Enact (ACT) vs Ryan Specialty (RYAN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Enact (ACT) has outperformed Ryan Specialty (RYAN) over the past year, gaining 27.6% versus a loss of 35.4%. Over five years, ACT leads with a +112.5% price change compared with +1.1% for RYAN. Ryan Specialty is the larger company by market cap ($9.64 billion vs $6.30 billion), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, Enact trades at a lower forward P/E (9.1x vs 15.5x for Ryan Specialty). Enact offers the higher dividend yield (1.90% vs 1.33%). Enact converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 54.6% versus 2.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ACT | RYAN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $45.82 | $37.60 |
| Market cap | $6.30B | $9.64B |
| 1-day change | -1.08% | -1.83% |
| YTD return | +15.59% | -27.17% |
| 1-year return | +27.60% | -35.41% |
| 5-year return | +112.52% | +1.13% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 9.67 | 53.71 |
| Forward P/E | 9.07 | 15.47 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.74 | $0.70 |
| Dividend yield | 1.90% | 1.33% |
| Annual dividend | $0.87 | $0.50 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.24B | $3.05B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +2.83% | +21.28% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $674.24M | $63.40M |
| Operating margin | — | 16.18% |
| Net margin | 54.56% | 2.08% |
| 52-week high | $50.56 | $58.94 |
| 52-week low | $34.64 | $29.28 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.38% | -36.21% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +9.56% | +33.22% |
| Average volume | 396.18K | 1.94M |
| Shares outstanding | 137.48M | 122.08M |
| Employees | 419 | 6,171 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Specialty Insurers | Specialty Insurers |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- ACT has outperformed RYAN by 63.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Ryan Specialty trades at a higher earnings multiple (53.7x vs 9.7x trailing P/E).
- Enact is more profitable, keeping 54.6 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 2.1 cents for Ryan Specialty.
- Ryan Specialty grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+21.28% vs +2.83%).
About Enact
ACT stock →Enact Holdings, Inc. operates as a private mortgage insurance company in the United States.
Finance · Specialty Insurers · 419 employees
About Ryan Specialty
RYAN stock →Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. operates as a service provider of specialty products and solutions for insurance brokers, agents, and carriers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, India, Singapore, and internationally.
Finance · Specialty Insurers · 6,171 employees
ACT vs RYAN FAQ
Which is bigger, Enact or Ryan Specialty?
Ryan Specialty (RYAN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.64B compared with $6.30B for Enact (ACT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ACT or RYAN?
ACT returned +27.60% over the past 12 months, compared with -35.41% for RYAN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ACT or RYAN?
ACT has the lower trailing P/E at 9.7, versus 53.7 for RYAN. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Enact or Ryan Specialty?
Enact has the higher yield at 1.90%, compared with 1.33% for Ryan Specialty.
Are Enact and Ryan Specialty in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Specialty Insurers industry within the Finance sector.