PUK vs. WRB: Prudential vs. W. R. Berkley Stock Comparison
How do Prudential (PUK) and W. R. Berkley (WRB) 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
Prudential (PUK) and W. R. Berkley (WRB) both belong to the Insurance industry, though PUK is classified under Life & Health Insurance while WRB falls under Property & Casualty Insurance.
W. R. Berkley (WRB) trades as ordinary local shares, while Prudential (PUK) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | PUK | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Prudential plc ADR | W. R. Berkley Corporation |
| Country/Region | Hong Kong | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life & Health Insurance | Property & Casualty Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 30.28 billion USD | 27.95 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 29, 2000 | October 23, 1973 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PUK | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -7.39% | 4.12% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 8.09% | 21.96% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -6.78% | 18.80% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PUK | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.81% | 22.41% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.64 | 0.21 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -62.24% | -26.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.21M | 2.52M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PUK | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.39 | -0.01 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.54 | -0.01 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Prudential (PUK) at 18.74% and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 19.26% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
PUK
Insurance industry group
18.74%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- PUK
- 18.74%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
WRB
Insurance industry group
19.26%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- WRB
- 19.26%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Prudential (PUK) at 25.49% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 12.53%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
PUK
Insurance industry group
25.49%
- Max
- 29.92%
- PUK
- 25.49%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
WRB
Insurance industry group
12.53%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- WRB
- 12.53%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Prudential (PUK) in Insurance and W. R. Berkley (WRB) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PUK | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.74% | 19.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.60% | 3.43% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 25.49% | 12.53% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Prudential (PUK) at 68.98% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 6.93%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Prudential (PUK) at 82.74% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 2.06% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for PUK.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PUK | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 68.98% | 6.93% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 9.28% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 82.74% | 2.06% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 61.41% | 10.55% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Prudential (PUK) in Insurance and W. R. Berkley (WRB) 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: Prudential (PUK) in Insurance and W. R. Berkley (WRB) 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 | PUK | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Prudential (PUK) at 1.10% and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 0.49% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
PUK
Insurance industry group
1.10%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- PUK
- 1.10%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WRB
Insurance industry group
0.49%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- WRB
- 0.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Prudential (PUK) at 18.71% and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 8.03% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
PUK
Insurance industry group
18.71%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- PUK
- 18.71%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
WRB
Insurance industry group
8.03%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- WRB
- 8.03%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PUK | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.10% | 0.49% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 18.71% | 8.03% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Prudential (PUK) at 8.72 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 15.90 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for PUK, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
PUK
Insurance industry group
8.72
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- PUK
- 8.72
- Min
- 2.32
WRB
Insurance industry group
15.90
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- WRB
- 15.90
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Prudential (PUK) at 2.12 and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 1.88 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
PUK
Insurance industry group
2.12
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- PUK
- 2.12
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
WRB
Insurance industry group
1.88
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- WRB
- 1.88
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 3.04 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Prudential (PUK) at 6.29 prices even higher, above its industry range.
PUK
Insurance industry group
6.29
- PUK
- 6.29
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
WRB
Insurance industry group
3.04
- Max
- 5.07
- WRB
- 3.04
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PUK | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.72 | 15.90 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.29 | 3.04 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |