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AJG vs. BCS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated

Here’s a clear look at AJG and BCS, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.

Company Overview

AJG (86.44 billion USD) and BCS (62.70 billion USD) sit neck-and-neck in market cap terms.

AJG at 0.78 and BCS at 1.05 move in sync when it comes to market volatility.

Quick note: BCS sports an ADR tag, marking it as a foreign player on U.S. exchanges, unlike the homegrown AJG.

SymbolAJGBCS
Company NameArthur J. Gallagher & Co.Barclays PLC
CountryUSGB
SectorFinancial ServicesFinancial Services
IndustryInsurance - BrokersBanks - Diversified
CEOMr. J. Patrick Gallagher Jr.Mr. Coimbatore Sundararajan Venkatakrishnan Ph.D.
Price337.53 USD17.57 USD
Market Cap86.44 billion USD62.70 billion USD
Beta0.7811.046
ExchangeNYSENYSE
IPO DateJune 20, 1984September 9, 1986
ADRNoYes

Performance Comparison

This chart compares the performance of AJG and BCS over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).

Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.

Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

Valuation Metrics Comparison

For a detailed comparison of valuation metrics between AJG and BCS, please refer to the table below.

SymbolAJGBCS
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM)49.037.39
Forward PEG Ratio (TTM)3.550.50
Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM)7.191.72
Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM)3.420.63
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM)34.230.00
EV-to-EBITDA (TTM)20.83-20.59
EV-to-Sales (TTM)5.87-3.06
EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM)27.960.00

Dividend Comparison

Both AJG at 0.73% and BCS at 2.59% pay dividends, blending income with growth in their strategies. Yet BCS’s 2.59% yield, 257% above AJG’s 0.73%, suggests a focus on generous payouts—possibly from stronger profits—while AJG leans toward reinvestment, perhaps due to tighter margins.

SymbolAJGBCS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.73%2.59%

Financial Strength Metrics Comparison

This section dives into the financial resilience of AJG and BCS, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.

  • BCS’s current ratio of 0.67 dips below 1, leaving short-term liabilities larger than current assets—a scenario that could hinge on cash flow support. On the other hand, AJG at 1.44 has enough assets to handle its obligations.
  • At 0.67, BCS’s quick ratio falls below 0.8, where liquid assets, minus inventory, can’t keep up with short-term bills—possibly riding on cash flow. By contrast, AJG hits 1.44, covering its bases comfortably.
  • BCS’s interest coverage comes up “--”, reflecting interest demands so faint they’re barely there—likely minimal debt or tiny rates—whereas AJG at 0.00 cruises past interest with ease.
SymbolAJGBCS
Current Ratio (TTM)1.440.67
Quick Ratio (TTM)1.440.67
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM)0.041.48
Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM)0.010.07
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)29.40--