Mercury General (MCY) vs Palomar (PLMR)
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 Palomar (PLMR) over the past year, gaining 24.0% versus a gain of 9.2%. Over five years, MCY leads with a +85.8% price change compared with +60.0% for PLMR. On valuation, Mercury General trades at a lower forward P/E (8.4x vs 11.5x for Palomar).
Mercury General pays a dividend yielding 1.24%, while Palomar does not currently pay one. Palomar converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 22.5% 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 | PLMR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $102.75 | $130.76 |
| Market cap | — | $3.47B |
| 1-day change | +0.45% | -0.52% |
| YTD return | +9.24% | -2.97% |
| 1-year return | +24.03% | +9.20% |
| 5-year return | +85.80% | +59.99% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 6.07 | 17.60 |
| Forward P/E | 8.39 | 11.52 |
| EPS (TTM) | $16.92 | $7.43 |
| Dividend yield | 1.24% | 1.38% |
| Annual dividend | $1.27 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.99B | $875.97M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.44% | +58.16% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $541.09M | $197.07M |
| Gross margin | 99.75% | — |
| Net margin | 9.03% | 22.50% |
| 52-week high | $113.06 | $147.62 |
| 52-week low | $74.29 | $100.81 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.12% | -11.42% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.79% | +22.49% |
| Average volume | 295.17K | 240.90K |
| Shares outstanding | — | 26.50M |
| Employees | 4,380 | 439 |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Insurance - Property & Casualty | Insurance - Property & Casualty |
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 PLMR by 14.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Palomar trades at a higher earnings multiple (17.6x vs 6.1x trailing P/E).
- Palomar is more profitable, keeping 22.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 9.0 cents for Mercury General.
- Palomar grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+58.16% 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.
Financial Services · Insurance - Property & Casualty · 4,380 employees
About Palomar
PLMR stock →Palomar Holdings, Inc., a specialty insurance company, provides property and casualty insurance to individuals and businesses in the United States. The company offers personal and commercial specialty insurance products, including residential and commercial earthquake; fronting; and inland marine and other property products, such as inland marine, Hawaii hurricane, excess national property, residential flood, and other property products, as well as assumed reinsurance and crop insurance products.
Financial Services · Insurance - Property & Casualty · 439 employees
MCY vs PLMR FAQ
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MCY or PLMR?
MCY returned +24.03% over the past 12 months, compared with +9.20% for PLMR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MCY or PLMR?
MCY has the lower trailing P/E at 6.1, versus 17.6 for PLMR. 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 Palomar?
Palomar has the higher yield at 1.38%, compared with 1.24% for Mercury General.
Are Mercury General and Palomar in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Insurance - Property & Casualty industry within the Financial Services sector.