Mercury General (MCY) vs Progressive (PGR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Mercury General (MCY) has outperformed Progressive (PGR) over the past year, gaining 24.0% versus a loss of 10.2%. Over five years, PGR leads with a +138.3% price change compared with +85.8% for MCY. On valuation, Mercury General trades at a lower forward P/E (8.4x vs 13.3x for Progressive).
Mercury General offers the higher dividend yield (1.24% vs 0.18%). Progressive converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 12.9% versus 9.0%.
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 | MCY | PGR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $102.75 | $217.43 |
| Market cap | — | $126.20B |
| 1-day change | +0.45% | -0.59% |
| YTD return | +9.24% | -4.52% |
| 1-year return | +24.03% | -10.21% |
| 5-year return | +85.80% | +138.28% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 6.07 | 10.90 |
| Forward P/E | 8.39 | 13.29 |
| EPS (TTM) | $16.92 | $19.94 |
| Dividend yield | 1.24% | 0.18% |
| Annual dividend | $1.27 | $0.40 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.99B | $87.67B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.44% | +16.32% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $541.09M | $11.31B |
| Gross margin | 99.75% | — |
| Net margin | 9.03% | 12.90% |
| 52-week high | $113.06 | $241.01 |
| 52-week low | $74.29 | $189.20 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.12% | -9.78% |
| Analyst consensus | none | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.79% | +7.07% |
| Average volume | 294.52K | 2.68M |
| Shares outstanding | — | 580.40M |
| Employees | 4,380 | 70,053 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Property-Casualty Insurers | Property-Casualty 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
- MCY has outperformed PGR by 34.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Progressive trades at a higher earnings multiple (10.9x vs 6.1x trailing P/E).
- Mercury General offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.24% vs 0.18%).
- Progressive grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+16.32% vs +9.44%).
About Mercury General
MCY stock →Mercury General Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in writing personal automobile insurance in the United States. It also writes homeowners, commercial automobile, commercial property, mechanical protection, and umbrella insurance products.
Finance · Property-Casualty Insurers · 4,380 employees
About Progressive
PGR stock →The Progressive Corporation operates as an insurance company in the United States. It writes insurance for personal autos and special lines products, including motorcycles, RVs, and watercraft; and personal residential property insurance for homeowners and renters.
Finance · Property-Casualty Insurers · 70,053 employees
MCY vs PGR FAQ
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MCY or PGR?
MCY returned +24.03% over the past 12 months, compared with -10.21% for PGR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MCY or PGR?
MCY has the lower trailing P/E at 6.1, versus 10.9 for PGR. 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, Mercury General or Progressive?
Mercury General has the higher yield at 1.24%, compared with 0.18% for Progressive.
Are Mercury General and Progressive in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Property-Casualty Insurers industry within the Finance sector.