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GWO vs FFH: which stock is the better value?

By Wealth Awesome -
Stocks & ETFs:GWO.TOFFH.TO

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Fairfax Financial Holdings screens cheaper than Great-West Lifeco on all three valuation measures in the supplied data. That gives investors a starting point for comparison, but it doesn’t show that either stock is a good buy.

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (GWO.TO) and Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. (FFH.TO) are Canadian insurance companies. In the snapshot dated November 2, 2026, Great-West Lifeco’s adjusted closing price was C$91.82, compared with C$2,490.61 for Fairfax. Fairfax had a smaller market capitalization: C$56.0 billion versus C$82.2 billion. Share prices alone don’t show which company is cheaper because the companies have different numbers of shares. Valuation multiples offer a more useful comparison.

Investor takeaway: Fairfax has lower P/E, PEG and P/B ratios: 9.0, 0.28 and 1.36, respectively, compared with Great-West Lifeco’s 18.9, 1.84 and 2.91. The snapshot also reports higher trailing-twelve-month (TTM) ROE for Fairfax, while Great-West Lifeco has the higher dividend yield. These measures describe different aspects of each company. They don’t establish future returns, business quality or fair value. Both companies have a Strong Sell analyst consensus label and C$0.00 price targets in the supplied table. Treat these as snapshot data, not as a valuation conclusion.

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Fairfax is lower on all three supplied valuation multiples

Fairfax’s P/E is 9.0, compared with 18.9 for Great-West Lifeco. Its PEG is 0.28 versus 1.84, and its P/B is 1.36 versus 2.91. On these measures, Fairfax looks cheaper. That doesn’t prove it’s undervalued, has stronger fundamentals or will outperform.

Bull case

Investors comparing valuation with recent profitability may find Fairfax’s lower multiples and 16.5% TTM ROE worth a closer look. These figures alone don’t show whether its earnings or book value will hold up over time.

Bear case

Fairfax’s 0.60% dividend yield is lower than Great-West Lifeco’s 2.78%. And a low valuation multiple can reflect risks or expectations that this snapshot doesn’t capture. The supplied figures don’t explain the difference.

The valuation comparison favours Fairfax on the supplied multiples

Fairfax is below Great-West Lifeco on all three valuation measures in the snapshot:

The difference is consistent across the three measures. But these figures don’t cover every factor that affects a company’s valuation, and they don’t tell us what either stock is worth.

Yield, profitability and analyst fields add context

The snapshot reports a 2.78% dividend yield and 14.1% TTM ROE for Great-West Lifeco. Fairfax’s figures are a 0.60% yield and 16.5% TTM ROE. So Fairfax has the higher reported ROE, while Great-West Lifeco has the higher yield.

Both companies have a Strong Sell analyst consensus label and a C$0.00 target in the snapshot. These are data points, not an explanation of either company’s prospects. Look beyond these summary measures before drawing a conclusion.

Wealth Awesome
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Published: November 3, 2026
Last Updated: November 3, 2026

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