AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF) & Allianz (OTCMKTS:ALIZY) Critical Contrast

Allianz (OTCMKTS:ALIZY – Get Free Report) and AMERISAFE (NASDAQ:AMSF – Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, risk and analyst recommendations.

Dividends

Allianz pays an annual dividend of $1.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. AMERISAFE pays an annual dividend of $1.64 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.3%. Allianz pays out 39.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. AMERISAFE pays out 66.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. AMERISAFE has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years. AMERISAFE is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Profitability

This table compares Allianz and AMERISAFE’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Allianz and AMERISAFE, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

AMERISAFE has a consensus target price of $44.00, suggesting a potential upside of 69.23%. Given AMERISAFE’s higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe AMERISAFE is more favorable than Allianz.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Allianz and AMERISAFE”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Allianz has higher revenue and earnings than AMERISAFE. AMERISAFE is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Allianz, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

0.0% of Allianz shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 97.4% of AMERISAFE shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.9% of AMERISAFE shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility and Risk

Allianz has a beta of 0.65, indicating that its share price is 35% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, AMERISAFE has a beta of 0.23, indicating that its share price is 77% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Allianz beats AMERISAFE on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Allianz

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Allianz SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides property-casualty insurance, life/health insurance, and asset management products and services worldwide. The company’s Property-Casualty segment offers various insurance products, including motor liability and own damage, accident, general liability, fire and property, legal expense, credit, and travel to private and corporate customers. Its Life/Health segment provides a range of life and health insurance products on an individual and a group basis, such as annuities, endowment and term insurance, and unit-linked and investment-oriented products, as well as private and supplemental health, and long-term care insurance products. The company’s Asset Management segment offers institutional and retail asset management products and services to third-party investors comprising equity and fixed income funds, and multi-assets; and alternative investment products that include real estate, infrastructure debt/equity, real assets, liquid alternatives, and solutions. Its Corporate and Other segment provides banking services for retail clients, as well as digital investment services. Allianz SE was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

About AMERISAFE

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AMERISAFE, Inc., an insurance holding company, underwrites workers’ compensation insurance in the United States. The company provides benefits to injured employees for temporary or permanent disability, death, and medical and hospital expenses. It sells its products through retail and wholesale brokers and agents; and small and mid-sized employers engaged in hazardous industries, including construction, trucking, logging and lumber, agriculture, manufacturing, telecommunications, and maritime. AMERISAFE, Inc. was incorporated in 1985 and is based in DeRidder, Louisiana.