AJG vs. MKL: Arthur J. Gallagher vs. Markel Stock Comparison
How do Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) and Markel (MKL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) and Markel (MKL) both belong to the Insurance industry, though AJG is classified under Insurance Brokers while MKL falls under Property & Casualty Insurance.
| Profile Item | AJG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | Markel Group Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Insurance Brokers | Property & Casualty Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 72.21 billion USD | 23.71 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 20, 1984 | December 12, 1986 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AJG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 13.67% | -4.35% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 5.42% | 13.21% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.86% | 8.36% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) trades around 1.52M shares per day on average, while Markel (MKL) sees only 66.79K — a volume gap that can matter for position sizing, exit liquidity, and order execution.
| Metric | AJG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.13% | 18.61% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.46 | 0.57 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.40% | -28.87% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.52M | 66.79K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AJG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.29 | -0.46 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.43 | -0.60 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Markel (MKL) at 9.75% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 7.21% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.
AJG
Insurance industry group
7.21%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- AJG
- 7.21%
- Min
- -10.66%
MKL
Insurance industry group
9.75%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- MKL
- 9.75%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 10.78% and Markel (MKL) at 11.13% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
AJG
Insurance industry group
10.78%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- AJG
- 10.78%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
MKL
Insurance industry group
11.13%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- MKL
- 11.13%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) in Insurance and Markel (MKL) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AJG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 7.21% | 9.75% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.57% | 2.21% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.78% | 11.13% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 20.66% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Markel (MKL) at -2.49% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at -11.69% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Markel (MKL) at -15.10% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AJG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 20.66% | -2.49% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.70% | 11.40% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -11.69% | -15.10% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.41% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) in Insurance and Markel (MKL) in Insurance both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) in Insurance and Markel (MKL) in Insurance run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AJG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Markel (MKL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) reports a yield of 0.95%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AJG
Insurance industry group
0.95%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- AJG
- 0.95%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MKL
Insurance industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- MKL
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Markel (MKL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) reports a payout of 41.98%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AJG
Insurance industry group
41.98%
- Max
- 76.67%
- AJG
- 41.98%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MKL
Insurance industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- MKL
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AJG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.95% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 41.98% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Markel (MKL) at 13.80 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 42.99 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for AJG’s trailing earnings.
AJG
Insurance industry group
42.99
- AJG
- 42.99
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
MKL
Insurance industry group
13.80
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- MKL
- 13.80
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Markel (MKL) at 1.47 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 4.58 clears its benchmark range — AJG looks notably rich on sales.
AJG
Insurance industry group
4.58
- AJG
- 4.58
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
MKL
Insurance industry group
1.47
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- MKL
- 1.47
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Markel (MKL) at 1.28 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 3.00 carries an above-peer premium to book — AJG is pricier on assets.
AJG
Insurance industry group
3.00
- Max
- 5.07
- AJG
- 3.00
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
MKL
Insurance industry group
1.28
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- MKL
- 1.28
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AJG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 42.99 | 13.80 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.58 | 1.47 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.00 | 1.28 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |