Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, life insurer National Western Life Insurance Company (Nasdaq: NWLI) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at National Western Life's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

National Western Life facts

Headquarters (Founded) Austin, Texas (1956)
Market Cap $513.7 million
Industry Life and health insurance
Trailing-12-Month Revenue $593.4 million
Management Chairman/CEO Robert Moody
President/COO Ross Moody
Return on Equity (Average, Past 3 Years) 5.2%
Cash/Debt $91.9 million / $0
Dividend Yield 0.3%
Competitors American Fidelity Assurance Company
Aviva
Sammons Financial Group

Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 95% of the 136 members who have rated National Western Life believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.

Late last week, one of those bulls, All-Star tenmiles, highlighted several of the stock's positives:

Quiet life and annuity player with significant cash, conservative investment portfolio, trading at what appears to be a disproportionately wide discount to book. Wouldn't be surprised to see activist shareholders start to agitate on this one -- looks like right time to initiate new position for patient investors.

What do you think about National Western Life, or any other stock for that matter? If you want to retire rich, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Owning exceptional stocks is a surefire way to secure your financial future, and on Motley Fool CAPS, thousands of investors are working every day to find them. CAPS is 100% free, so get started!

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