Hippo Holdings Inc.

Leading global insurer MetLife, Inc. MET is set to report second-quarter 2025 results on Aug. 6, after the closing bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $2.19 per share on revenues of $18.4 billion.
The second-quarter earnings estimate has improved over the past 30 days. However, the bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year decline of 4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests a year-over-year decline of 1.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For the current year, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MetLife’s revenues is pegged at $74.8 billion, implying a rise of 2.4% year over year. Also, the consensus mark for current-year EPS is pegged at $8.96, calling for a jump of around 10.5% on a year-over-year basis.
MET beat the consensus estimate for earnings in one of the last four quarters and missed thrice, with the average surprise being negative 1.9%.
MetLife, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Q2 Earnings Whispers for MET
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for MetLife this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here.
MET has an Earnings ESP of +0.67% and carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
What’s Shaping MET’s Q2 Results?
Rising adjusted group benefits revenues are expected to buoy MetLife’s second-quarter results. Improving operations in the international markets, especially in Asia and Latin America, is a major positive.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total adjusted group benefits for the to-be-reported quarter suggests an increase of 2.9% from the prior-year quarter. Improving profits from Asia and Latin American operations are expected to have positioned the company for significant growth from the year-ago period. Favorable underwriting and improved variable investment income are likely to have aided the Asia segment, while the Latin America business is expected to have gained from higher volumes.
Adjusted earnings from the Latin America business are likely to have witnessed 0.4% year-over-year growth in the second quarter.
The factors mentioned above are expected to have contributed to MetLife's year-over-year growth. However, rising costs and expenses are likely to have partially offset the profit growth levels in the to-be-reported quarter. Also, the consensus mark for net investment income is pegged at $5.1 billion, implying a decline of 1.4% year over year.
Stocks That Warrant a Look
Here are some companies worth considering from the broader Finance space, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time:
Hippo Holdings Inc. HIPO presently has an Earnings ESP of +2.04% and carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hippo Holdings’ bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at a loss of $0.65 per share, indicating 60.4% year-over-year growth. It has remained stable over the past week. The consensus estimate for Hippo Holdings’ revenues is pegged at $115.5 million.
American International Group Inc AIG currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.18% and carries a Zacks Rank #3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for American International Group’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $1.58 per share, indicating 36.2% year-over-year growth. It has remained stable over the past week. The consensus estimate for American International Group’s revenues is pegged at $6.8 billion.
Assurant, Inc. AIZ currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.21% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Assurant’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $4.43 per share. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $3.11 billion. Assurant beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with the average surprise being 16%.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

MetLife to Report Q2 Earnings: What Do Key Estimates Say?

The following are today's upgrades for Validea's Small-Cap Growth Investor model based on the published strategy of Motley Fool. This strategy looks for small cap growth stocks with solid fundamentals and strong price performance.
TRADEWEB MARKETS INC (TW) is a large-cap growth stock in the Investment Services industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 59% to 72% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Tradeweb Markets Inc. is a global operator of electronic marketplaces for rates, credit, equities and money markets. The Company provides access to markets, data and analytics, electronic trading, straight-through-processing and reporting for more than 50 products to clients. It supports its clients by providing solutions across the trade lifecycle, including pre-trade, execution, post-trade and data and analytics. Its technology supports multiple asset classes, trading protocols and geographies. The Company provides deep liquidity pools to the institutional, wholesale and retail client sectors through its Tradeweb Institutional, Dealerweb, Tradeweb Direct and ICD Portal platforms. It provides fully electronic, hybrid and voice trading for the wholesale community on its Dealerweb platform. Its network comprises clients across the institutional, wholesale, retail and corporate client sectors, including global asset managers, hedge funds, central banks, banks and dealers, and others.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
Detailed Analysis of TRADEWEB MARKETS INC
HIPPO HOLDINGS INC (HIPO) is a small-cap growth stock in the Insurance (Prop. & Casualty) industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 63% to 76% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Hippo Holdings Inc. is an insurance holding company with subsidiaries that provide property and casualty insurance products to both individuals and business customers. The Company's segments include Services, Insurance-as-a-Service, and Hippo Home Insurance Program. Services Segment is comprised of its Consumer Agency and First Connect. Consumer Agency sells home insurance policies from the Hippo Home Insurance Program and from third-party carriers, as well as other personal lines policies from third party carriers. First Connect Insurance Services business is a digital platform designed to support independent agents by providing access to some of the nations carriers. Insurance-as-a-Service segment is managed through the Companys subsidiary Spinnaker Insurance Company and its subsidiaries. Insurance-as-a-Service segment is predominantly focused on providing insurance capacity to MGAs. Hippo Home Insurance Program segment is the Companys Hippo-branded homeowners insurance business.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
Detailed Analysis of HIPPO HOLDINGS INC
About Motley Fool: Brothers David and Tom Gardner often wear funny hats in public appearances, but they're hardly fools -- at least not the kind whose advice you should readily dismiss. The Gardners are the founders of the popular Motley Fool web site, which offers frank and often irreverent commentary on investing, the stock market, and personal finance. The Gardners' "Fool" really is a multi-media endeavor, offering not only its web content but also several books written by the brothers, a weekly syndicated newspaper column, and subscription newsletter services.
About Validea: Validea is aninvestment researchservice that follows the published strategies of investment legends. Validea offers both stock analysis and model portfolios based on gurus who have outperformed the market over the long-term, including Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch and Martin Zweig. For more information about Validea, click here
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Validea Motley Fool Strategy Daily Upgrade Report - 8/1/2025

The following are today's upgrades for Validea's Small-Cap Growth Investor model based on the published strategy of Motley Fool. This strategy looks for small cap growth stocks with solid fundamentals and strong price performance.
HCI GROUP INC (HCI) is a small-cap growth stock in the Insurance (Prop. & Casualty) industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 69% to 91% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: HCI Group, Inc. is a holding company engaged in property and casualty insurance, information technology services, insurance management, real estate and reinsurance. It operates through two operating units. The first unit includes four insurance companies, a captive reinsurance company, and operations in claims management and real estate. The second unit, called Exzeo Group, Inc., is engaged in insurance technology that utilizes advanced underwriting algorithms and data analytics. Exzeo helps property and casualty insurers to transform underwriting outcomes. Its insurance business includes property and casualty insurance division and reinsurance operations, excluding the insurance operations under reciprocal exchange operations. The reciprocal exchange business includes insurance operations of CORE and Tailrow, consolidated VIEs. The real estate operations business includes companies engaged in operating commercial properties for investment purposes or for use in its own operations.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
PASS
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
PASS
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
FAIL
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
PASS
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
PASS
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
NEUTRAL
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
PASS
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO SALES:
PASS
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
PASS
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
FAIL
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
PASS
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
PASS
Detailed Analysis of HCI GROUP INC
HCI Guru Analysis
HCI Fundamental Analysis
HIPPO HOLDINGS INC (HIPO) is a small-cap growth stock in the Insurance (Prop. & Casualty) industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 69% to 76% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Hippo Holdings Inc. is an insurance holding company with subsidiaries that provide property and casualty insurance products to both individuals and business customers. The Company's segments include Services, Insurance-as-a-Service, and Hippo Home Insurance Program. Services Segment is comprised of its Consumer Agency and First Connect. Consumer Agency sells home insurance policies from the Hippo Home Insurance Program and from third-party carriers, as well as other personal lines policies from third party carriers. First Connect Insurance Services business is a digital platform designed to support independent agents by providing access to some of the nationGs carriers. Insurance-as-a-Service segment is managed through the CompanyGs subsidiary Spinnaker Insurance Company and its subsidiaries. Insurance-as-a-Service segment is predominantly focused on providing insurance capacity to MGAs. Hippo Home Insurance Program segment is the CompanyGs Hippo-branded homeowners insurance business.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
FAIL
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
FAIL
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
PASS
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
PASS
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
PASS
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
NEUTRAL
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
PASS
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO SALES:
PASS
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
FAIL
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
PASS
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
PASS
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
FAIL
Detailed Analysis of HIPPO HOLDINGS INC
HIPO Guru Analysis
HIPO Fundamental Analysis
RED VIOLET INC (RDVT) is a small-cap growth stock in the Software & Programming industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 83% to 91% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Red Violet, Inc. is engaged in building proprietary technologies and applying analytical capabilities to deliver identity intelligence. Its solutions enable the real-time identification and location of people, businesses, assets, and their interrelationships. These solutions are used for purposes including risk mitigation, due diligence, fraud detection and prevention, regulatory compliance, and customer acquisition. Its AI/ML-driven identity intelligence platform, CORE, is purpose-built for the enterprise, flexible enough for organizations of all sizes, bringing clarity to massive datasets by transforming data into intelligence. The CORE platform provides essential solutions to public and private sector organizations through analytical interfaces. It markets its solutions primarily through two brands, IDI and FOREWARN. IDI is an analytics and information solutions provider. idiCORE is IDI's flagship product. FOREWARN is an app-based solution tailored for the real estate industry.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
PASS
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
PASS
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
PASS
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
PASS
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
PASS
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
PASS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
PASS
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO SALES:
PASS
LONG TERM DEBT/EQUITY RATIO:
PASS
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
FAIL
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
PASS
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
PASS
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
FAIL
Detailed Analysis of RED VIOLET INC
RDVT Guru Analysis
RDVT Fundamental Analysis
OPERA LTD (ADR) (OPRA) is a small-cap growth stock in the Software & Programming industry. The rating according to our strategy based on Motley Fool changed from 59% to 72% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
Company Description: Opera Ltd is a Norway-based technology company that is engaged in the web browser development. The Company operates as provider of browser and integrated artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital content discovery and recommendation platforms. The CompanyGs operations are comprised of search, advertising, technology licensing and other. The search revenue is generated when a user conducts a qualified search using an Opera search partner. The advertising revenue is comprised of industry-standard advertising units, predefined partner bookmarks, or speed dials, and subscriptions of various promoted services. Technology licensing and other revenues include revenues from device manufacturers and mobile communications operators. Licensing agreements include licensing of technology, related professional services, maintenance and support, as well as hosting services.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
PROFIT MARGIN:
PASS
RELATIVE STRENGTH:
FAIL
COMPARE SALES AND EPS GROWTH TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR:
PASS
INSIDER HOLDINGS:
FAIL
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS:
PASS
PROFIT MARGIN CONSISTENCY:
PASS
R&D AS A PERCENTAGE OF SALES:
PASS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
FAIL
INVENTORY TO SALES:
PASS
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO SALES:
PASS
LONG TERM DEBT/EQUITY RATIO:
PASS
"THE FOOL RATIO" (P/E TO GROWTH):
PASS
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
PASS
SALES:
FAIL
DAILY DOLLAR VOLUME:
PASS
PRICE:
PASS
INCOME TAX PERCENTAGE:
FAIL
Detailed Analysis of OPERA LTD (ADR)
OPRA Guru Analysis
OPRA Fundamental Analysis
Motley Fool Portfolio
About Motley Fool: Brothers David and Tom Gardner often wear funny hats in public appearances, but they're hardly fools -- at least not the kind whose advice you should readily dismiss. The Gardners are the founders of the popular Motley Fool web site, which offers frank and often irreverent commentary on investing, the stock market, and personal finance. The Gardners' "Fool" really is a multi-media endeavor, offering not only its web content but also several books written by the brothers, a weekly syndicated newspaper column, and subscription newsletter services.
About Validea: Validea is aninvestment researchservice that follows the published strategies of investment legends. Validea offers both stock analysis and model portfolios based on gurus who have outperformed the market over the long-term, including Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch and Martin Zweig. For more information about Validea, click here
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Validea Motley Fool Strategy Daily Upgrade Report - 5/10/2025

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Snowflake Inc (Symbol: SNOW), where a total of 83,572 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 8.4 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 125.2% of SNOW's average daily trading volume over the past month of 6.7 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $180 strike call option expiring March 07, 2025, with 6,809 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 680,900 underlying shares of SNOW. Below is a chart showing SNOW's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $180 strike highlighted in orange:
Coinbase Global Inc (Symbol: COIN) options are showing a volume of 123,674 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 12.4 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 117.9% of COIN's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 10.5 million shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $300 strike call option expiring March 21, 2025, with 7,425 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 742,500 underlying shares of COIN. Below is a chart showing COIN's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $300 strike highlighted in orange:
And Hippo Holdings Inc (Symbol: HIPO) options are showing a volume of 1,794 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 179,400 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 114.8% of HIPO's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 156,335 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $30 strike call option expiring April 17, 2025, with 741 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 74,100 underlying shares of HIPO. Below is a chart showing HIPO's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $30 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for SNOW options, COIN options, or HIPO options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Institutional Holders of DMND
N Price Target
AMRX YTD Return
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Thursday Option Activity: SNOW, COIN, HIPO

Assurant (AIZ) came out with quarterly earnings of $4.79 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.33 per share. This compares to earnings of $4.58 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 10.62%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this insurer would post earnings of $2.50 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3, delivering a surprise of 20%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Assurant, which belongs to the Zacks Insurance - Multi line industry, posted revenues of $3.13 billion for the quarter ended December 2024, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.60%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $3 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Assurant shares have lost about 0.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 3.1%.
What's Next for Assurant?
While Assurant has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Assurant: favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $4.69 on $2.99 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $17.95 on $12.28 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Insurance - Multi line is currently in the top 35% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, Hippo Holdings Inc. (HIPO), has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2024. The results are expected to be released on March 6.
This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.15 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +91.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.4% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.
Hippo Holdings Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $96 million, up 48.8% from the year-ago quarter.
Should You Invest in Assurant, Inc. (AIZ)?
Before you invest in Assurant, Inc. (AIZ), want to know the best stocks to buy for the next 30 days? Check out Zacks Investment Research for our free report on the 7 best stocks to buy.
Zacks Investment Research has been committed to providing investors with tools and independent research since 1978. For more than a quarter century, the Zacks Rank stock-rating system has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +24.08% per year. (These returns cover a period from January 1, 1988 through May 6, 2024.)
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Hippo Holdings Inc. (HIPO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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Zacks Investment Research
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Assurant (AIZ) Q4 Earnings and Revenues Top Estimates

The Los Angeles wildfires, which erupted on Jan. 7, have become the costliest in U.S. history, with insured losses estimated at $28 billion, according to catastrophe risk modeling firm KCC. The fires have scorched nearly 24,000 acres across areas like the Santa Monica Mountains, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu, and over 14,000 acres in the Angeles National Forest. The disaster has resulted in the destruction of almost 16,000 structures and claimed 28 lives, with significant damage impacting both residential and commercial properties.
Insurers in both the U.S. and Europe are bracing for a wave of catastrophe-related claims due to the scale of destruction. KCC’s estimate encompasses not only damage from fire and smoke but also additional factors such as guaranteed replacement cost coverage, demand surge, and time-element losses for residents in evacuation zones. On Wednesday, Verisk (VRSK) also reported that losses from the fire could range between $28 billion and $35 billion, reflecting the unprecedented scale of the event and its widespread economic impact.
Market Overview:
Insured losses from LA wildfires estimated at $28 billion, the highest in U.S. history.
Fires have destroyed nearly 16,000 structures and burned areas equivalent to Washington, D.C.
European and U.S. insurers face billions in catastrophe-related claims.
Key Points:
KCC attributes losses to fire, smoke damage, demand surge, and guaranteed replacement costs.
The Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire caused extensive damage across multiple regions.
Verisk estimates total losses could range from $28 billion to $35 billion.
Looking Ahead:
Insurers may face increased premiums and regulatory scrutiny after the record-breaking losses.
California's wildfires spotlight the growing impact of climate change on natural disasters.
Recovery efforts and rebuilding costs expected to strain local and state resources.
Bull Case:
The Los Angeles wildfires, while devastating, highlight the need for increased investment in climate resilience and disaster mitigation, potentially driving innovation in urban planning and infrastructure upgrades[1][3].
Insurance companies may adjust premiums and policies to better reflect wildfire risks, which could lead to a more sustainable insurance model for high-risk regions[4][5].
Recovery efforts, including rebuilding homes and businesses, are expected to inject billions into the local economy, creating jobs and boosting construction-related industries[1][6].
Heightened awareness of climate risks may accelerate policy changes and funding for renewable energy and environmental protection initiatives, reducing future vulnerabilities[3][6].
Real estate markets in "fire-safe zones" are experiencing increased demand, potentially stabilizing property values in areas deemed less risky[4].
Bear Case:
The estimated $28 billion to $35 billion in insured losses will strain both U.S. and European insurers, leading to higher premiums or reduced coverage options for homeowners in wildfire-prone areas[1][5].
Underinsurance remains a critical issue, leaving many property owners unable to fully rebuild, further exacerbating economic disparities in affected communities[3][4].
The destruction of nearly 16,000 structures and displacement of over 150,000 residents will create long-term housing shortages and strain local government resources[3][6].
Tourism-dependent areas like Malibu face significant revenue losses due to damaged landmarks and poor air quality, impacting the broader regional economy[5][6].
Climate change continues to amplify the frequency and severity of wildfires, posing ongoing risks to infrastructure, public health, and economic stability across California and other high-risk regions[2][7].
Rising claims from natural disasters like the LA wildfires have further intensified financial pressures on the insurance industry. Insurers have already faced mounting losses from previous catastrophes, with climate change amplifying the frequency and severity of such events. The fires, which include the Palisades and Eaton fires, have brought into sharp focus the vulnerabilities in disaster-prone regions like California, where rebuilding costs and demand surges compound the financial toll.
With total insured losses potentially exceeding $35 billion, analysts anticipate increased premiums and stricter underwriting practices in wildfire-prone areas. These developments come as insurers and regulators grapple with the broader implications of climate risks, which are reshaping policies and prompting calls for more robust disaster mitigation strategies. For residents and businesses, the road to recovery will require coordinated efforts between state agencies, insurers, and local governments.
This article was originally published on Quiver News, read the full story.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

LA Wildfires Cause $28 Billion in Insured Losses, KCC Says

Here are five stocks added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List today:
JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM: This financial services giant has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 5.8% over the last 60 days.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Price and Consensus
JPMorgan Chase & Co. price-consensus-chart | JPMorgan Chase & Co. Quote
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. GS: This financial institution has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 8.8% over the last 60 days.
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Price and Consensus
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. price-consensus-chart | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Quote
Citigroup Inc. C: This financial services company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 4.5% over the last 60 days.
Citigroup Inc. Price and Consensus
Citigroup Inc. price-consensus-chart | Citigroup Inc. Quote
Hippo Holdings Inc. HIPO: This property and casualty insurance company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its next year earnings increasing 26.5% over the last 60 days.
Hippo Holdings Inc. Price and Consensus
Hippo Holdings Inc. price-consensus-chart | Hippo Holdings Inc. Quote
Potbelly Corporation PBPB: This operator of sandwich shops has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 14.3% over the last 60 days.
Potbelly Corporation Price and Consensus
Potbelly Corporation price-consensus-chart | Potbelly Corporation Quote
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is among the most innovative financial firms. With a fast-growing customer base (already 50+ million) and a diverse set of cutting edge solutions, this stock is poised for big gains. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
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The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Citigroup Inc. (C) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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New Strong Buy Stocks for January 22nd

Columbus, Ohio-based Root Inc. (ROOT) is a provider of online insurance services. More specifically, it is a direct-to-customer provider of insurance coverage for autos, renters, and homeowners, and Root's mobile app claims to gather and analyze real-time driving data from customers in order to provide the most accurate insurance quotes. That places Root squarely in the “insurtech” market niche, which - similar to fintech - aims to revolutionize the insurance industry with new technological advances.
Root’s stock has been breaking out this year, with the stock up an astonishing 675% on a year-to-date basis. The shares set a new 52-week high earlier today, but still trades about 85% below all-time highs.
What's Driving the ROOT Breakout?
This year's price breakout began in earnest after ROOT posted its Q4 earnings in late February. The insurance provider reported an adjusted loss of $1.68 per share for the period, as revenue surged 173% year-over-year to $194.8 million. The results were significantly better than Wall Street expected, with the consensus calling for a per-share loss of $2.49 on revenue of just $127 million.
Looking ahead, analysts expect ROOT to continue narrowing its bottom-line losses. The full-year loss for fiscal 2024 is projected at $7.87 per share, compared to $10.24 per share in 2023. In fiscal 2025, losses are expected to narrow further to $5.03 per share.
Analysts React to Q4 Earnings
Following the forecast-crushing report, analysts rushed to upwardly revise their ratings on ROOT.
Keefe Bruyette Woods upgraded the stock to "Outperform," and more than doubled its price target to $22. Likewise, Cantor Fitzgerald raised its rating on ROOT to "Buy" from "Hold" after earnings, with a price-target hike to $13 from $9.
Jefferies was even more enthusiastic, writing, "The company executed a 'better-than-industry' target loss ratio this quarter, setting a path to profitable growth, market share gains and scalability for a viable business model." The brokerage firm upgraded ROOT to "Buy" and set a $40 price target, up from $10.
Over the last two months, the stock's consensus rating on Wall Street has shifted from a “Hold” to a “Moderate Buy,” with 8 analysts in coverage. Among that group, there are 3 “Strong Buys,” 1 “Buy,” and 4 “Holds.”
ROOT Trading Volume Spikes
Whether it was the massive Q4 beat or the bullish analyst notes that followed, ROOT garnered quite a bit of new attention from traders afterward.
Ahead of the earnings release, the stock's average daily trading volume in 2024 totaled 83,220 shares. After the report, that average daily volume figure has jumped to about 1.34 million shares.
Is ROOT Stock Still a Good Buy?
At current levels, ROOT trades nearly 5x higher than its mean price target of $16.88 from analysts - and the current share price of $83.50 is more than double the relatively new Street-high target of $40 from Jefferies.
That said, with a forward price/sales ratio of 1.13, ROOT still looks reasonably valued relative to insurtech peers like Hippo Holdings (HIPO) and Palomar (PLMR).
On the date of publication, Ruchi Gupta did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Up 675% YTD, What's Behind the Breakout in Root Stock?

