AJG vs. WRB: Arthur J. Gallagher vs. W. R. Berkley Stock Comparison
How do Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) and W. R. Berkley (WRB) 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 W. R. Berkley (WRB) both belong to the Insurance industry, though AJG is classified under Insurance Brokers while WRB falls under Property & Casualty Insurance.
| Profile Item | AJG | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | W. R. Berkley Corporation |
| 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 | 27.95 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 20, 1984 | October 23, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 13.67% | 4.12% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 5.42% | 21.96% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.86% | 18.80% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.13% | 22.41% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.46 | 0.21 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.40% | -26.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.52M | 2.52M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.29 | -0.01 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.43 | -0.01 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 19.26% 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%
WRB
Insurance industry group
19.26%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- WRB
- 19.26%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 10.78% and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 12.53% 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%
WRB
Insurance industry group
12.53%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- WRB
- 12.53%
- 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 W. R. Berkley (WRB) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 7.21% | 19.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.57% | 3.43% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.78% | 12.53% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 20.66% and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 6.93% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at -11.69% and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 2.06% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 20.66% | 6.93% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.70% | 9.28% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -11.69% | 2.06% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.41% | 10.55% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) in Insurance and W. R. Berkley (WRB) 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 W. R. Berkley (WRB) 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 | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 0.95% and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 0.49% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
AJG
Insurance industry group
0.95%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- AJG
- 0.95%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WRB
Insurance industry group
0.49%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- WRB
- 0.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 8.03% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 41.98% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
AJG
Insurance industry group
41.98%
- Max
- 76.67%
- AJG
- 41.98%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WRB
Insurance industry group
8.03%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- WRB
- 8.03%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.95% | 0.49% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 41.98% | 8.03% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 15.90 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
WRB
Insurance industry group
15.90
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- WRB
- 15.90
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 1.88 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
WRB
Insurance industry group
1.88
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- WRB
- 1.88
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 3.00 and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 3.04 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
AJG
Insurance industry group
3.00
- Max
- 5.07
- AJG
- 3.00
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
WRB
Insurance industry group
3.04
- Max
- 5.07
- WRB
- 3.04
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 42.99 | 15.90 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.58 | 1.88 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.00 | 3.04 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |