Globe Life (GL) vs Lincoln National (LNC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Globe Life (GL) has outperformed Lincoln National (LNC) over the past year, gaining 20.5% versus a gain of 2.3%. Over five years, GL leads with a +67.7% price change compared with -43.3% for LNC. Globe Life is the larger company by market cap ($12.56 billion vs $7.85 billion), about 1.6 times the size.
On valuation, Lincoln National trades at a lower forward P/E (4.7x vs 9.9x for Globe Life). Lincoln National offers the higher dividend yield (4.39% vs 0.73%). Globe Life converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.4% versus 6.5%.
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 | GL | LNC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $163.41 | $41.00 |
| Market cap | $12.56B | $7.85B |
| 1-day change | -1.73% | -2.57% |
| YTD return | +16.84% | -7.93% |
| 1-year return | +20.47% | +2.35% |
| 5-year return | +67.67% | -43.29% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.03 | 3.50 |
| Forward P/E | 9.90 | 4.68 |
| EPS (TTM) | $14.81 | $11.73 |
| Dividend yield | 0.73% | 4.39% |
| Annual dividend | $1.20 | $1.80 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.99B | $18.21B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +3.74% | -1.25% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.16B | $1.18B |
| Net margin | 19.37% | 6.46% |
| 52-week high | $191.55 | $47.67 |
| 52-week low | $127.85 | $32.18 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.69% | -13.99% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.05% | +17.27% |
| Average volume | 534.49K | 2.02M |
| Shares outstanding | 76.85M | 191.45M |
| Employees | 3,695 | 9,423 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Life Insurance | Life Insurance |
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
- GL has outperformed LNC by 18.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Globe Life trades at a higher earnings multiple (11.0x vs 3.5x trailing P/E).
- Lincoln National offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.39% vs 0.73%).
- Globe Life is more profitable, keeping 19.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 6.5 cents for Lincoln National.
About Globe Life
GL stock →Globe Life Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various life and supplemental health insurance products to lower middle- and middle-income families in the United States. It operates in three segments: Life Insurance, Supplemental Health Insurance, and Investments.
Finance · Life Insurance · 3,695 employees
About Lincoln National
LNC stock →Lincoln National Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates multiple insurance and retirement businesses in the United States. It operates through four segments: Life Insurance, Annuities, Group Protection, and Retirement Plan Services.
Finance · Life Insurance · 9,423 employees
GL vs LNC FAQ
Which is bigger, Globe Life or Lincoln National?
Globe Life (GL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $12.56B compared with $7.85B for Lincoln National (LNC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, GL or LNC?
GL returned +20.47% over the past 12 months, compared with +2.35% for LNC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, GL or LNC?
LNC has the lower trailing P/E at 3.5, versus 11.0 for GL. 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, Globe Life or Lincoln National?
Lincoln National has the higher yield at 4.39%, compared with 0.73% for Globe Life.
Are Globe Life and Lincoln National in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Life Insurance industry within the Finance sector.