MetLife (MET) vs Primerica (PRI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
MetLife (MET) has outperformed Primerica (PRI) over the past year, gaining 15.7% versus a gain of 0.2%. Over five years, PRI leads with a +64.0% price change compared with +46.1% for MET. MetLife is the larger company by market cap ($60.87 billion vs $8.41 billion), about 7.2 times the size.
On valuation, MetLife trades at a lower forward P/E (8.6x vs 10.1x for Primerica). MetLife offers the higher dividend yield (2.40% vs 1.70%). Primerica converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 22.8% versus 4.4%.
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 | MET | PRI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $95.78 | $273.41 |
| Market cap | $60.87B | $8.41B |
| 1-day change | -1.42% | -2.05% |
| YTD return | +21.33% | +5.83% |
| 1-year return | +15.75% | +0.17% |
| 5-year return | +46.07% | +64.02% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.35 | 10.98 |
| Forward P/E | 8.61 | 10.06 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.22 | $24.90 |
| Dividend yield | 2.40% | 1.70% |
| Annual dividend | $2.30 | $4.64 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $77.08B | $3.29B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.59% | +6.56% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $3.38B | $751.23M |
| Operating margin | 7.96% | — |
| Net margin | 4.38% | 22.82% |
| 52-week high | $100.93 | $327.28 |
| 52-week low | $67.33 | $230.09 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.10% | -16.46% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +12.11% | +18.69% |
| Average volume | 3.38M | 185.08K |
| Shares outstanding | 635.48M | 30.78M |
| Employees | 46,000 | 2,301 |
| 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
- MetLife is about 7.2 times larger than Primerica by market value ($60.87B vs $8.41B).
- MET has outperformed PRI by 15.6 percentage points over the past year.
- MetLife trades at a higher earnings multiple (18.3x vs 11.0x trailing P/E).
- Primerica is more profitable, keeping 22.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 4.4 cents for MetLife.
About MetLife
MET stock →MetLife, Inc., a financial services company, provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services worldwide. It operates in six segments: Group Benefits; Retirement and Income Solutions; Asia; Latin America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and MetLife Holdings.
Finance · Life Insurance · 46,000 employees
About Primerica
PRI stock →Primerica, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services to middle-income households in the United States and Canada. It operates in three segments: Term Life Insurance; Investment and Savings Products; and Corporate and Other Distributed Products.
Finance · Life Insurance · 2,301 employees
MET vs PRI FAQ
Which is bigger, MetLife or Primerica?
MetLife (MET) is larger, with a market capitalization of $60.87B compared with $8.41B for Primerica (PRI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MET or PRI?
MET returned +15.75% over the past 12 months, compared with +0.17% for PRI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MET or PRI?
PRI has the lower trailing P/E at 11.0, versus 18.3 for MET. 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, MetLife or Primerica?
MetLife has the higher yield at 2.40%, compared with 1.70% for Primerica.
Are MetLife and Primerica in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Life Insurance industry within the Finance sector.