BRO vs. SLF: Brown & Brown vs. Sun Life Financial Stock Comparison
How do Brown & Brown (BRO) and Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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
Brown & Brown (BRO) and Sun Life Financial (SLF) both belong to the Insurance industry, though BRO is classified under Insurance Brokers while SLF falls under Life & Health Insurance.
| Profile Item | BRO | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Brown & Brown Inc. | Sun Life Financial Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | Canada |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Insurance Brokers | Life & Health Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 23.92 billion USD | 39.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 11, 1981 | March 23, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BRO | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -8.59% | 30.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 0.40% | 20.05% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 3.19% | 9.37% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BRO | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 32.50% | 21.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.51 | 0.88 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.85% | -30.77% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.25M | 666.75K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BRO | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.40 | 1.20 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.57 | 1.61 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Brown & Brown (BRO) at 9.80% and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 11.55% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
BRO
Insurance industry group
9.80%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- BRO
- 9.80%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
SLF
Insurance industry group
11.55%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- SLF
- 11.55%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Brown & Brown (BRO) at 17.88% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 8.63%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
BRO
Insurance industry group
17.88%
- Max
- 29.92%
- BRO
- 17.88%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
SLF
Insurance industry group
8.63%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- SLF
- 8.63%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Brown & Brown (BRO) in Insurance and Sun Life Financial (SLF) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BRO | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.80% | 11.55% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.89% | 0.74% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.88% | 8.63% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Brown & Brown (BRO) at 22.49% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 11.50% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for BRO.
EPS Growth
Both Brown & Brown (BRO) at -8.67% and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 16.92% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BRO | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 22.49% | 11.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 17.38% | 123.82% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -8.67% | 16.92% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.06% | 5.68% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Brown & Brown (BRO) in Insurance and Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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: Brown & Brown (BRO) in Insurance and Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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 | BRO | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 5.12% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Brown & Brown (BRO) at 0.89% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SLF the richer one.
BRO
Insurance industry group
0.89%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- BRO
- 0.89%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SLF
Insurance industry group
5.12%
- SLF
- 5.12%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Brown & Brown (BRO) at 20.89% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 70.41% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
BRO
Insurance industry group
20.89%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- BRO
- 20.89%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SLF
Insurance industry group
70.41%
- Max
- 76.67%
- SLF
- 70.41%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BRO | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.89% | 5.12% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 20.89% | 70.41% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 18.58 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Brown & Brown (BRO) at 22.82 sits in the richer quartile — BRO needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
BRO
Insurance industry group
22.82
- Max
- 28.37
- BRO
- 22.82
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
SLF
Insurance industry group
18.58
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- SLF
- 18.58
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 1.12 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Brown & Brown (BRO) at 3.51 sits in the pricier quartile — BRO costs more per dollar of sales.
BRO
Insurance industry group
3.51
- Max
- 4.03
- BRO
- 3.51
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
SLF
Insurance industry group
1.12
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- SLF
- 1.12
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Brown & Brown (BRO) at 1.87 and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 2.26 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
BRO
Insurance industry group
1.87
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- BRO
- 1.87
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
SLF
Insurance industry group
2.26
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- SLF
- 2.26
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BRO | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.82 | 18.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.51 | 1.12 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.87 | 2.26 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |