CNO
Financial ServicesCNO Financial Group, Inc. · Insurance - Life · $4B
What is CNO Financial Group, Inc.?
CNO Financial Group focuses on health insurance, life insurance, and annuity products tailored to senior and middle-income Americans. Operating through well-known brands, the company reaches customers through agents, direct marketing, and worksite channels.
CNO generates revenue by underwriting and administering insurance and annuity products sold primarily to retirees and older working Americans. Its distribution spans phone, online, mail, face-to-face agents, and worksite group sales. The company markets under the Bankers Life, Washington National, and Colonial Penn brand names, covering Medicare supplement plans, supplemental health policies, long-term care coverage, fixed annuities, and a range of life insurance products.
CNO Financial Group was established in 2003 and is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana.
- Medicare supplement and supplemental health insurance policies
- Long-term care insurance for retirees and older self-employed individuals
- Fixed index and fixed interest annuities
- Universal life, whole life, and term life insurance products
- Worksite and group insurance plans for businesses and associations
Is CNO a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates CNO as Below Average overall, reflecting a mixed picture across its five quality pillars.
The most constructive signals come from Valuation, which is rated Attractive, suggesting the market may not be fully pricing in the company's current fundamentals. Both Quality and Risk land at Neutral, indicating the business is neither notably strong nor particularly fragile on those dimensions.
Moat and Growth are both rated Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation and subdued expansion prospects within the senior insurance market.
Pro members can view the complete pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics to form a more complete picture of CNO's investment profile. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does CNO pay dividends?
Yes — CNO Financial Group, Inc. pays a dividend.
CNO Financial Group pays a regular dividend, which aligns with its focus on a mature, income-oriented customer base and a business model built around steady insurance premiums and annuity flows. For income-focused investors, the dividend adds a return component beyond price appreciation. Investors should review CNO's investor relations page for the current yield and payment schedule.
When does CNO report earnings?
CNO Financial Group reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed financial services companies.
Quarterly results typically reflect trends in policy sales, claims experience, and investment income from the company's insurance float. Given the Neutral Quality and Risk ratings, results have been broadly stable without standout acceleration.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit CNO Financial Group's investor relations page directly.
CNO Price History
+82.8% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in CNO Financial Group, Inc.?
Based on CNO Financial Group, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
CNO Long-term Outlook
CNO's Growth pillar is rated Weak, suggesting the company is not expected to expand its top line at a pace that outpaces the broader financial services sector in the near term. The Attractive Valuation rating, however, indicates that current pricing may already reflect these modest growth expectations. The Neutral Risk rating provides some reassurance that the downside profile is not extreme, though the Weak Moat limits confidence in durable long-term outperformance.
Growth drivers
- Aging US population increasing demand for Medicare supplement and long-term care products
- Worksite and group channel expansion reaching new employer and association partnerships
- Fixed annuity demand supported by interest rate environment benefiting insurance float returns
Key risks
- Limited competitive moat in a crowded senior insurance market with low switching costs
- Claims volatility and long-term care reserve adequacy remain ongoing actuarial risks
- Regulatory changes to Medicare or insurance markets could pressure product economics
CNO vs Peers
CNO competes in the annuity and life insurance space alongside several focused insurers targeting similar demographic segments.
F&G concentrates heavily on fixed indexed annuities distributed through independent agents, with a narrower product focus than CNO's broader insurance portfolio.
Brighthouse targets a similar annuity and life insurance market but skews toward higher-asset customers and variable annuity products, contrasting with CNO's middle-income positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CNO Financial Group do?
CNO Financial Group develops and administers health insurance, life insurance, and annuity products aimed at senior and middle-income Americans. It sells through agents, direct marketing, and worksite channels under the Bankers Life, Washington National, and Colonial Penn brands.
Does CNO pay dividends?
Yes, CNO Financial Group pays a regular dividend. The dividend reflects the company's mature, cash-generative insurance business model. Investors should check CNO's investor relations page for the current dividend rate and payment schedule.