The so-called Magnificent Seven - a group that includes mega-cap tech companies Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Meta Platforms (META), Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia (NVDA), and Tesla (TSLA) - propelled stock markets to new highs in 2023, as investor enthusiasm over artificial intelligence (AI) propelled these names sharply higher. These companies collectively added a staggering $5.1 trillion in total market cap during 2023, and even inspired the creation of their own exchange-traded fund (ETF), in the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS).
However, the Mag 7's collective momentum has cooled considerably in 2024. While MAGS is still narrowly outperforming the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 Index ($IUXX) on a YTD basis, it's largely thanks to the outsized returns of NVDA and META, considering that three members of the group - TSLA, AAPL, and GOOGL - are underperforming the broader index by a considerable margin.
In the meantime, a handful of small-cap stocks from the benchmark Russell 2000 Index (RUT) have bested their Magnificent Seven counterparts by breaking out to considerable YTD gains that outpace even Nvidia's 81% return. After a lengthy period of large-cap outperformance, investors may want to consider these relatively overlooked RUT components, all of which are rated “Buy” or better by Wall Street analysts.
Small-Cap Stock #1: Viking Therapeutics (VKTX)
Established in 2012 and based out of California, Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) develops therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Their primary interest lies in developing what they call "first-in-class or best-in-class" therapies. This means they're either creating entirely new medications for a particular condition, or improving upon existing treatments to be more effective or have fewer side effects.
Viking Therapeutics stock is up 276% on a YTD basis, pushing its market cap all the way up to $6.4 billion amid investor enthusiasm over positive data for its clinical stage weight-loss drug.
Overall, analysts have deemed VKTX stock a “Strong Buy,” with a mean target price of $99.11. This denotes an upside potential of about 40.9% from current levels.
Out of 10 analysts covering Viking Therapeutics, 9 have a “Strong Buy” rating and 1 has a “Moderate Buy” rating.
Small-Cap Stock #2: SoundHound AI (SOUN)
Founded in 2005, Santa Clara-based SoundHound AI (SOUN) develops voice AI and speech recognition technologies. It caters primarily to the automotive, IoT devices, restaurants, and customer service industries through its products - including the Voice AI developer platform, its voice-enabled digital assistant, SoundHound Chat AI, and its music recognition mobile app, SoundHound.
With a market cap of $2.14 billion, SoundHound AI stock has rallied 268% on a YTD basis, propelled in part by news of an investment from Mag 7 member Nvidia.
Wall Street analysts have deemed SOUN stock a “Strong Buy,” with a mean target price of $6.97 - a discount to the stock's current price. However, the Street-high target of $9 implies upside potential of 15%.
Out of 6 analysts covering the stock, 5 have a “Strong Buy” rating, and 1 has a “Hold” rating.
Small-Cap Stock #3: Apogee Therapeutics (APGE)
San Francisco-based Apogee Therapeutics (APGE) is a relatively new player in the biotech industry, having been founded in 2022. A clinical-stage biotechnology company developing "best-in-class" biologics to treat immunological and inflammatory disorders, their focus areas include atopic dermatitis (AD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other high-need areas in immunology and inflammation.
Currently, Apogee's market cap is $3.5 billion. The stock is up 149% on a YTD basis, having gapped higher in early March on positive trial results.
APGE stock is a unanimous “Strong Buy” among all 6 analysts in coverage, with a mean target price of $78.20. This denotes an upside potential of about 12% from current levels.
Small-Cap Stock #4: Fate Therapeutics (FATE)
Founded in 2007, San Diego-based Fate Therapeutics (FATE) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to develop cellular immunotherapies to treat cancer and autoimmune disorders. iPSCs are adult cells reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state, allowing them to differentiate into various cell types for therapeutic purposes.
With a market cap of about $760 million, Fate Therapeutics stock has gained 109.8% on a YTD basis. The stock shot higher in late January on reports that Steve Cohen's hedge fund took a passive stake in the biotech.
Overall, analysts remain cautiously optimistic about Fate Therapeutics, which has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy,” but a mean target price of $7.23 - a discount of nearly 8% to current levels. However, the Street-high target price of $12 indicates expected upside of about 52.6%.
Out of 21 analysts covering FATE stock, 6 have a “Strong Buy” rating, 13 have a “Hold" rating, 1 has a “Moderate Sell” rating, and 1 has a “Strong Sell” rating.
Small-Cap Stock #5: Hippo Holdings (HIPO)
Founded in 2015, Hippo Holdings (HIPO) is a property insurance company targeting homeowners insurance. They leverage InsurTech (insurance technology) to provide a streamlined online experience for getting quotes, purchasing coverage, and managing claims.
Hippo's market cap currently stands at $439.3 million, and HIPO stock is up nearly 111% on a YTD basis. The stock gapped sharply higher on March 6 after HIPO reported Q4 2023 earnings that beat analysts' expectations.
Overall, analysts have deemed Hippo Holdings stock a “Moderate Buy,” with a mean target price of $21.33, which indicates an upside potential of about 10% from current levels.
Out of 5 analysts covering HIPO, 2 have a “Strong Buy” rating, 1 has a “Moderate Buy” rating, and 2 have a “Hold” rating.
On the date of publication, Pathikrit Bose did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

5 Russell 2000 Stocks Outperforming the 'Magnificent Seven' in 2024

EverQuote (EVER) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.19 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.31. This compares to loss of $0.26 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 38.71%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post a loss of $0.72 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.40, delivering a surprise of 44.44%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
EverQuote, which belongs to the Zacks Insurance - Multi line industry, posted revenues of $55.71 million for the quarter ended December 2023, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.66%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $88.31 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
EverQuote shares have added about 36.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 6.7%.
What's Next for EverQuote?
While EverQuote has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for EverQuote: favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is -$0.25 on $60.94 million in revenues for the coming quarter and -$0.85 on $266.93 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Insurance - Multi line is currently in the top 27% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Hippo Holdings Inc. (HIPO), another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023. The results are expected to be released on March 6.
This company is expected to post quarterly loss of $2.04 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +25.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Hippo Holdings Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $57 million, up 59.2% from the year-ago quarter.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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