

The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. operates as an independent insurance distribution firm that delivers insurance and risk management solutions in the United States. It operates through three segments: Insurance Advisory Solutions; Underwriting, Capacity & Technology Solutions; and Mainstreet Insurance Solutions. The Insurance Advisory Solutions segment provides commercial risk management, employee benefits, and private risk management solutions for businesses and high-net-worth individuals, as well as their families. The Underwriting, Capacity & Technology Solutions segment offers Future platform, that manufactures technology-enabled insurance products suite comprises personal, commercial, and specialty lines; specialty wholesale broker business that delivers professionals, individuals, and niche industry businesses; and reinsurance brokerage services. The Mainstreet Insurance Solutions segment provides personal insurance, commercial insurance, and life and health solutions to individuals and businesses in communities. The company was formerly known as BRP Group, Inc. and changed its name to The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. in May 2024. The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

About Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks. The Insurance and Annuity Products segment provides deposit and credit products; and individual life insurance, individual and group long-term care insurance, and guaranteed and partially guaranteed annuity products through multiple distribution channels, including insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners, and direct marketing. The Corporate and Other segment is involved in the property and casualty reinsurance businesses; and run-off reinsurance operations, including variable annuities, and accident and health. The company also manages timberland and agricultural portfolios; and engages in insurance agency, investment counseling and dealer, portfolio and mutual fund management, property and casualty insurance, and mutual fund dealer businesses. In addition, it provides integrated banking products and services. The company was incorporated in 1887 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.