Analyzing Security National Financial (NASDAQ:SNFCA) and Kemper (NYSE:KMPR)

Kemper (NYSE:KMPR) and Security National Financial (NASDAQ:SNFCA) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, risk, profitability and earnings.

Volatility and Risk

Kemper has a beta of 1.06, meaning that its share price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Security National Financial has a beta of 0.62, meaning that its share price is 38% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Kemper and Security National Financial”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Kemper	$4.79 billion	0.42	$143.30 million	($7.18)	-4.78
Security National Financial	$344.59 million	0.71	$32.15 million	$1.32	6.80

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

Profitability

This table compares Kemper and Security National Financial’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Kemper	-9.55%	4.72%	0.94%
Security National Financial	10.91%	8.21%	2.24%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

86.2% of Kemper shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.6% of Security National Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.6% of Kemper shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 15.0% of Security National Financial shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings for Kemper and Security National Financial, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Kemper	3	3	2	0	1.88
Security National Financial	0	0	1	0	3.00

Kemper currently has a consensus price target of $37.67, indicating a potential upside of 9.76%. Given Kemper’s higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Kemper is more favorable than Security National Financial.

Summary

Security National Financial beats Kemper on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Kemper

Kemper Corporation is an insurance holding company that provides property and casualty, life, and health insurance products in the United States. Its offerings include personal auto coverage, with a focus on drivers served by specialty insurance markets, as well as life and supplemental health policies. The company distributes insurance through independent agents and other channels. Its businesses include Kemper Auto and Kemper Life, serving individuals and families across the country. Kemper traces its roots to 1912, when Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company was founded.

About Security National Financial

Security National Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services holding company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded in 1965, it operates through life insurance, cemetery and mortuary, and mortgage banking businesses. Its insurance operations offer life insurance, annuities, and related products, including coverage designed to help families plan for funeral expenses. Through its cemetery and mortuary businesses, the company provides funeral services and cemetery property. Security National’s mortgage banking operations originate and service residential mortgage loans.