CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO) AI Stock Analysis
CNO AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchCNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO) provides health insurance, annuities, and individual life insurance products primarily tailored to senior and middle-income markets. For the trailing twelve months, the company generated $4.65B in revenue with an operating margin of 16.7%. The stock has appreciated 44.3% over the past year, supported by $675.7M in operating cash flow reported for FY2025.
- Market cap
- $5.06B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $4.65B
- P/E
- 18.9x fwd 9.7x
- 1Y return
- 44.3% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $54.75 0.1% vs last close
Bull case
- Quarterly earnings rose 46.2% year-over-year in the period ended June 30, 2026, driven by an 11.6% increase in revenue.
- Share buybacks of $331.4M in FY2025 contributed to a 24.1% reduction in total share count over 5 years.
- The balance sheet maintains $9.52B in cash and short-term investments, supporting a net cash position of $4.96B as of June 30, 2026.
Bear case
- Annual net income declined from $404.0M in FY2024 to $229.3M in FY2025, lowering net margin to 5.1%.
- Consensus revenue for FY2026 is projected at $4.07B, down from $4.49B recorded in FY2025.
- Trailing operating margin of 16.7% trails the US-listed Financial Services peer median of 37.7%.
What CNO Financial does
CNO Financial Group, Inc. develops, markets, and administers health insurance, annuities, and individual life insurance policies across the United States. Its product portfolio includes Medicare supplement plans, long-term care insurance, and diverse life insurance policies tailored to retirees and older individuals. CNO distributes its offerings through phone, online, mail, and face-to-face interactions under brands including Bankers Life, Washington National, and Colonial Penn. The company also emphasizes worksite and group sales, partnering with businesses, associations, and membership groups to provide coverage directly to employees and members.
Growth and profitability
CNO's revenue expanded at a 5-year CAGR of 3.3% through FY2025, rising from $4.12B in FY2021 to $4.49B in FY2025. Annual net income was $229.3M in FY2025, down from $404.0M in FY2024, resulting in a net margin of 5.1% and diluted EPS of $4.42. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue increased 11.6% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings grew 46.2% year-over-year. Operating margin for the trailing twelve months stood at 16.7%, with trailing twelve months EPS reaching $2.89.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, CNO held $9.52B in cash and short-term investments alongside total debt of $4.55B, creating a net cash position of $4.96B against $2.59B in shareholders' equity. The current ratio stood at 0.07, and debt-to-equity was 1.76. In FY2025, operating cash flow and free cash flow both reached $675.7M. Capital allocation in FY2025 included $331.4M allocated to share buybacks and $66.2M paid in dividends, contributing to a 24.1% reduction in share count over 5 years.
Valuation and performance
CNO trades at a trailing P/E of 18.9x, which stands above the 12.1x median of its US-listed Financial Services peers, though its forward P/E of 9.7x is lower than the peer median of 10.8x. Its price-to-sales multiple is 1.1x compared to the peer median of 3.2x. Over the past year, CNO shares have delivered a 44.3% return compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500 benchmark (SPY). Over a 5-year span, the stock has gained 136.1% versus 83.0% for the S&P 500.
CNO dividend
CNO pays an annual forward dividend of $0.72 per share, translating to a dividend yield of 1.32% supported by a payout ratio of 15.9%. Dividends are distributed on a quarterly frequency and have been paid for 15 consecutive years. Over the last 5 years, the dividend has grown at an annualized rate of 7.3%. The most recent ex-dividend date was September 10, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 5 Hold ratings, with 0 Buy and 0 Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $54.75, implying 0.1% upside from the last close of $54.71. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $4.74 on $4.07B in revenue. CNO has beaten EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings report is scheduled for November 2, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- CNO's current ratio of 0.07 reflects a low level of short-term liquid assets relative to short-term obligations.
- Revenue growth has been uneven, dropping 13.2% in FY2022 and rising just 0.9% in FY2025.
- The company's debt-to-equity ratio was 1.76 as of June 30, 2026, reflecting total debt of $4.55B relative to $2.59B in equity.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this CNO AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: CNO income statement, CNO balance sheet, CNO key metrics, CNO analyst forecast, CNO chart. See the CNO stock overview for the latest quote and news.
CNO AI stock analysis FAQ
What dividend does CNO Financial Group pay?
CNO pays an annual forward dividend of $0.72 per share, representing a 1.32% yield. It maintains a 15.9% payout ratio and has paid dividends for 15 consecutive years.
What is CNO's current valuation multiple?
CNO trades at a trailing P/E of 18.9x and a forward P/E of 9.7x. Its price-to-sales ratio is 1.1x, and its enterprise value stands at $8.26B.
How did CNO perform in its most recent quarter?
In the quarter ended June 30, 2026, CNO generated 11.6% year-over-year revenue growth and a 46.2% year-over-year increase in earnings.
When is CNO's next earnings release?
CNO is scheduled to report earnings on November 2, 2026. Analysts expect full-year EPS of $4.74 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.