Most Important Financial Stocks for October 2020

The financial sector is traditionally known as that part of the economy that is concerned with the transactions of financial.  The sector includes a range of companies that offer services such as loans, savings, insurance, payment services, and money management for individuals and firms. While the financial stocks include a wide range of companies involved in retail and commercial banking, accounting, insurance, asset management, credit cards, and brokerage. Today, the financial sector has well-known companies like Wells Fargo Co. (WFC), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), and Morgan Stanley (MS). However, financial stocks, represented by the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF), have dramatically underperformed the broader market, providing investors with a total return of -13.2% compared to the Russell 1000's total return of 13.7% over the past 12 months. In this article, we are going to see the most important energy stocks sorted by its best value, fastest earnings growth, and greatest momentum. All statistics in the tables below are as of September 23.  

Financial Stocks Sorted by its Market Value

	Price ($)	Market Cap ($B)	12-Month Trailing P/E Ratio
Brighthouse Financial Inc. (BHF)	26.58	2.5	1.2
Unum Group (UNM)	16.84	3.4	3.6
MetLife Inc. (MET)	36.95	33.5	4.8

Brighthouse Financial Inc.: The insurance and investment Brighthouse Financial company, provides guaranteed, variable, shield, income, and fixed annuities, life insurance, financial advisory services, and retirement planning. The company has recorded a decline in its annuity sales by 3% year-over-year (YOY) in Q2, however, its life insurance sales climbed by 200% YOY. Unum Group: Unum provides disability insurance, group life insurance, and payroll-deducted voluntary benefits for employees primarily at US corporations. MetLife Inc.: Around the world, MetLife companies offer life, accident and health insurance, retirement,and savings products through agents, third-party distributors such as banks and brokers, and direct marketing channels. With a transaction is estimated at roughly $1.7 billion, the company announced on September 17 plans to acquire Versant Health, the owner of Davis Vision and Superior Vision, from an investor group.  

Financial Stocks Sorted by its Fastest Growth

	Price ($)	Market Cap ($B)	EPS Growth %
White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. (WTM)	788.00	2.4	476.7
Ares Management Corp.  (ARES)	39.51	9.8	400.0
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC)	105.36	44.7	191.7

White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd.: The 30 years-old company provides diversified insurances as well as reinsurance products. The company which is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, serves customers throughout Bermuda and the US. Ares Management Corp.: is a global alternative investment management company operating three integrated businesses across credit, private equity, and real estate.  In Q2 2020, key funds managed by Ares Management closed $1.7 billion in commitments and $4.4 billion year to date. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.: A diversified financial services company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. the company offers banking and asset management services. During Q2 2020 the company divested its 22.4% equity investment in BlackRock Inc. (BLK) for net proceeds of $14.2 billion which made its YOY net income increase of 166.0%.  

Financial Stocks Sorted by its Most Momentum

	Price ($)	Market Cap ($B)	12-Month Trailing Total Return
PayPal Holdings Inc. (PYPL)	187.78	220.3	79.5
MSCI Inc. (MSCI)	351.24	29.4	57.0
Virtu Financial Inc. (VIRT)	26.28	5.1	43.4
Russell 1000	N/A	N/A	13.7
Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF)	N/A	N/A	-13.2

PayPal Holdings Inc.: The American company operates a worldwide online payment system that supports online money transfers and services as an electronic alternative to traditional paper methods like checks and money orders.  On August 31, PayPal announced its new short-term, interest-free installment payment program "Pay in 4". The program which is only applicable for US customers is designed to pay merchants and partners upfront while allowing customers to pay for purchases between $30 and $600 over a 6-week period. MSCI Inc.: Headquartered in NY, MSCI is a finance company that offers services to customers including asset managers, banks, and wealth managers to help them make key financial decisions, including trading securities and managing their portfolios. It also publishes the MSCI BRIC, MSCI World, and MSCI EAFE Indexes. On September 16, the company announced the release of its SDG Alignment Tool, designed to help investors assess companies' net contribution toward the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Virtu Financial Inc.:  Is one of the largest providers of financial services, trading products, and market-making services. Having branches in over 50 countries worldwide, Virtu's products support trades across various asset classes.   Source: Investopedia  

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Most Important Energy Stocks for October 2020