The Hartford Insurance Group (NYSE:HIG – Get Free Report) and Bowhead Specialty (NYSE:BOW – Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, profitability and analyst recommendations.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares The Hartford Insurance Group and Bowhead Specialty”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 Insurance Group | $28.37 billion | 1.19 | $3.84 billion | $15.47 | 8.03 |
| Bowhead Specialty | $551.59 million | 2.02 | $53.79 million | $1.85 | 18.28 |
Profitability
This table compares The Hartford Insurance Group and Bowhead Specialty’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| The Hartford Insurance Group | 15.00% | 21.66% | 4.68% |
| Bowhead Specialty | 10.11% | 14.05% | 2.64% |
Institutional & Insider Ownership
93.4% of The Hartford Insurance Group shares are held by institutional investors. 1.3% of The Hartford Insurance Group shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 4.2% of Bowhead Specialty shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Volatility & Risk
The Hartford Insurance Group has a beta of 0.45, meaning that its stock price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Bowhead Specialty has a beta of -0.08, meaning that its stock price is 108% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for The Hartford Insurance Group and Bowhead Specialty, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| The Hartford Insurance Group | 0 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 2.35 |
| Bowhead Specialty | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2.10 |
The Hartford Insurance Group presently has a consensus price target of $149.07, suggesting a potential upside of 20.06%. Bowhead Specialty has a consensus price target of $33.50, suggesting a potential downside of 0.96%. Given The Hartford Insurance Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe The Hartford Insurance Group is more favorable than Bowhead Specialty.
Summary
The Hartford Insurance Group beats Bowhead Specialty on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About The Hartford Insurance 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 Bowhead Specialty
Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. provides specialty property and casualty insurance products in the United States. It underwrites casualty insurance solutions for risks in the construction, distribution, heavy manufacturing, real estate, and hospitality segments; professional liability insurance solutions for financial institutions, private and public directors and officers liability insurance, errors and omissions liability insurance, and cyber segments; and healthcare solutions for hospitals, senior care providers, managed care organizations, miscellaneous medical facilities, and healthcare management liability segments. The company distributes its products through distribution partners in wholesale and retail markets. Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. was formerly known as Bowhead Holdings Inc. and changed its name to Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. in March 2024. The company was founded in 2020 and is based in New York, New York. Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Bowhead Insurance Holdings LP.
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