SLF vs. WRB: Sun Life Financial vs. W. R. Berkley Stock Comparison
How do Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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
Sun Life Financial (SLF) and W. R. Berkley (WRB) both belong to the Insurance industry, though SLF is classified under Life & Health Insurance while WRB falls under Property & Casualty Insurance.
| Profile Item | SLF | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Sun Life Financial Inc. | W. R. Berkley Corporation |
| Country/Region | Canada | 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 | 39.73 billion USD | 27.95 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 23, 2000 | October 23, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SLF | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.02% | 4.12% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 20.05% | 21.96% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 9.37% | 18.80% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SLF | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 21.39% | 22.41% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.88 | 0.21 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -30.77% | -26.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 666.75K | 2.52M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SLF | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.20 | -0.01 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.61 | -0.01 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 11.55% 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.
SLF
Insurance industry group
11.55%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- SLF
- 11.55%
- 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)
Both Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 8.63% and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 12.53% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
SLF
Insurance industry group
8.63%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- SLF
- 8.63%
- 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 Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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 | SLF | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.55% | 19.26% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.74% | 3.43% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.63% | 12.53% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 11.50% and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 6.93% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 16.92% and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 2.06% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SLF | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.50% | 6.93% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 123.82% | 9.28% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 16.92% | 2.06% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.68% | 10.55% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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: Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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 | SLF | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 5.12% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 0.49% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SLF the richer one.
SLF
Insurance industry group
5.12%
- SLF
- 5.12%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- 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)
W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 8.03% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 70.41% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
SLF
Insurance industry group
70.41%
- Max
- 76.67%
- SLF
- 70.41%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- 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 | SLF | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 5.12% | 0.49% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 70.41% | 8.03% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 18.58 and W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 15.90 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
SLF
Insurance industry group
18.58
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- SLF
- 18.58
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- 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 Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 1.12 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.
SLF
Insurance industry group
1.12
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- SLF
- 1.12
- 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)
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 2.26 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while W. R. Berkley (WRB) at 3.04 carries an above-peer premium to book — WRB is pricier on assets.
SLF
Insurance industry group
2.26
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- SLF
- 2.26
- 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 | SLF | WRB |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.58 | 15.90 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.12 | 1.88 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.26 | 3.04 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |