PGR vs STEP Stock Comparison
PGR currently leads STEP in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 70 vs 57. The clearest difference is momentum, while STEP has the stronger quality profile.
What is the main difference between PGR and STEP?
PGR leads the current stock comparison as The Progressive Corporation, with the clearest separation coming from momentum and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
The Progressive Corporation vs StepStone Group Inc.
PGR leads
PGR leads by 13 AIQ points, primarily on Momentum and Value, and the lead has widened from 5 points over 30 sessions. Wall Street currently favors STEP on target upside.
Stable: 3 of 6 evidence groups support PGR, its lead is widening, and its signal state is cleanly positive.
The Progressive Corporation
StepStone Group Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors PGR over STEP, 70 versus 57 as of Oct 21, 2026. PGR's advantage is driven primarily by stronger momentum and value, while STEP holds the stronger quality profile. PGR also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors STEP. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor PGR today, and the comparison is rated Stable on stability: only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. PGR lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 5 to 13 points over 30 sessions.
Compare The Progressive Corporation and StepStone Group Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare PGR and STEP against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Momentum81 vs 40PGR +41
- Value59 vs 30PGR +29
- Quality83 vs 97STEP +14
- Risk Resilience45 vs 58STEP +13
3 of 6 evidence groups favor PGR. PGR’s edge is concentrated in momentum and value; STEP keeps a meaningful quality edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum +8
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 4 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum +2
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 5 active signals are unchanged.
PGR's lead widened by 2 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — PGR and STEP both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
PGR (The Progressive Corporation): the stronger current systematic profile, led by momentum and value.
STEP (StepStone Group Inc.): the counter-case, on quality, risk resilience, fundamentals — but at materially higher volatility, 35.4% against 25.2%.
The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
PGRPGR on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
PGRPGR on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
PGRPGR on the peer-relative Value factor, by 29 points.
Momentum
PGRPGR on the Momentum factor, by 41 points.
Lower downside
STEPSTEP on Risk Resilience, by 13 points.
Analyst upside
STEPSTEP on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors PGR, analyst targets favor STEP. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.
| Measure | PGR | STEP | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +0.1% | +46.2% | STEP has more room |
| Target dispersion | +22.1% | +56.5% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 13 | 8 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor PGR. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | PGR | 70 vs 57 |
| Fundamentals | STEPon balance | revenue growth -1.8% vs -35.6%; EPS growth -23.1% vs -13.5%; TTM ROE 35.4% vs 156.7%; gross margin 48.1% vs 60.9%; operating margin 16% vs -58.2% — STEP takes 3 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | PGR | Value 59 vs 30 |
| Technicals | PGR | Price vs 50-day 2.9% vs -10%; vs 200-day 6.4% vs -15.1% |
| Risk Resilience | STEP | Risk Resilience 45 vs 58 |
| Analyst expectations | STEP | Target upside 0.1% vs 46.2% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of PGR and STEP and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion rests on a wide gap and broad agreement. It is unlikely to turn on a single session.
- The AIQ gap is wide at 13 points. (supports the conclusion holding)
- Only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been widening. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader's signal state is cleanly positive. (supports the conclusion holding)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on PGR.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20PGR lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 5 to 13 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- PGR +13
- 70 vs 57
- 7 sessions ago
- PGR +6
- 62 vs 56
- 30 sessions ago
- PGR +5
- 57 vs 52
- 90 sessions ago
- STEP +7
- 53 vs 60
The lead changed hands 10 times in this window, most recently on Sep 22 when STEP moved ahead of PGR.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
4 bullish / 0 bearish
Only PGR
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (3.07%)
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
0 bullish / 3 bearish / 2 neutral
Only STEP
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (7.28%)
- ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (4.72%)
- Downtrend Structure Active — bearish, trend, long horizon
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price is down while the AIQ Score moved up 3 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price -0.26%, AIQ +3 points).
Price is down while the AIQ Score moved up 1 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price -1.26%, AIQ +1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1STEP closes the Momentum gap — currently 41 points behind, the largest single contributor to PGR's edge.
- 2STEP's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it.
- 3PGR's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
STEP leads on balance| Metric | PGR | STEP |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -1.8% | -35.6% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -23.1% | -13.5% |
| Gross margin | 48.1% | 60.9% |
| Operating margin | 16% | -58.2% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 35.4% | 156.7% |
| Debt to equity | 0.24 | -2.91 |
Performance
PGR leads 5 of 6 windows| Metric | PGR | STEP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -0.4% | 1.7% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 7.2% | -7.8% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 8.5% | 4.5% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 7% | -22.4% |
| Year to date | -2.5% | -33.1% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | -1.8% | -30.5% |
Technicals
PGR has the stronger structure| Metric | PGR | STEP |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 69 | 48.1 |
| ADX (14) | 13.7 | 16.6 |
| Price vs 50-day | 2.9% | -10% |
| Price vs 200-day | 6.4% | -15.1% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 25.2% | 35.4% |
Risk
STEP is the more resilient| Metric | PGR | STEP |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | -0.52 | 1.67 |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.07 | -0.6 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.09 | -0.89 |
| Max drawdown | -19.4% | -48.2% |
| Current drawdown | -6.1% | -43.7% |
| Annualized volatility | 27.4% | 47.7% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.5% | -4.7% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, PGR or STEP?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, PGR is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 70 against STEP's 57. The edge comes from momentum and value. STEP is not without a case — it holds the better quality profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is PGR or STEP the better buy right now?
PGR carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Stable — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Stable rating means the gap is wide and the evidence is broad, so the conclusion is unlikely to turn on a single session.
Why does the AIQ Score favor PGR over STEP?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. PGR leads Momentum by 41 points; PGR leads Value by 29 points; STEP leads Quality by 14 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, PGR or STEP?
Analyst price targets imply +0.1% upside for PGR and +46.2% for STEP, so the Street currently favors STEP. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors PGR. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, PGR or STEP?
PGR is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. PGR on the peer-relative Value factor, by 29 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, PGR or STEP?
PGR on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, PGR or STEP?
PGR on the Momentum factor, by 41 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, PGR or STEP?
STEP is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. STEP on Risk Resilience, by 13 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is PGR more profitable than STEP?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 48.1% vs 60.9%; operating margin 16% vs -58.2%; ttm roe 35.4% vs 156.7%. PGR leads on one measure and STEP on two measures, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is PGR's lead over STEP getting stronger or weaker?
PGR lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 5 to 13 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has changed hands 10 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-22, when STEP moved ahead of PGR.
What would change the PGR vs STEP verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: STEP closes the Momentum gap — currently 41 points behind, the largest single contributor to PGR's edge; STEP's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it; PGR's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about PGR and STEP?
PGR: 4 bullish / 0 bearish. STEP: 0 bullish / 3 bearish / 2 neutral. The most decision-relevant rule on PGR is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On STEP it is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon).
Compare PGR and STEP with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.