Analyzing Beazley (OTCMKTS:BZLYF) and Assurant (NYSE:AIZ)

Beazley (OTCMKTS:BZLYF) and Assurant (NYSE:AIZ) are both financial services companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Beazley and Assurant’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Beazley	N/A	N/A	N/A
Assurant	5.77%	18.36%	2.51%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Beazley and Assurant’s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Beazley	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Assurant	$11.13 billion	0.81	$642.50 million	$11.98	14.51

Assurant has higher revenue and earnings than Beazley.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Beazley and Assurant, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Beazley	0	0	0	0	N/A
Assurant	0	1	3	0	2.75

Beazley presently has a consensus price target of $642.33, suggesting a potential upside of 7,670.04%. Assurant has a consensus price target of $192.20, suggesting a potential upside of 10.57%. Given Beazley’s higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Beazley is more favorable than Assurant.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

92.7% of Assurant shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.5% of Assurant shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Assurant beats Beazley on 7 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Beazley

Beazley plc provides risk insurance and reinsurance solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, and internationally. It operates through Cyber Risks, Digital, MAP Risks, Property Risks, and Specialty Risks segments. The Cyber Risk segment underwrites cyber and technology risks. The Digital segment underwrites various marine, contingency, and SME liability risks through digital channels, such as e-trading platforms and broker portals. The MAP Risks segment underwrites marine, portfolio underwriting and political, and contingency business. The Property Risks segment underwrites first party property risks and reinsurance business. The Specialty Risks segment underwrites liability classes, including employment practices risks and directors and officers, as well as healthcare, lawyers, and international financial institutions. It also underwrites life, health, and personal accident; and jewelry, fine art, and specie products risk insurance. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

About Assurant

Assurant, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides business services that supports, protects, and connects consumer purchases in North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through two segments: Global Lifestyle and Global Housing. The Global Lifestyle segment offers mobile device solutions, and extended service contracts and related services for consumer electronics and appliances, and credit and other insurance products; and vehicle protection, commercial equipment, and other related services. The Global Housing segment provides lender-placed homeowners, manufactured housing, and flood insurance; renters insurance and related products; and voluntary manufactured housing, and condominium and homeowners insurance products. The company was formerly known as Fortis, Inc. and changed its name to Assurant, Inc. in February 2004. Assurant, Inc. was founded in 1892 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.