Prudential Financial Stock: Is PRU Outperforming the Financial Sector?

Core Insights - Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) is a global financial services company with a market cap of $37.7 billion, providing life insurance, retirement solutions, asset management, and annuities [1] - PRU is classified as a large-cap stock, generating steady cash flow through recurring premiums and strong brand trust, while focusing on faster-growing, less capital-intensive areas for better long-term profitability [2] Stock Performance - PRU is currently trading 16.2% below its 52-week high of $128.72, reached on December 3, 2024, and has gained marginally over the past three months, outperforming the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) which dropped 1.4% [3] - Year-to-date, PRU shares are down 9%, slightly trailing XLF's 9.3% return, and have declined 16% over the past 52 weeks, significantly lagging behind XLF's 4% increase [4] Financial Results - On October 29, Prudential Financial reported better-than-expected Q3 results, with shares surging 1.9% in the following trading session; adjusted EPS increased 27.9% year-over-year to $4.26, surpassing consensus estimates by 16.4% [5] - Assets under management grew 3.5% year-over-year to $1.6 trillion, indicating strong growth across all business segments [5] Competitive Position - PRU has underperformed its rival, MetLife, Inc. (MET), which declined 12.2% over the past 52 weeks and 6.9% year-to-date [6]