UNM vs. WTW: Unum vs. Willis Towers Watson Stock Comparison
How do Unum (UNM) 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
Unum (UNM) and Willis Towers Watson (WTW) both belong to the Insurance industry, though UNM is classified under Life & Health Insurance while WTW falls under Insurance Brokers.
| Profile Item | UNM | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Unum Group | 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 | Life & Health Insurance | Insurance Brokers |
| Market Capitalization | 11.89 billion USD | 30.33 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | November 6, 1986 | June 12, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | UNM | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 4.52% | 2.59% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 25.65% | 12.90% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 29.12% | 8.63% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | UNM | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.31% | 31.09% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.28 | 0.42 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -23.00% | -30.39% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.86M | 537.05K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | UNM | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.01 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.01 | -0.07 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 20.18% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Unum (UNM) at 2.25% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.
UNM
Insurance industry group
2.25%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- UNM
- 2.25%
- 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)
Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 15.22% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Unum (UNM) at 1.94% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
UNM
Insurance industry group
1.94%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- UNM
- 1.94%
- 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 Unum (UNM) 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 | UNM | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 2.25% | 20.18% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.51% | 5.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 1.94% | 15.22% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Unum (UNM) at 1.52% 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: Unum (UNM) reports EPS growth of -54.86%, ranked against its industry; Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | UNM | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.52% | -2.24% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.02% | 3.07% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -54.86% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -13.07% | 21.88% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Unum (UNM) 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: Unum (UNM) 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 | UNM | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Unum (UNM) at 2.61% 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, UNM the richer one.
UNM
Insurance industry group
2.61%
- Max
- 5.12%
- UNM
- 2.61%
- 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)
Unum (UNM) reports payout ratio above 100% at 128.23%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Willis Towers Watson (WTW) reports 23.34%, ranking against industry peers normally.
UNM
Insurance industry group
128.23%
- UNM
- 128.23%
- Max
- 76.67%
- 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 | UNM | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.61% | 0.29% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 128.23% | 23.34% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 20.20 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Unum (UNM) at 52.21 is richer still, above its industry range.
UNM
Insurance industry group
52.21
- UNM
- 52.21
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- 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)
Unum (UNM) at 0.95 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.
UNM
Insurance industry group
0.95
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- UNM
- 0.95
- 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)
Unum (UNM) at 1.11 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Willis Towers Watson (WTW) at 3.91 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.
UNM
Insurance industry group
1.11
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- UNM
- 1.11
- 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 | UNM | WTW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 52.21 | 20.20 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.95 | 2.95 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.11 | 3.91 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |