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

Updated on August 22, 2025

Here’s a clear look at AJG and BNS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	AJG	BNS
Company Name	Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.	The Bank of Nova Scotia
Country	United States	Canada
GICS Sector	Financials	Financials
GICS Industry	Insurance	Banks
Market Capitalization	77.59 billion USD	70.96 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 20, 1984	June 7, 2002
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of AJG and BNS by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

AJG vs. BNS: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	AJG	BNS
5-Day Price Return	1.99%	0.72%
13-Week Price Return	-12.06%	9.17%
26-Week Price Return	-7.28%	7.73%
52-Week Price Return	5.58%	20.95%
Month-to-Date Return	4.78%	1.92%
Year-to-Date Return	6.03%	1.79%
10-Day Avg. Volume	1.52M	2.74M
3-Month Avg. Volume	1.42M	4.26M
3-Month Volatility	22.99%	7.79%
Beta	0.74	0.70

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

AJG

8.45%

Insurance Industry

Max: 29.03%
Q3: 18.11%
Median: 13.90%
Q1: 10.42%
Min: -0.64%

AJG’s Return on Equity of 8.45% is in the lower quartile for the Insurance industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.

BNS

7.96%

Banks Industry

Max: 26.37%
Q3: 15.92%
Median: 12.25%
Q1: 8.69%
Min: 0.15%

BNS’s Return on Equity of 7.96% is in the lower quartile for the Banks industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

AJG

13.16%

Insurance Industry

Max: 26.78%
Q3: 14.06%
Median: 9.15%
Q1: 5.48%
Min: -7.05%

AJG’s Net Profit Margin of 13.16% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Insurance industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

BNS

26.04%

Banks Industry

Max: 54.20%
Q3: 35.70%
Median: 28.97%
Q1: 22.53%
Min: 6.98%

BNS’s Net Profit Margin of 26.04% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Banks industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

AJG

21.19%

Insurance Industry

Max: 35.49%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 14.35%
Q1: 8.53%
Min: -5.25%

In the Insurance industry, Operating Profit Margin is often not the primary measure of operational efficiency.

BNS

34.15%

Banks Industry

Max: 63.35%
Q3: 44.59%
Median: 37.24%
Q1: 28.25%
Min: 13.37%

BNS’s Operating Profit Margin of 34.15% is around the midpoint for the Banks industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	AJG	BNS
Return on Equity (TTM)	8.45%	7.96%
Return on Assets (TTM)	2.38%	0.47%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	13.16%	26.04%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	21.19%	34.15%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	46.51%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AJG

1.36

Insurance Industry

Max: 2.97
Q3: 1.33
Median: 0.55
Q1: 0.15
Min: 0.00

For the Insurance industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.

BNS

Banks Industry

Max: --
Q3: --
Median: --
Q1: --
Min: --

For the Banks industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

AJG

0.56

Insurance Industry

Max: 1.25
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.34
Q1: 0.22
Min: 0.00

The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Insurance industry.

BNS

2.62

Banks Industry

Max: 4.75
Q3: 2.62
Median: 1.02
Q1: 0.39
Min: 0.00

The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Banks industry.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

AJG

5.92

Insurance Industry

Max: 43.68
Q3: 20.84
Median: 9.56
Q1: 3.34
Min: -5.73

The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Insurance industry.

BNS

Banks Industry

Max: --
Q3: --
Median: --
Q1: --
Min: --

The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Banks industry.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	AJG	BNS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.36	--
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	1.36	--
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.56	2.62
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	5.92	--

Growth

Revenue Growth

AJG vs. BNS: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

AJG vs. BNS: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AJG

0.77%

Insurance Industry

Max: 8.23%
Q3: 4.54%
Median: 3.42%
Q1: 1.97%
Min: 0.00%

AJG’s Dividend Yield of 0.77% is in the lower quartile for the Insurance industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

BNS

5.88%

Banks Industry

Max: 10.27%
Q3: 5.83%
Median: 3.81%
Q1: 2.50%
Min: 0.00%

With a Dividend Yield of 5.88%, BNS offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Banks industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AJG

36.32%

Insurance Industry

Max: 168.02%
Q3: 85.57%
Median: 50.71%
Q1: 22.04%
Min: 0.00%

AJG’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 36.32% is within the typical range for the Insurance industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

BNS

86.66%

Banks Industry

Max: 147.07%
Q3: 80.55%
Median: 54.40%
Q1: 35.71%
Min: 0.00%

BNS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 86.66% is in the upper quartile for the Banks industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	AJG	BNS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.77%	5.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	36.32%	86.66%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

AJG

47.03

Insurance Industry

Max: 28.91
Q3: 17.76
Median: 13.63
Q1: 10.02
Min: 2.89

At 47.03, AJG’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Insurance industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.

BNS

14.74

Banks Industry

Max: 20.05
Q3: 12.65
Median: 10.21
Q1: 7.54
Min: 2.74

A P/E Ratio of 14.74 places BNS in the upper quartile for the Banks industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

AJG

6.19

Insurance Industry

Max: 3.72
Q3: 1.98
Median: 1.23
Q1: 0.81
Min: 0.23

With a P/S Ratio of 6.19, AJG trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Insurance industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

BNS

2.29

Banks Industry

Max: 5.06
Q3: 2.98
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.59
Min: 0.45

The P/S Ratio is often not a primary valuation tool in the Banks industry.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

AJG

3.56

Insurance Industry

Max: 4.37
Q3: 2.48
Median: 1.68
Q1: 1.19
Min: 0.19

AJG’s P/B Ratio of 3.56 is in the upper tier for the Insurance industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

BNS

1.01

Banks Industry

Max: 2.18
Q3: 1.36
Median: 1.09
Q1: 0.81
Min: 0.20

BNS’s P/B Ratio of 1.01 is within the conventional range for the Banks industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

AJG vs. BNS: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Insurance and Banks industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	AJG	BNS
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	47.03	14.74
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	6.19	2.29
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	3.56	1.01
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	30.56	4.63