GL vs LNC: Globe Life and Lincoln National compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- Globe Life is the larger company, worth $12.5B, about 1.6 times Lincoln National.
- Lincoln National grew revenue faster over the last year (+12.3% vs +8.0%).
- Globe Life keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (24.1% vs 14.7%).
- On earnings, Lincoln National is the cheaper stock (4.4x vs 11.1x).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | GL | LNC |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $12.5B | $7.7B |
| Share price | $164.17 | $40.23 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $6.0B | $18.2B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | $1.3B | — |
| Revenue growth, last year | +8.0% | +12.3% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +4.1% | +0.7% |
| Operating margin | 24.1% | 14.7% |
| Net margin | 19.6% | 12.2% |
| Return on equity | 19.7% | 20.8% |
| P/E (trailing) | 11.1x | 4.43x |
| Price / free cash flow | 9.96x | — |
| EV / EBITDA | — | — |
| FCF growth the price implies | -4.2% | — |
| Dividend yield | 0.67% | 4.4% |
| Debt / equity | 4.13x | 36.9x |
| Fundamental grade | B | B |
| Superinvestors holding it | 4 | 4 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 2 | 3 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
Globe Life
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $5.1B | $1.4B | 24.0% |
| 2022 | $5.2B | $1.4B | 22.7% |
| 2023 | $5.4B | $1.4B | 23.2% |
| 2024 | $5.8B | $1.3B | 23.0% |
| 2025 | $6.0B | $1.3B | 24.0% |
Lincoln National
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $17.7B | — | 26.2% |
| 2022 | $18.8B | — | 9.2% |
| 2023 | $11.6B | — | -9.9% |
| 2024 | $18.4B | — | 21.8% |
| 2025 | $18.2B | — | 7.3% |
Where the revenue comes from
Globe Life
No segment breakdown reported.
Lincoln National · by segments, 2025
Group Protection$6.1B34%
Life Insurance$5.9B32%
Annuities$4.9B27%
Retirement Plan Services$1.3B7%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open GL in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, Globe Life or Lincoln National?
Globe Life (GL), at $12.5B against $7.7B.
Is GL or LNC cheaper?
By trailing P/E, Lincoln National (4.43x) is cheaper than Globe Life (11.1x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, GL or LNC?
Lincoln National: revenue grew +12.3% over the last year, against +8.0%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.