SLF vs. WTW: Sun Life Financial vs. Willis Towers Watson Stock Comparison
How do Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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
Sun Life Financial (SLF) and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) both belong to the Insurance industry, though SLF is classified under Life & Health Insurance while WTW falls under Insurance Brokers.
| Profile Item | SLF | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Sun Life Financial Inc. | 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 | 39.73 billion USD | 30.33 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | March 23, 2000 | June 12, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SLF | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 30.02% | 2.59% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 20.05% | 12.90% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 9.37% | 8.63% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SLF | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 21.39% | 31.09% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.88 | 0.42 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -30.77% | -30.39% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 666.75K | 537.05K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SLF | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.20 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.61 | -0.07 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 11.55% 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.
SLF
Insurance industry group
11.55%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- SLF
- 11.55%
- 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 Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 8.63% 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.
SLF
Insurance industry group
8.63%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- SLF
- 8.63%
- 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 Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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 | SLF | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.55% | 20.18% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.74% | 5.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.63% | 15.22% |
| 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 Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at -2.24% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Sun Life Financial (SLF) reports EPS growth of 16.92%, ranked against its industry; Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SLF | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.50% | -2.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 123.82% | 3.07% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 16.92% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.68% | 21.88% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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: Sun Life Financial (SLF) 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 | SLF | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 0.29% 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%
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 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%
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 | SLF | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 5.12% | 0.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 70.41% | 23.34% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 18.58 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.
SLF
Insurance industry group
18.58
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- SLF
- 18.58
- 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)
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 1.12 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.
SLF
Insurance industry group
1.12
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- SLF
- 1.12
- 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)
Sun Life Financial (SLF) at 2.26 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.
SLF
Insurance industry group
2.26
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- SLF
- 2.26
- 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 | SLF | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.58 | 20.20 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.12 | 2.95 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.26 | 3.91 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |