CNO Financial Group Inc logo

CNO Financial Group Inc(CNO)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
5-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$52.99
10/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CNO

10/09/2026: CNO (5-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

CNO Financial Group is a focused insurance company serving the middle-income senior market with life, health, and annuity products. The company's strengths lie in its specialized agent-based distribution network and a disciplined capital management strategy. Its primary growth story revolves around scaling its worksite benefits channel and leveraging technology to improve agent productivity. Key risks include sensitivity to interest rates, potential medical cost inflation, and the ongoing management of legacy product blocks. The stock is best suited for value and dividend-focused investors, as CNO provides reliable income and trades at modest valuation multiples. Investors should monitor agent recruitment trends and successful integration of digital initiatives.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitCNO offers steady, moderate growth rather than rapid, disruptive expansion.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock tends to trade based on long-term fundamentals and interest rate cycles rather than short-term price momentum.
Value investorStrong fitCNO often trades at reasonable valuation multiples relative to earnings and book value.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company provides a reliable dividend yield supported by stable cash flows.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile established, the company is subject to market volatility related to interest rates and insurance industry risks.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumThe stock can be sensitive to interest rate fluctuations and general market sentiment toward financial institutions.
Valuation riskLowCNO generally maintains disciplined valuation metrics that limit extreme downside from overvaluation.
Competition risk (insurance carriers)Medium / highIntense competition from larger insurers impacts pricing power and market share retention.
Business qualityMediumCNO has a solid franchise in its niche but faces long-term challenges managing legacy product blocks.
Dividend incomeLowThe dividend is considered stable and well-covered by earnings.
Execution riskMediumSuccess relies heavily on the ability to effectively recruit and retain agents in a competitive labor market.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 39.08%
Avg. Invested days 59
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CNO receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid quantitative characteristics. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CNO has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong cash generation (FCF margin 15.1%) is partially offset by negative earnings growth (-43.2%), moderate revenue growth (+0.9%), soft profitability (net margin 5.1%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CNO's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (15.1% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is CNO's strongest growth driver at +7.6% FY2025 versus FY2024 (moderate, 3 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (-43.2%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 98.1% and approximately 97.3% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 2.40% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 14.47%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 7.28%
State Street Corp 4.49%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.41%
Franklin Templeton Inc 4.19%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CNO generates approximately $448 of gross profit, $65 of operating income, and $151 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Moderate margins and strong cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 21.85%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CNO has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedSmall / Mid Cap RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 4.95B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 18.53
1Y Target Price 53.75
Price to earnings Ratio 18.53
1Y Target Price 53.75
Volume (30-day avg) 1.1M shares
Beta 0.81
52 Weeks Range 37.64 - 57.40
Updated Date 10/08/2026
52 Weeks Range 37.64 - 57.40
Updated Date 10/08/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.30%
Basic EPS (TTM) 2.89

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Life and Health InsurancePremiums from supplemental health, life, and annuity products.The company earns money primarily from insurance premiums and returns on investing those premiums.
Investment PortfolioIncome generated from the investment of policyholder premiums in diversified assets.Net investment income is a critical profit driver influenced by interest rate environments.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 18.53
Forward PE 9.71
Enterprise Value 8.26B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.07
Enterprise Value 8.26B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.07
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.78
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 92.52M
Shares Floating 90.04M
Shares Outstanding 92.52M
Shares Floating 90.04M
Percent Insiders 2.4
Percent Institutions 98.08

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.