Manulife Financial Corp

Prudential Financial (PRU) is covered by 17 analysts. Four of these analysts rated the stock as a “strong buy,” and two analysts gave a “buy” rating on the stock.

Prudential Financial’s (PRU) balance sheet stood at $757 billion in 2015. It was a marginal contraction from $767 billion in the previous year.

US life insurance players entered 2016 with moderate momentum, improved capital and liquidity, and an expectation of higher investment income.

The gross premiums written in Life and Health insurance increased by 9.7% when compared with the first quarter of the previous year, reaching 18.82 billion euros.

The company’s valuation has improved in line with the sector, which was trading at 9x on a forward-earning basis in 2014.

Allianz Group offer property casualty insurance, life and health insurance, and asset management products and services in over 70 countries. The company’s major operations are in Europe.

Among its peers, Prudential remains in the middle of the valuation range, with companies like MetLife and Lincoln Financial showing a lower multiple.

Prudential’s International Insurance business saw improved profitability after the acquisition of AIG Star and AIG Edison in 2011.

Prudential’s third-party distribution channels provide access to a larger customer base, supplementing its captive distribution channels.

Since the Japanese market is mature and characterized by competitive pricing, Prudential competes in this market through customer service and distribution.

Setting up business operations in fast-growing emerging markets remains a key trend among insurers who primarily operate in mature markets.

Over the last four years, MetLife’s price ranged between 0.5x–1.0x its book value per share. Its current price-to-book value multiple is ~0.8x.

After several years of flat dividends (74 cents per share on an annual basis), MetLife increased its payout in 2Q13, as well as in the same quarter of 2014.

Contributing ~20% to the group’s operating earnings, the Asia business segment remains a key profit driver of MetLife.

In 2013, Lockheed Martin clocked revenues of $45.4 billion. Of its revenues, 82% come from the U.S. government, around 17% from international customers, and 1% from other U.S. commercial customers.