MKL vs. SLF: Markel vs. Sun Life Financial Stock Comparison
How do Markel (MKL) 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
Markel (MKL) and Sun Life Financial (SLF) both belong to the Insurance industry, though MKL is classified under Property & Casualty Insurance while SLF falls under Life & Health Insurance.
| Profile Item | MKL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Markel Group 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 | Property & Casualty Insurance | Life & Health Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 23.71 billion USD | 39.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 12, 1986 | March 23, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MKL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -4.35% | 30.02% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 13.21% | 20.05% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.36% | 9.37% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MKL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.61% | 21.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.57 | 0.88 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -28.87% | -30.77% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 66.79K | 666.75K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MKL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.46 | 1.20 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.60 | 1.61 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Markel (MKL) at 9.75% 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.
MKL
Insurance industry group
9.75%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- MKL
- 9.75%
- 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)
Both Markel (MKL) at 11.13% and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 8.63% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
MKL
Insurance industry group
11.13%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- MKL
- 11.13%
- 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 Markel (MKL) 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 | MKL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.75% | 11.55% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.21% | 0.74% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.13% | 8.63% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 11.50% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Markel (MKL) at -2.49% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 16.92% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Markel (MKL) at -15.10% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MKL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -2.49% | 11.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.40% | 123.82% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -15.10% | 16.92% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 5.68% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Markel (MKL) 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: Markel (MKL) 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 | MKL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Markel (MKL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Sun Life Financial (SLF) reports a yield of 5.12%, ranking against industry peers normally.
MKL
Insurance industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- MKL
- 0.00%
- 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)
Markel (MKL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Sun Life Financial (SLF) reports a payout of 70.41%, ranking against industry peers normally.
MKL
Insurance industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- MKL
- 0.00%
- 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 | MKL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 5.12% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 70.41% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Markel (MKL) at 13.80 and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 18.58 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
MKL
Insurance industry group
13.80
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- MKL
- 13.80
- 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)
On P/S ratio, both Markel (MKL) at 1.47 and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 1.12 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
MKL
Insurance industry group
1.47
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- MKL
- 1.47
- 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 Markel (MKL) at 1.28 and Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 2.26 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
MKL
Insurance industry group
1.28
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- MKL
- 1.28
- 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 | MKL | SLF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.80 | 18.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.47 | 1.12 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.28 | 2.26 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |