MFC vs. WTW: Manulife Financial vs. Willis Towers Watson Stock Comparison
How do Manulife Financial (MFC) 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
Manulife Financial (MFC) and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) both belong to the Insurance industry, though MFC is classified under Life & Health Insurance while WTW falls under Insurance Brokers.
| Profile Item | MFC | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Manulife Financial Corporation | Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company |
| Country/Region | Canada | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life & Health Insurance | Insurance Brokers |
| Market Capitalization | 71.43 billion USD | 30.33 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | September 24, 1999 | June 12, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MFC | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 36.28% | 2.59% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 38.35% | 12.90% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 22.50% | 8.63% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MFC | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.87% | 31.09% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.85 | 0.42 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -26.99% | -30.39% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.92M | 537.05K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MFC | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.53 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.19 | -0.07 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Manulife Financial (MFC) at 12.24% and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 20.18% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
MFC
Insurance industry group
12.24%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- MFC
- 12.24%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- 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)
Manulife Financial (MFC) at 18.97% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 15.22%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
MFC
Insurance industry group
18.97%
- Max
- 29.92%
- MFC
- 18.97%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- 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 Manulife Financial (MFC) 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 | MFC | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 12.24% | 20.18% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.59% | 5.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 18.97% | 15.22% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Only one side can be read here: Willis Towers Watson (WTW) reports revenue growth of -2.24%, ranked against its industry; Manulife Financial (MFC) has no revenue growth figure this period.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Manulife Financial (MFC) reports EPS growth of 8.10%, ranked against its industry; Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MFC | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -- | -2.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 29.95% | 3.07% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 8.10% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -5.86% | 21.88% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Manulife Financial (MFC) 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: Manulife Financial (MFC) 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 | MFC | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Manulife Financial (MFC) at 4.32% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 0.29% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MFC the richer one.
MFC
Insurance industry group
4.32%
- Max
- 5.12%
- MFC
- 4.32%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- 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 Manulife Financial (MFC) at 54.30% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
MFC
Insurance industry group
54.30%
- Max
- 76.67%
- MFC
- 54.30%
- 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 | MFC | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.32% | 0.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 54.30% | 23.34% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Manulife Financial (MFC) at 17.23 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 20.20 sits in the richer quartile — WTW needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
MFC
Insurance industry group
17.23
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- MFC
- 17.23
- 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)
Manulife Financial (MFC) at 2.11 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 2.95 sits in the pricier quartile — WTW costs more per dollar of sales.
MFC
Insurance industry group
2.11
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- MFC
- 2.11
- 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)
Manulife Financial (MFC) at 2.13 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 3.91 carries an above-peer premium to book — WTW is pricier on assets.
MFC
Insurance industry group
2.13
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- MFC
- 2.13
- 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 | MFC | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 17.23 | 20.20 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.11 | 2.95 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.13 | 3.91 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |