The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG – Get Free Report) and Maiden (NASDAQ:MHLD – Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, risk and profitability.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of recent ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group and Maiden, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| The Hartford Financial Services Group | 0 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 2.56 |
| Maiden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
The Hartford Financial Services Group presently has a consensus target price of $122.94, indicating a potential upside of 10.28%. Given The Hartford Financial Services Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe The Hartford Financial Services Group is more favorable than Maiden.
Risk and Volatility
Insider & Institutional Ownership
93.4% of The Hartford Financial Services Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 21.8% of Maiden shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.6% of The Hartford Financial Services Group shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 8.2% of Maiden shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Profitability
This table compares The Hartford Financial Services Group and Maiden’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| The Hartford Financial Services Group | 11.72% | 19.55% | 3.88% |
| Maiden | -71.58% | -16.55% | -2.70% |
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares The Hartford Financial Services Group and Maiden”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| The Hartford Financial Services Group | $26.54 billion | 1.22 | $3.11 billion | $10.35 | 10.77 |
| Maiden | $89.23 million | 1.07 | -$38.57 million | ($0.65) | -1.48 |
The Hartford Financial Services Group has higher revenue and earnings than Maiden. Maiden is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than The Hartford Financial Services Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary
The Hartford Financial Services Group beats Maiden on 13 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About The Hartford Financial Services Group
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, accident, health, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers. The company's Personal Lines segment provides automobile, homeowners, and personal umbrella coverages through direct-to-consumer channels and independent agents. Its Property & Casualty Other Operations segment offers coverage for asbestos and environmental exposures. The company's Group Benefits segment provides group life, disability, and other group coverages to members of employer groups, associations, and affinity groups through direct insurance policies; reinsurance to other insurance companies; employer paid and voluntary product coverages; disability underwriting, administration, and claims processing to self-funded employer plans; and leave management solution. This segment also distributes its group insurance products and services through brokers, consultants, third-party administrators, trade associations, and private exchanges. Its Hartford Funds segment offers managed mutual funds across various asset classes; and exchange-traded funds through broker-dealer organizations, independent financial advisers, defined contribution plans, financial consultants, bank trust groups, and registered investment advisers, as well as investment management, distribution, and administrative services, such as product design, implementation, and oversight. The company was founded in 1810 and is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut.
About Maiden
Maiden Holdings, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides property and casualty insurance and reinsurance solutions to regional and specialty insurers in Europe, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diversified Reinsurance and AmTrust Reinsurance. The company writes treaties on a quota share basis and excess of loss basis. It also offers auto and credit life insurance products through its insurer partners to retail clients; and underwrites risks on a retroactive basis, which provides a range of legacy services to small insurance entities. Maiden Holdings, Ltd. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda.
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