When does CNO report earnings?
CNO reports earnings quarterly, in line with standard US-listed company practice. For the exact dates of upcoming earnings releases, refer to CNO Financial Group's investor relations page or financial calendar.
Is CNO a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates CNO as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is Attractive, but both Moat and Growth are rated Weak. Investors weighing CNO should consider the full pillar breakdown available to Pro members before drawing conclusions.
Is CNO overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for CNO is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock is not considered expensive relative to its fundamentals at current levels. However, valuation alone does not determine overall quality — the complete picture includes Growth and Moat considerations.
How does CNO compare to its competitors?
CNO's middle-income, senior-focused positioning distinguishes it from peers like Brighthouse Financial, which targets higher-asset customers, and F&G Annuities, which concentrates on fixed indexed annuities. CNO's multi-brand, multi-channel approach covers a broader product range than most direct peers.
What is CNO's market cap bracket?
CNO Financial Group is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a range that typically offers more liquidity than small-cap peers while remaining smaller than the large insurers that dominate the sector.
Who founded CNO Financial Group?
CNO Financial Group in its current form was established in 2003. The company's heritage traces back through predecessor entities in the US insurance industry. Detailed founding history is publicly available through CNO's corporate website and investor relations materials.
Is CNO a long-term quality stock?
As a long-term quality indicator, CNO's UQS profile shows Neutral Quality and Risk but Weak Moat and Growth. The Attractive Valuation may offer a margin of safety, but the absence of a strong competitive moat limits conviction in sustained long-term outperformance.
What is the main competitive advantage of CNO Financial Group?
CNO's primary advantage lies in its established multi-brand distribution network — Bankers Life, Washington National, and Colonial Penn — which gives it broad reach across the senior and middle-income insurance market. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak relative to sector peers.
What sector does CNO belong to?
CNO Financial Group operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically within the insurance industry. It focuses on life, health, and annuity products rather than banking or asset management, making it a pure-play insurance operator.
Is CNO a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar ratings, CNO leans toward the value side of the spectrum. The Growth pillar is rated Weak, while Valuation is rated Attractive — a combination more consistent with a value-oriented profile than a high-growth investment thesis.
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Pro Analysis
CNO — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2026 | 44.1 | 46.7 | 26.0 | 27.3 | 43.2 | 93.1 | +0.1 |
| May 12, 2026 | 44.0 | 46.7 | 26.0 | 27.3 | 43.2 | 92.9 | 0.0 |
| May 11, 2026 | 44.0 | 46.7 | 26.0 | 27.3 | 43.2 | 92.8 | +0.3 |
| May 10, 2026 | 43.7 | 46.7 | 26.0 | 27.3 | 43.2 | 90.4 | -0.7 |
| May 1, 2026 | 44.4 | 44.6 | 26.0 | 27.3 | 46.7 | 95.5 | -0.1 |
| Apr 25, 2026 | 44.5 | 44.6 | 26.0 | 27.3 | 46.7 | 95.7 | -0.1 |
| Apr 24, 2026 | 44.6 | 44.6 | 26.0 | 27.3 | 46.7 | 96.7 | 0.0 |
| Apr 22, 2026 | 44.6 | 44.6 | 26.0 | 27.3 | 46.7 | 96.6 | 0.0 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 44.6 | 44.6 | 26.0 | 27.3 | 46.7 | 96.7 | -0.5 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 45.1 | 44.6 | 26.0 | 27.3 | 46.7 | 100.0 | — |
CNO — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 46.7/100 (25%)CNO Financial Group, Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 27.3/100 (20%)CNO Financial Group, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 43.2/100 (15%)CNO Financial Group, Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 92.5/100 (15%)CNO Financial Group, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 26/100 (25%)CNO Financial Group, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for CNO.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the CNO UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for CNO Financial Group, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses CNO Financial Group, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether CNO Financial Group, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.