AJG vs. WTW: Arthur J. Gallagher vs. Willis Towers Watson Stock Comparison
How do Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) 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 Willis Towers Watson (WTW) are both classified in the Insurance Brokers sub-industry within the broader Insurance industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | AJG | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Insurance Brokers | Insurance Brokers |
| Market Capitalization | 72.21 billion USD | 30.33 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 20, 1984 | June 12, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 13.67% | 2.59% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 5.42% | 12.90% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.86% | 8.63% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.13% | 31.09% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.46 | 0.42 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -44.40% | -30.39% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.52M | 537.05K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.29 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.43 | -0.07 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 20.18% 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%
WTW
Insurance industry group
20.18%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- WTW
- 20.18%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 10.78% and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 15.22% 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%
WTW
Insurance industry group
15.22%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- WTW
- 15.22%
- 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 Willis Towers Watson (WTW) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 7.21% | 20.18% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.57% | 5.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.78% | 15.22% |
| 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 Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at -2.24% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) reports EPS growth of -11.69%, ranked against its industry; Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 20.66% | -2.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.70% | 3.07% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -11.69% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.41% | 21.88% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) in Insurance and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) 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 Willis Towers Watson (WTW) 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 | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 0.95% and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 0.29% 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%
WTW
Insurance industry group
0.29%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- WTW
- 0.29%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 23.34% 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%
WTW
Insurance industry group
23.34%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- WTW
- 23.34%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.95% | 0.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 41.98% | 23.34% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 20.20 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 42.99 is richer still, above its industry range.
AJG
Insurance industry group
42.99
- AJG
- 42.99
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
WTW
Insurance industry group
20.20
- Max
- 28.37
- WTW
- 20.20
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 2.95 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 4.58 prices even higher, above its industry range.
AJG
Insurance industry group
4.58
- AJG
- 4.58
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
WTW
Insurance industry group
2.95
- Max
- 4.03
- WTW
- 2.95
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) at 3.00 and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 3.91 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
WTW
Insurance industry group
3.91
- Max
- 5.07
- WTW
- 3.91
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AJG | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 42.99 | 20.20 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.58 | 2.95 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.00 | 3.91 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |