Kinsale Capital Group демонстрирует сильные финансовые показатели, при этом многие ключевые метрики значительно превышают медианные значения по отрасли. Например, коэффициент ROE и ROA находятся на уровне 33.05% и 9.66% соответственно, что указывает на высокую эффективность использования капитала. Однако, мультипликаторы P/E (25.54) и P/B (7.41) значительно выше медианных значений по отрасли, что может указывать на переоцененность компании. Долговая нагрузка остается низкой, с коэффициентом задолженности 0.13, что является положительным фактором. Тем не менее, текущие и быстрые коэффициенты значительно ниже медианы, что указывает на возможные проблемы с ликвидностью. Несмотря на это, компания демонстрирует рост выручки и прибыли, что в целом создает позитивную картину. Прогноз EPS также остается высоким, что поддерживает ожидания инвесторов. В целом, динамика финансовых показателей указывает на сильную позицию компании, но высокие мультипликаторы и низкая ликвидность вызывают определенные опасения.

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. KNSL delivered first-quarter 2026 net operating earnings of $5.11 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.7%. The bottom line increased 37.7% year over year.
Operating revenues increased 10.2% year over year to $467 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.1%.
The quarterly results benefited from growth in net premiums written, increased net investment income and disciplined underwriting supported by efficient capital management. However, these gains were partially offset by elevated operating expenses.
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
KNSL’s Operational Update
Gross written premiums of $482 million decreased 0.5% year over year, primarily due to a 28.3% decline in the Commercial Property Division. Net written premiums climbed 5.6% year over year to $403.3million.
Net investment income increased 26.5% year over year to $55.4 million. The increase was primarily driven by growth in the company’s investment portfolio.However, net investment income missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5%.
Total expenses increased 5.1% year over year to $327 million due to a rise in underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses as well as interest expense. Our model estimate was $289.6 million.
Kinsale Capital’s underwriting income was $94.5 milion, up 40% year over year. The increase was driven by growth in net earned premiums, higher favorable development of loss reserves from prior accident years, and lower catastrophe losses. Underwriting income surpassed our model estimate by 14.5%.
The combined ratio improved 470 basis points (bps) year over year to 77.4 compared with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 79.1. The loss ratio improved 580 bps to 56.3, reflecting lower catastrophe losses and favorable reserve development. The expense ratio deteriorated 110 bps year over year to 21.1.
Financial Update
Kinsale Capital exited the first quarter of 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $ 223.2 million, which increased 36.7% from the 2025-end level.
As of March 31, 2026, stockholders’ equity increased 0.4% year over year to approximately $1.9 billion.
Book value per share was $85.31 as of March 31, 2026, up 1.1% from the 2025-end level.
Annualized operating return on equity improved 150 bps year over year to 24 % in the reported quarter.
Capital Deployment
KNSL repurchased 0.2 million shares for $62.5 million in the first quarter of 2026. The insurer had $187.5 million remaining under its authorization as of March 31, 2026.
KNSL paid a cash dividend of 25 cents per share in the first quarter of 2026.
Zacks Rank
KNSL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Insurers
Selective Insurance Group (SIGI) reported first-quarter 2026 operating income of $1.69 per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.3%. The bottom line decreased 11% year over year.
Operating revenues of $1.4 billion increased 6.4% from the year-ago quarter’s level, driven primarily by higher net premiums earned and net investment income. The top line misses the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5%. Net premiums written (NPW) decreased 1% to $1.3 billion. The figure was on par with our estimate.
The Travelers Companies, Inc. TRV reported first-quarter 2026 core income of $7.71 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10.5%. The bottom line surged fourfold year over year. Travelers’ total revenues remained flat from the year-ago quarter to $11.9 billion. The top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.7%.
Net written premiums increased 2% year over year to a record $10.3 billion, driven by strong growth across Business Insurance and Bond & Specialty Insurance segments. Net investment income rose 8.4% year over year to $1 billion. The figure matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
The Progressive Corporation’sPGR first-quarter 2026 earnings per share of $4.96 beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.5%. The bottom line increased 6.7% year over year.
Operating revenues grew 8.2% year over year to $22.3 billion, driven by 8% higher net premiums earned, a 12.7% increase in net investment income, a 3.5% rise in fees and other revenues, and 13.5% higher service revenues. The top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.2%. Net premiums earned grew 8% to $20.9 billion. The reported figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.5%.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
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
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

KNSL Q1 Estimates Beat on Strong Underwriting, Revenues Rise Y/Y

Data is currently not available
Edit My Quotes
Add up to 25 symbols
To add symbols:
Type a symbol or company name. When the symbol you want to add appears, add it to My Quotes by selecting it and pressing Enter/Return.
Copy and paste multiple symbols separated by spaces.
These symbols will be available throughout the site during your session.
Save data
Data is currently not available
Edit My European Quotes
Add up to 25 instruments
To add instruments:
Type a instrument or company name. When the instrument you want to add appears, add it to My European Quotes by selecting it and pressing Enter/Return.
Copy and paste multiple instruments separated by spaces.
These instruments will be available throughout the site during your session.
Save data
Data is currently not available
Your symbols have been updated
You'll now be able to see real-time price and activity for your symbols on the My Quotes of Nasdaq.com.
Continue
Data is currently not available
Edit Watchlist
Add up to 20 symbols
To add symbols:
Type a symbol or company name. When the symbol you want to add appears, add it to Watchlist by selecting it and pressing Enter/Return.
Copy and paste multiple symbols separated by spaces.
These symbols will be available throughout the site during your session.
Save data

Kinsale (KNSL) Q1 2026 Earnings Transcript

Cincinnati Financial (CINF) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended March 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on April 27, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While management's discussion of business conditions on theearnings callwill mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This insurer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.88 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +883.3%.
Revenues are expected to be $2.95 billion, up 12.2% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.19% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Cincinnati Financial?
For Cincinnati Financial, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -7.98%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Cincinnati Financial will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Cincinnati Financial would post earnings of $2.86 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.37, delivering a surprise of +17.83%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Cincinnati Financial doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Expected Results of an Industry Player
Another stock from the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL), is soon expected to post earnings of $4.7 per share for the quarter ended March 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +26.7%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $474.7 million, up 12.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Kinsale Capital Group has been revised 0.5% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of -2.13%, reflecting a lower Most Accurate Estimate.
When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Kinsale Capital Group will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Should You Invest in Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF)?
Before you invest in Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF), 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
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Cincinnati Financial (CINF) Earnings Expected to Grow: Should You Buy?

Among the underlying components of the Russell 3000 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Robinhood Markets Inc (Symbol: HOOD), where a total of 152,129 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 15.2 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 58.9% of HOOD's average daily trading volume over the past month of 25.8 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $80 strike call option expiring April 17, 2026, with 15,063 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.5 million underlying shares of HOOD. Below is a chart showing HOOD's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $80 strike highlighted in orange:
Kinsale Capital Group Inc (Symbol: KNSL) options are showing a volume of 1,463 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 146,300 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 57% of KNSL's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 256,735 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $320 strike call option expiring October 16, 2026, with 1,154 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 115,400 underlying shares of KNSL. Below is a chart showing KNSL's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $320 strike highlighted in orange:
And Advanced Energy Industries Inc (Symbol: AEIS) options are showing a volume of 3,535 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 353,500 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 56.9% of AEIS's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 621,480 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $310 strike put option expiring April 17, 2026, with 1,129 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 112,900 underlying shares of AEIS. Below is a chart showing AEIS's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $310 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for HOOD options, KNSL options, or AEIS options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Cheap Technology Stocks
ROT Options Chain
Seth Klarman Stock Picks
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy Tuesday Option Activity: HOOD, KNSL, AEIS

Shares of NMI Holdings Inc. NMIH have gained 14.5% in the past year against the industry’s decline of 2.2%.
NMIH has outperformed its peers, American Financial Group, Inc. AFG and W.R. Berkley Corporation WRB, which have gained 10.9% and 2.6%, respectively, in the past year, while Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. KNSL has lost 21.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The insurer has a market capitalization of $2.85 billion. The average volume of shares traded in the last three months was 0.4 million.
Shares of NMI Holdings closed at $37.54 on April 2, near its 52-week high of $43.20. This proximity underscores investor confidence. It has the ingredients for further price appreciation.
Earnings of NMI Holdings grew 14.2% in the last five years. NMIH has a solid surprise history. The insurer has a solid track record of beating earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, while matching in one, with an average of 6.02%.
Attractive Valuation of NMIH
NMI Holdings’ shares are trading at a discount compared to the industry. Its forward price-to-book value of 1.1X is lower than the industry average of 1.39X, the Finance sector’s 4.09X and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite’s 7.73X. Also, it has a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NMIH’s Encouraging Growth Projection
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NMI Holdings’ 2026 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 4.2%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $740.43 million, implying a year-over-year improvement of 4.8%. The consensus estimate for 2027 earnings per share and revenues indicates an increase of 7.1% and 3.2%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.
Average Target Price for NMIH Suggests Upside
Based on short-term price targets offered by seven analysts, the Zacks average price target is $46.29 per share. The average suggests a potential 23.3% upside from the last closing price.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NMI Holdings’ Favorable Return on Capital
Return on equity (ROE) for the trailing 12 months was 15.7%, which compared favorably with the industry’s 7.3%. This reflects its efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds.
Key Points to Note for NMIH
NMIH stands to gain from new business opportunities in a growing mortgage insurance market. NMI Holdings’ mortgage insurance portfolio is expected to create a strong foundation for future earnings.
Growth in monthly and single premium policy production is tied to the increased penetration of existing customer accounts. New customer account activation will also drive results.
In order to enhance its return profile, absorb losses, provide efficient growth capital and mitigate the impact of credit volatility, NMI Holdings has a comprehensive reinsurance program for its in-force portfolio.
To drive margin expansion, NMIH remains focused on efficiency and expense management. In February 2025, the board authorized a new $250 million share repurchase program effective through Dec. 31, 2027, and an extension of the existing share repurchase programs through Dec. 31, 2027, to align its remaining tenor with that of the new $250 million program. As of Dec. 31, 2025, it had $226 million of repurchase authority remaining.
All these together should help the insurer continue to generate solid mid-teens shareholders’ returns.
End Notes
NMI Holdings is well-positioned for growth on new primary insurance written, direct primary insurance in force and a comprehensive reinsurance program.
Coupled with the solid growth projections, as well as strong fundamentals and favorable return on capital, as well as optimistic analyst sentiment, the time appears right for potential investors to bet on this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) insurer. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
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
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

NMIH Stock Outperforms Industry, Trades Near 52-Week High: Time to Buy?

In this video, Motley Fool contributors Jason Hall and Tyler Crowe make the case for Accelerant Holdings (NYSE: ARX) and Kinsale Capital (NYSE: KNSL) as ideal stocks for smart, savvy investors to buy right now.
*Stock prices used were from the afternoon of March 13, 2026. The video was published on March 30, 2026.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Should you buy stock in Kinsale Capital Group right now?
Before you buy stock in Kinsale Capital Group, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Kinsale Capital Group wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $503,861!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,026,987!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 884% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 179% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 30, 2026.
Jason Hall has positions in Kinsale Capital Group. Tyler Crowe has positions in Accelerant. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kinsale Capital Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Jason Hall is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The 2 Smartest Growth Stocks to Buy With $500 Right Now

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited AXS shares are trading at a discount compared with the Zacks Property and Casualty Insurance industry. Its forward price-to-book value of 1.31X is lower than the industry average of 1.37X, the Finance sector’s 3.94X, and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite’s 7.46X. Also, it has a Value Score of B, reflecting an attractive valuation of the stock.
Shares of other insurers like Arch Capital Group Ltd. ACGL and Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. KNSL are trading at a multiple higher than the industry average, while Selective Insurance Group, Inc SIGI is trading at a discount.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The insurer has a market capitalization of $7.62 billion. The average volume of shares traded in the last three months was 0.6 million.
AXS Price Performance
Shares of AXIS Capital have lost 1.3% in the past year compared with the industry’s decline of 12.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AXS’ Encouraging Growth Projection
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXIS Capital’s 2026 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 2.9%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $6.99 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 7.5%. The consensus estimate for 2027 earnings per share and revenues indicates an increase of 8.5% and 8.1%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.
Earnings have grown 46.1% in the past five years, better than the industry average of 22.5%.
Optimist Analyst Sentiment on AXS
Two of the four analysts covering the stock have raised estimates for 2026 and 2027 over the past 30 days. Thus, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings has moved up 1.3% and 1.2%, respectively, in the past 30 days.
Average Target Price for AXS Suggests Upside
Based on short-term price targets offered by 11 analysts, the Zacks average price target is $123.64 per share. The average suggests a potential 25% upside from the last closing price.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AXIS Capital’s Higher Return on Capital
Return on equity in the trailing 12 months was 18.7%, better than the industry average of 7.3%. This highlights the company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds.
Factors Acting in Favor of AXS
AXIS Capital aims to be a leading specialty underwriter and thus focuses on growth areas, including wholesale insurance and lower middle markets. Lowering risk exposure while concentrating on accident and health, excess and supply property, casualty, credit and surety, and specialty reinsurance lines bodes well for growth.
The Insurance segment is poised to benefit from a diversified portfolio of global specialty businesses, leadership positions and growth opportunities across major business lines.
The Reinsurance business should benefit from strong cycle management, focusing on improving the business mix.
AXIS Capital stays focused on expanding digital capabilities to create new business growth in desirable and smaller accounts. Simplifying operating structure, delivering efficiencies and capitalizing on productivity gains should help it achieve a general and administrative ratio of less than 11% by 2026.
Strategic initiatives have been driving improvement in its operating earnings over the past few years.
Axis Capital’s Impressive Dividend History
Axis Capital's dividend track record is impressive. It hiked its dividend for 18 straight years and currently yields 1.7%, way above the industry average of 0.2%. The insurer boasts one of the highest dividend yields among its peers.
End Notes
This leading specialty insurer and global reinsurer, which aims to lead in specialty risks, has been repositioning its portfolio and strengthening its book of business. Focusing on prudently deploying resources while enhancing efficiencies, improving its portfolio mix and underwriting profitability, poises Axis Capital for growth.
Coupled with the impressive dividend history, solid growth projections, and optimistic analyst sentiment, the time appears right for potential investors to bet on this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) insurer. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Free Report: Profiting from the 2nd Wave of AI Explosion
The next phase of the AI explosion is poised to create significant wealth for investors, especially those who get in early. It will add literally trillion of dollars to the economy and revolutionize nearly every part of our lives.
Investors who bought shares like Nvidia at the right time have had a shot at huge gains.
But the rocket ride in the "first wave" of AI stocks may soon come to an end. The sharp upward trajectory of these stocks will begin to level off, leaving exponential growth to a new wave of cutting-edge companies.
Zacks' AI Boom 2.0: The Second Wave report reveals 4 under-the-radar companies that may soon be shining stars of AI’s next leap forward.
Access AI Boom 2.0 now, absolutely free >>
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
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

AXS Stock Trading at a Discount to Industry at 1.31X: Time to Buy?

In the latest trading session, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) closed at $480.41, marking a -1.17% move from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.12%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0.31%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 2.04%.
Heading into today, shares of the company had gained 14.83% over the past month, outpacing the Finance sector's loss of 0.06% and the S&P 500's loss of 2.91% in that time.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $3.16, marking a 9.71% fall compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $424.62 million, indicating a 13.9% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $17.32 per share and a revenue of $1.8 billion, demonstrating changes of +7.85% and +13.28%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 2.27% lower. As of now, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Digging into valuation, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 28.06. This represents a premium compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 11.82.
It is also worth noting that KNSL currently has a PEG ratio of 1.87. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Insurance - Property and Casualty industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.66.
The Insurance - Property and Casualty industry is part of the Finance sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 45, positioning it in the top 18% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.
Zacks Names #1 Semiconductor Stock
It's only 1/9,000th the size of NVIDIA which skyrocketed more than +800% since we recommended it. NVIDIA is still strong, but our new top chip stock has much more room to boom.
With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $803 billion by 2028.
See This Stock Now for Free >>
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
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) Falls More Steeply Than Broader Market: What Investors Need to Know

Shares of W.R. Berkley Corporation WRB have lost 0.3% in the past year compared with the industry’s decline of 9.7%.
W.R. Berkley has outperformed its peers, Arch Capital Group Ltd. ACGL, RLI Corp. RLI and Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. KNSL, which have lost 1%, 25.6%, and 32.8%, respectively, in the past year.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The insurer has a market capitalization of $24.71 billion. The average volume of shares traded in the last three months was 2.3 million.
W.R. Berkley beat earnings estimates in two of the past four quarters, matched in one and missed in one, with an average surprise of 0.97%.
WRB’s Encouraging Growth Projection
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for W.R. Berkley’s 2026 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 5%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $15.08 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 3.4%.
The consensus estimate for 2027 earnings per share and revenues indicates an increase of 5.9% and 4.6%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.
WRB’s Favorable Return on Capital
Return on equity for the trailing 12 months was 18.1%, which compared favorably with the industry’s 7.3%. This reflects its efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds.
Also, return on invested capital (ROIC) has been increasing over the last few quarters while the company raised its capital investment over the same time frame. This reflects WRB’s efficiency in utilizing funds to generate income. ROIC in the trailing 12 months was 8.1%, better than the industry average of 5.7%.
Average Target Price for WRB Suggests Upside
Based on short-term price targets offered by 17 analysts, the Zacks average price target is $69.35 per share. The average suggests a potential 5.8% upside from the last closing price.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
WRB Shares are Expensive
WRB shares are trading at a premium to the industry. Its price-to-book value of 2.55X is higher than the industry average of 1.4X.
Factors Acting in Favor of WRB Stock
As part of its growth strategy, WRB has been focusing on commercial lines, including excess and surplus lines, admitted lines and specialty personal lines, where it also has a competitive advantage.
WRB’s insurance business, which contributes the lion’s share to net premium written, is poised to grow on the strength of several new startup units in varied business lines, expansion of international business that offers diversification benefits, rate increase, market dislocations and high retention.
W.R. Berkley remains focused on expanding selectively in attractive global markets and thus has operations in the emerging markets of the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, South America, Canada, Scandinavia, Asia and Australia.
WRB boasts more than 60 straight quarters of favorable reserve development, given its prudent underwriting. Operational excellence supports it in maintaining a solid balance sheet with sufficient liquidity and strong cash flows.
End Notes
The property and casualty insurer is set to grow on rate increases, reserving discipline, diversification benefits, momentum in international business, investment in alternative assets, and consistent cash flow.
Banking on consistent cash flow, W.R. Berkley has been hiking dividends since 2005, as well as paying special dividends apart from buying back shares. Its dividend yield of 0.5% appears attractive compared with the industry average of 0.2%, making it an attractive pick for yield-seeking investors.
Given the premium valuation, it is better to stay cautious about this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
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
RLI Corp. (RLI) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

WRB Stock Outperforms Industry: What Should Investors Do Now?

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Thursday closed down -0.27%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down -0.44%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down -0.29%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH26) fell -0.24%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH26) fell -0.25%.
Global stock and bond markets settled lower on Thursday on concerns that the world’s central banks will tighten monetary policy to keep inflation in check as energy prices soar amid an escalating war in Iran. US stock indexes added to Wednesday’s sharp losses on Thursday, with the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrials, and the Nasdaq 100 falling to 3.75-month lows.
Join 200K+ Subscribers: Find out why the midday Barchart Brief newsletter is a must-read for thousands daily.
However, stocks recovered most of their early losses on Thursday when WTI crude oil prices (CLJ26) gave up an early rally and sold off after Israel said it is helping the US open the Strait of Hormuz. Crude prices also tumbled after Treasury Secretary Bessent said the US will continue to take steps to add supplies to oil markets, including the possible removal of sanctions on Iranian crude already in transit or a new unilateral release of emergency crude reserves.
Stocks initially sold off on Thursday amid hawkish comments from the BOE, ECB, and BOJ that pushed global bond yields higher, as they warned that the Iran war poses upside inflation risks, fueling speculation that the central banks may pursue tighter monetary policies. The 10-year German Bund yield rose to a 2.25-year high of 3.01%, the 10-year T-note yield rose to a 6.75-month high of 4.32%, and the 10-year UK Gilt yield climbed to a 14-month high of 4.91%.
European natural gas prices surged more than +13% to a 3-year high on Thursday after Qatar reported “extensive damage” at the world’s largest natural gas export plant at Ras Laffan Industrial City. Qatar said Iran’s strikes damaged 17% of Ras Laffan’s LNG export capacity, which will take 3 to 5 years to repair.
Stocks were also pressured on Thursday as bond yields rose further on stronger-than-expected US economic data from weekly jobless claims and the Mar US Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey. However, T-note yields fell back from their highs after Jan new home sales fell more than expected to a 3.25-year low.
US weekly initial unemployment claims unexpectedly fell -8,000 to a 9-week low of 205,000, showing a stronger labor market than expectations of an increase to 215,000.
The Mar US Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey unexpectedly rose +1.8 to a 6-month high of 18.1, stronger than expectations of a decline to 8.0.
US Jan new home sales fell -17.6% m/m to a 3.25-year low of 587,000, weaker than expectations of 722,000.
President Trump on Thursday pressed for de-escalation of attacks on Middle East energy sites, following Iranian and Israeli strikes on major gas fields, which pushed energy prices sharply higher. Mr. Trump said the US wasn't involved in the South Pars attack and said Israel would refrain from further strikes on the site. However, crude prices bounced higher again after the semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) said Iran's response to the attacks on its energy infrastructure "is underway and not yet complete." Iran said it will target energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE in retaliation for US and Israeli airstrikes on its South Pars gas field and its Asaluyeh oil industry facilities. Crude also found support after US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Thursday that the US will not implement a crude export ban.
Crude oil prices remain high despite attempts to boost global supplies. The IEA last Wednesday released 400 million barrels from emergency oil stockpiles and said the war against Iran is disrupting 7.5% of global oil supply, and the conflict will cut global oil supply by 8 million bpd this month. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas flows, has choked off oil and gas flows due to Iran’s attacks on shipping in the waterway and forced Gulf producers to cut output because they can’t export from the region. Iran has attacked about 20 vessels in the Persian Gulf and near Hormuz since the conflict began. Goldman Sachs warns that crude prices could exceed the 2008 record high of close to $150 a barrel if flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain depressed through March.
The markets are discounting a 6% chance for a -25 bp FOMC rate hike at the April 28-29 policy meeting.
Overseas stock markets settled sharply lower on Thursday. The Euro Stoxx 50 fell to a 1.5-week low and closed down -2.14%. China's Shanghai Composite dropped to a 2.5-month low and closed down -1.39%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -3.38%.
Interest Rates
June 10-year T-notes (ZNM6) on Thursday closed down by -4.5 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield rose +1.2 bp to 4.277%. June T-notes fell to a contract low on Thursday, and the 10-year T-note yield jumped to a 6.75-month high of 4.322%. T-notes are under pressure on negative carryover from Wednesday, when Fed Chair Powell said there will be no Fed rate cuts unless there is progress on inflation. T-notes extended their losses on Thursday after weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fell to a 9-week low and the March Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey unexpectedly rose to a 6-month high.
However, T-notes recovered from their worst level after Jan new home sales fell more than expected to a 3.25-year low. Also, the sharp reversal in crude oil price on Thursday afternoon, from higher on the day to sharply lower, sparked short covering in T-notes.
European government bond yields moved higher on Thursday. The 10-year German bund yield jumped to a 2.25-year high of 3.011% and finished up +2.2 bp to 2.962%. The 10-year UK gilt yield climbed to a 14-month high of 4.914% and finished up +10.5 bp to 4.843%.
The ECB, as expected, kept the deposit facility rate unchanged at 2.00% and said the Iran war poses upside inflation risks and downside risks to economic growth.
The ECB cut its 2026 Eurozone GDP forecast to 0.9% from 1.2% in December and raised its 2026 inflation forecast ex-food and energy to 2.3% from 2.2%.
The BOE, as expected, voted 9-0 to keep the official bank rate unchanged at 3.75% and said all members "stand ready to act" to contain any inflation surge triggered by the war in the Middle East.
BOE Governor Andrew Bailey warned that policy must "respond to the risk of a more persistent effect on UK CPI inflation and whatever happens, our job is to make sure inflation gets back to its 2% target."
Swaps are discounting a 63% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on April 30.
US Stock Movers
The Magnificent Seven technology stocks were weaker on Thursday, weighing on the overall market. Tesla (TSLA) closed down more than -3%, and Nvidia (NVDA) and Meta Platforms (META) closed down more than -1%. Also, Microsoft (MSFT) closed down -0.71%, Amazon.com (AMZN) closed down -0.52%, Apple (AAPL) closed down -0.39%, and Alphabet (GOOGL) closed down -0.18%.
Mining stocks added to this week’s sell-off on Thursday, as gold and silver prices fell to 6-week lows and copper prices dropped to a 3-month low. Anglogold Ashanti Ltd (AU) closed down more than -7%, and Newmont Mining (NEM) closed down more than -7% to lead losers in the S&P 500. Also, Barrick Mining (B) closed down more than -5%, and Coeur Mining (CDE), Hecla Mining (HL), and Southern Copper (SCCO) closed down more than -4%. In addition, Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) closed down more than -3%.
AI infrastructure and chip stocks moved higher on Thursday, limiting losses in the broader market. Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) closed up more than +6% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100, and Lam Research (LRCX) closed up more than +4%. Also, Western Digital (WDC) closed up more than +3%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Intel (INTC), Sandisk (SNDK), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Marvell Technology (MRVL) closed up more than +2%.
US natural gas producers moved higher on Thursday on the outlook for additional US LNG exports after “extensive damage” was reported from Iranian missile and drone attacks atQatar’s Ras Laffan gas plant, the world’s largest natural gas export plant. Cheniere Energy (LNG) closed up more than +6%, Antero Resources (AR) closed up more than +4%, Expand Energy (EXE) closed up more than +2%, and EOG Resources (EOG) closed up nearly +1%.
Kinsale Capital Group (KNSL) closed down -6% after Jeffries downgraded the stock to underperform from hold with a price target of $312.
Micron Technology (MU) closed down more than -3% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100 after forecasting full-year capital spending of $25 billion, above the consensus of $22.4 billion.
CSX Corp (CSX) closed down more than -2% after Evercore ISI downgraded the stock to in line from outperform.
Five Below (FIVE) closed up more than +10% after reporting Q4 net sales of $1,73 billion, better than the consensus of $1.71 billion, and forecasting 2027 net sales of $5.20 billion to $5.30 billion, the midpoint above the consensus of $5.21 billion.
Accenture (ACN) closed up more than +4% after reporting Q2 revenue of $18.04 billion, better than the consensus of $17.86 billion.
Rivian Automotive (RIVN) closed up more than +4% after Uber Technologies said it will invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian to help launch a robotaxi fleet.
Align Technology (ALGN) closed up more than +2% after Bloomberg reported that Elliot Investment Management has built a significant stake in the company.
Darden Restaurants (DRI) closed up more than +1% after forecasting Q4 adjusted EPS of $3.59 to $3.69, stronger than the consensus of $3.57.
Earnings Reports(3/20/2026)
BioAge Labs Inc (BIOA), ECB Bancorp Inc/MD (ECBK), Eledon Pharmaceuticals Inc (ELDN), Ermenegildo Zegna NV (ZGN), Greene County Bancorp Inc (GCBC), SANUWAVE Health Inc (SNWV), SELLAS Life Sciences Group Inc (SLS), Solid Biosciences Inc (SLDB), SWK Holdings Corp (SWKH), Terns Pharmaceuticals Inc (TERN), Vox Royalty Corp (VOXR).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund 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.
More news from Barchart
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

Price history and volume

Shares 360

Investment risk — medium

Investment potential — medium

About