CNA vs. RYAN: CNA Financial vs. Ryan Specialty Stock Comparison
How do CNA Financial (CNA) and Ryan Specialty (RYAN) 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
CNA Financial (CNA) and Ryan Specialty (RYAN) both belong to the Insurance industry, though CNA is classified under Property & Casualty Insurance while RYAN falls under Insurance Brokers.
CNA Financial (CNA) has more than two decades of public-market history since February 21, 1973, whereas Ryan Specialty (RYAN) listed on July 22, 2021 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | CNA | RYAN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CNA Financial Corporation Common Stock | Ryan Specialty Holdings Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Property & Casualty Insurance | Insurance Brokers |
| Market Capitalization | 12.81 billion USD | 12.10 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | July 22, 2021 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CNA | RYAN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 13.42% | -17.50% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 15.22% | 2.91% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 9.00% | 5.30% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CNA | RYAN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.85% | 43.93% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.22 | 0.52 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -25.67% | -60.94% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 454.06K | 1.89M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CNA | RYAN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.44 | -0.50 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.62 | -0.67 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Ryan Specialty (RYAN) at 25.15% sits in the top ROE quartile, while CNA Financial (CNA) at 9.56% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for RYAN.
CNA
Insurance industry group
9.56%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- CNA
- 9.56%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
RYAN
Insurance industry group
25.15%
- Max
- 41.68%
- RYAN
- 25.15%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
CNA Financial (CNA) at 6.80% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Ryan Specialty (RYAN) at 3.27% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
CNA
Insurance industry group
6.80%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- CNA
- 6.80%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
RYAN
Insurance industry group
3.27%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- RYAN
- 3.27%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for CNA Financial (CNA) in Insurance and Ryan Specialty (RYAN) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CNA | RYAN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.56% | 25.15% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.29% | 3.79% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 6.80% | 3.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both CNA Financial (CNA) at 5.10% and Ryan Specialty (RYAN) at 21.28% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
CNA Financial (CNA) at 33.24% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Ryan Specialty (RYAN) at -33.80% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CNA | RYAN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.10% | 21.28% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.36% | 20.93% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 33.24% | -33.80% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.66% | -3.31% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: CNA Financial (CNA) in Insurance and Ryan Specialty (RYAN) 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: CNA Financial (CNA) in Insurance and Ryan Specialty (RYAN) 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 | CNA | RYAN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
CNA Financial (CNA) at 3.95% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ryan Specialty (RYAN) at 1.06% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, CNA the richer one.
CNA
Insurance industry group
3.95%
- Max
- 5.12%
- CNA
- 3.95%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RYAN
Insurance industry group
1.06%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- RYAN
- 1.06%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both CNA Financial (CNA) at 50.26% and Ryan Specialty (RYAN) at 63.75% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
CNA
Insurance industry group
50.26%
- Max
- 76.67%
- CNA
- 50.26%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RYAN
Insurance industry group
63.75%
- Max
- 76.67%
- RYAN
- 63.75%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CNA | RYAN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.95% | 1.06% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 50.26% | 63.75% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
CNA Financial (CNA) at 12.52 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Ryan Specialty (RYAN) at 59.66 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for RYAN’s trailing earnings.
CNA
Insurance industry group
12.52
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- CNA
- 12.52
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
RYAN
Insurance industry group
59.66
- RYAN
- 59.66
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
CNA Financial (CNA) at 0.84 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Ryan Specialty (RYAN) at 3.78 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.
CNA
Insurance industry group
0.84
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- CNA
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.07
RYAN
Insurance industry group
3.78
- Max
- 4.03
- RYAN
- 3.78
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
CNA Financial (CNA) at 1.25 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Ryan Specialty (RYAN) at 12.86 prices above its benchmark range — RYAN looks rich relative to book.
CNA
Insurance industry group
1.25
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- CNA
- 1.25
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
RYAN
Insurance industry group
12.86
- RYAN
- 12.86
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CNA | RYAN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.52 | 59.66 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.84 | 3.78 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.25 | 12.86 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |