MKL vs. WTW: Markel vs. Willis Towers Watson Stock Comparison
How do Markel (MKL) 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
Markel (MKL) and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) both belong to the Insurance industry, though MKL is classified under Property & Casualty Insurance while WTW falls under Insurance Brokers.
| Profile Item | MKL | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Markel Group Inc. | 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 | Property & Casualty Insurance | Insurance Brokers |
| Market Capitalization | 23.71 billion USD | 30.33 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 12, 1986 | June 12, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MKL | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -4.35% | 2.59% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 13.21% | 12.90% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.36% | 8.63% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MKL | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.61% | 31.09% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.57 | 0.42 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -28.87% | -30.39% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 66.79K | 537.05K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MKL | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.46 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.60 | -0.07 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Markel (MKL) at 9.75% 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.
MKL
Insurance industry group
9.75%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- MKL
- 9.75%
- 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)
Both Markel (MKL) at 11.13% 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.
MKL
Insurance industry group
11.13%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- MKL
- 11.13%
- 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 Markel (MKL) 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 | MKL | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.75% | 20.18% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.21% | 5.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.13% | 15.22% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Markel (MKL) at -2.49% and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at -2.24% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Markel (MKL) reports EPS growth of -15.10%, ranked against its industry; Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MKL | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -2.49% | -2.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.40% | 3.07% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -15.10% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 21.88% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Markel (MKL) 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: Markel (MKL) 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 | MKL | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Willis Towers Watson (WTW) reports a yield of 0.29%, 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%
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)
Markel (MKL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Willis Towers Watson (WTW) reports a payout of 23.34%, 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%
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 | MKL | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 23.34% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Markel (MKL) at 13.80 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.
MKL
Insurance industry group
13.80
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- MKL
- 13.80
- 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)
Markel (MKL) at 1.47 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.
MKL
Insurance industry group
1.47
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- MKL
- 1.47
- 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)
Markel (MKL) at 1.28 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.
MKL
Insurance industry group
1.28
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- MKL
- 1.28
- 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 | MKL | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.80 | 20.20 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.47 | 2.95 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.28 | 3.91 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |