Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Оптимистичный взгляд на свои позиции резко сменился на неуверенность.

Strong index, significantly down. An optimistic view of his position suddenly changed to uncertainty.

Сильный индекс, без изменений. Рынок не поддерживает быков.

Strong index, flat. The market does not support the bulls.

Средний индекс, незначительно вырос. Отток средств из лонгов снизился, но остается значительным.

Medium index, slightly up. The outflow of funds from longs has decreased, but remains significant.

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 28, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Kinsale Capital Group KNSL, RLI Corp. RLI, Palomar Holdings PLMR and Skyward Specialty Insurance Group SKWD.
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Specialty Insurance: 4 Stocks to Watch in Niche Risks Creating Demand
Specialty insurance occupies a distinct niche within the broader insurance industry, focusing on risks that traditional carriers are often unwilling or unable to cover. Specialty lines address more complex exposures such as cyberattacks, satellite launches, kidnap and ransom, niche professional liability, marine cargo and political risk. These areas require significant underwriting expertise because historical loss data are often limited and risks can be difficult to model.
This expertise-driven model is one of the sector’s key attractions. Specialty insurers generally compete less on price and more on underwriting knowledge, risk selection and claims experience. That expertise can create meaningful barriers to entry and support stronger pricing power than is typically available in more commoditized insurance markets.
The industry also has a favorable long-term growth backdrop. According to Deloitte, the specialty insurance market has expanded rapidly in recent years, with further meaningful growth expected over the coming decade. The global specialty insurance market was valued at $104.7 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $279 billion by 2031, implying a compound annual growth rate of 10.6%.
Against this backdrop, specialty insurers such as Kinsale Capital Group, RLI Corp., Palomar Holdings and Skyward Specialty Insurance Group appear well-positioned to capitalize on sustained demand for specialized coverage.
The economics of specialty insurance also differ materially from those of more standardized lines. Because many specialty risks are difficult to assess and place, insurers can often command higher premiums relative to expected losses. This is particularly evident in excess and surplus (E&S) markets, where coverage is provided for risks that admitted carriers are unwilling or unable to insure. Reduced competition and greater underwriting complexity can allow disciplined specialty carriers to maintain attractive pricing and profitability.
From a portfolio perspective, specialty insurers may also offer diversification benefits within financial-sector exposure. Their earnings are driven largely by underwriting discipline, pricing conditions and exposure to specialized risks.
Stocks to Watch For
With the help of our Zacks Stock Screener, we have identified four stocks that carry a favorable Zacks Rank, witnessed northbound estimate movement in the last 60 days and have beta less than one, reinforcing that the stocks are less volatile.
Headquartered in Richmond, VA, Kinsale Capital provides coverage for risks that are unique or difficult to place in the standard insurance market. It focuses on small and medium-sized accounts and operates only in the U.S. excess and surplus lines market. Kinsale Capital continues to benefit from long-term expansion in the U.S. E&S market and its focus on smaller, hard-to-place risks.
Unfettered by many pricing constraints in the admitted market, E&S carriers can tailor coverage and terms for complex or hard-to-place risks. Kinsale remains fully focused on this segment, where specialized underwriting and flexible product design support long-term opportunity. Smaller and mid-sized risks often require specialized underwriting that standard carriers are less willing to provide. Kinsale’s platform is built around these accounts.
Underwriting profitability remains a key strength for this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) insurer, supported by disciplined pricing, favorable reserve development and a low-cost technology platform. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has moved 1.6% north in the past 60 days. The expected long-term earnings growth is pegged at 15%. It has a beta of 0.89.
Headquartered in Peoria, IL, and founded in 1965, RLI Corp. is a specialty property-casualty (P&C) insurance company. It offers insurance coverages in the specialty admitted and excess and surplus markets. RLI remains one of the property and casualty industry’s most consistent underwriters, supported by disciplined risk selection, favorable reserve development and a diversified specialty portfolio. Technology investment and service-focused distribution also reinforce this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) insurer’s competitive position.
RLI remains one of the property and casualty industry’s most consistent underwriters, supported by disciplined risk selection, favorable reserve development and a diversified specialty portfolio.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has moved 2.9% north in the past 60 days. It has a beta of 0.38.
Headquartered in La Jolla, CA, Palomar Holdings provides specialty property insurance products in its target markets to both individuals and businesses. Palomar is uniquely positioned to address more than $30 billion of the $600 billion U.S. property and casualty insurance market. It has grown into the second-largest writer of earthquake insurance in California.
This Zacks Rank #2 insurer’s focus on new business, strong premium retention rates for existing business and renewal of existing policies positions it well for growth. The company aims to be an industry leader in the crop business. PLMR should benefit from its solid product portfolio as well as geographic expansion and rate increases.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has moved 3.5% north in the past 60 days. It has a beta of 0.39. It has a VGM Score of A.
Headquartered in Houston, TX, Skyward Specialty Insurance Group is a specialty insurance holding company. It targets underserved and dislocated markets where standard coverages are insufficient.
Skyward's long-term growth is centered on its "Rule Our Niche" strategy, which prioritizes leadership in specialized insurance markets where underwriting expertise, disciplined risk selection and strong relationships with distributors create competitive advantages.
Skyward Specialty offers a diversified earnings mix, enhanced by Apollo’s capital-light fee engine, supporting more stable returns through the underwriting cycle.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has moved 2% north in the past 60 days. It has a beta of 0.33.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Kinsale Capital, RLI, Palomar and Skyward Specialty

What separates a capable CEO from a great one? It’s not just vision or great timing. When you look closely at the architects of some of the biggest businesses, distinct patterns of greatness begin to emerge. Four Fools — two from Team Rule Breakers, two from Team Hidden Gems — each named one CEO they believe best exemplifies this rare tier of leadership.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
None of these CEOs shares the same playbook. Yet, beneath their varying styles, all share something in common: ruthless execution, fanatic focus on moats, and the conviction to make big, contrarian bets.
Value in the Cloud(flare)
Cloudflare (NYSE: NET) co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince is not one to keep his opinions to himself. He is often seen as a polarizing figure in the tech world. I see him as a passionate leader who believes deeply in Cloudflare’s potential.
Here’s a fun fact: Prince wrote his first computer program at the ripe old age of seven! So, to say tech is in his blood would be an understatement. That early spark eventually led to 2009, when Prince teamed up with colleagues Michelle Zatlyn and Lee Holloway to found Cloudflare with the mission “to help build a better internet.”
One thing that stands out is Prince’s forward-thinking and competitive drive. He reminds me a lot of Jeff Bezos, as he’s equally relentless in his pursuit of the company’s mission.
Prince owns 75% of the company’s class B shares, giving him 39% total voting power. We Fools love to see leaders with skin in the game. It doesn’t mean an investment will always work out, but it signals leadership’s incentive to steer the business in the right direction. So far, it’s working out well for long-term owners of the stock; shares are up over 1,500% since its IPO in September 2019.
Adaptability Is Core to Greatness
Adaptability is necessary for longevity, and a long, effective tenure is essential for greatness. Ted Sarandos has helped create many millionaires in his 26 years at Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX).
He spent the first 20 years leading Netflix’s content operations, and he’s been co-CEO for the last six years. Four major strategic shifts have defined Netflix under Sarandos:
From bulk DVD by mail to streaming licensed content.
From streaming licensed content to producing original content, ushering in “binge watching” in the process.
From a regional U.S. streamer to a global provider with content in local languages.
From subscription-only to on-demand streaming subscription plus ads, including live events.
Netflix has faced dire competitive threats at every stage of its life. Sarandos has been around for most of them, and he’s on the hook again now.
Competition for attention has never been greater. It’s possible we’ll see another Sarandos-led Netflix pivot in light of this. If so, it would be fitting.
Ted Sarandos has adapted faster and more frequently than most of his peers in the entertainment industry when under threat. That’s what makes him great, and I expect him to prove it again.
A Steady Hand in Any Market
Michael Kehoe left a stable job as CEO of James River Insurance (a predecessor of James River Group (NASDAQ: JRVR)) because he saw an opportunity to use technology to reboot the insurance industry. He traded near-term stability for start-up chaos, betting that his conviction would pay off in the long term. It is a mindset that continues to guide Kinsale Capital Group (NYSE: KNSL) 17 years after its founding.
The numbers speak for themselves: Kinsale shares are up 1,870% since its 2016 IPO. (For the record, James River is down 88% during that time.) Kehoe built Kinsale by moving at his own pace, not the pace demanded from an established incumbent, and by thinking in terms of decades instead of quarters.
The mindset continues to this day. Kinsale is down 20% over the last year. A period of rising rates and few hurricanes or other natural disasters has led to a flood of insurer interest in Kinsale’s niche. Kehoe has refused to fight pricing battles, and as a result, new business has slowed.
As a shareholder, I hate to see my stock underperform. But I believe Kehoe’s strategy will pay off in the long term, and I have nearly two decades of results to back up that belief. No one plays the long game better than Mike Kehoe.
The Visionary Architect
When discussing leaders who prioritize decades over quarters, Jensen Huang of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) stands in a league of his own.
For years, he directed resources toward accelerated computing and AI architecture long before the rest of the world realized its potential. This was not a gamble on a trend but a fundamental belief in the future of computing. He has successfully navigated market cycles by focusing on a singular, massive vision.
Huang’s mastery of the long game is evident in how he builds ecosystems rather than just products. By creating a software layer that developers rely on, he has built a moat that’s incredibly difficult to cross.
Foolish Final Thoughts
Did you notice a pattern? Four leaders, one phrase circled again and again: decades over quarters. Three founded the companies they run; the fourth has spent 26 years at his. Each placed a bet long before the payoff arrived, then held it while the doubters got loud.
Which CEO would you add to this great lineup, and what’s their claim to greatness?
Debate with friends and family, or become a member to hear what your fellow Fools are saying!
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Jason Moser has positions in Cloudflare. Lou Whiteman has positions in Cloudflare and Kinsale Capital Group. Rachel Warren has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Tim Beyers has positions in Netflix. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cloudflare, Kinsale Capital Group, Netflix, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

Breakfast News: 4 CEOs Playing the Long Game

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – September 8, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: The Travelers Companies, Inc. TRV, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. KNSL and The Allstate Corp. ALL.
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
3 Insurers to Add to Portfolio as AI Transforms Insurance Operations
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important to the U.S. insurance industry as insurers look for ways to improve underwriting, claims processing, pricing and customer service. By automating repetitive, data-intensive tasks, the technology can allow employees to handle greater workloads while potentially reducing operating costs and improving underwriting profitability. As a result, AI is rapidly becoming an important growth and efficiency driver for industry players.
In this backdrop, The Travelers Companies, Inc., Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. and The Allstate Corp. stand out because they combine significant data and technology capabilities with established insurance franchises and strong operating performance.
According to Deloitte, 76% of insurance executives surveyed have implemented generative AI in at least one business function, highlighting the technology’s rapid adoption. AI is also gaining traction in fraud detection, claims management and underwriting, where faster data analysis can help insurers make better decisions. Deloitte estimates that AI-driven, real-time fraud analytics could help P&C insurers save as much as $160 billion by 2032 by reducing fraudulent claims.
As insurance pricing moderates across several markets, technology could become an increasingly important competitive advantage. However, successful AI adoption depends on the quality of data, technology infrastructure and execution. Insurers with large proprietary datasets, advanced analytics capabilities and modern technology platforms may be better positioned to convert AI investments into lower expense growth, faster decision-making and stronger margins.
The key point here is not simply which insurers are using AI, but which companies can translate its adoption into measurable financial benefits. Companies that successfully use AI to improve underwriting, claims and operating efficiency could strengthen margins and gain market share over time.
3 Insurers to Watch
As AI adoption deepens across the industry, Travelers, Kinsale Capital and Allstate could be well positioned to capture the productivity and underwriting benefits of the technology.
These stocks carry a favorable Zacks Rank and have witnessed upward estimate revisions.
Based in New York, Travelers Companies provides a wide variety of property and casualty insurance and surety products and services to businesses, organizations and individuals in the United States and select international markets. Strong renewal rate change, retention and increased new business, supported by a compelling portfolio and a solid capital position, poise TRV well for growth.
Travelers is advancing its AI capabilities through TravelersLLM, an insurance-specific large language model trained on millions of company documents. The technology helps employees analyze information, conduct research and improve workflows. Travelers is also applying AI to claims through its AI Claim Assistant, which was developed using OpenAI capabilities. The intelligent voice service helps customers with auto damage claims, creating opportunities to improve productivity, underwriting and customer service.
Travelers invested more than $1.5 billion in AI and other technology initiatives in 2025. These initiatives complement strong operating performance. In the second quarter of 2026, Travelers reported $1.68 billion of underlying underwriting income and an 83.6% combined ratio. The combination of AI adoption, strong data capabilities and improving underwriting profitability makes TRV one of the more compelling insurance stocks to watch as AI becomes increasingly embedded in P&C operations.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TRV’s 2026 earnings indicate 22.6% growth from the year-ago reported figure. The expected long-term earnings growth rate is 4.4%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings has moved up 20.7% in the past 60 days. Travelers carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Headquartered in Richmond, VA, Kinsale Capital markets insurance through products in its E&S Insurance segment across all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It separately enters into reinsurance contracts to cede risk and limit its own exposure. Kinsale Capital is poised to benefit from its long-term expansion in the United States and the E&S market, as well as its focus on smaller, hard-to-place risks, prudent underwriting, lower expense ratio, technology-enabled efficiency and effective capital deployment.
Kinsale Capital stands out for its technology-driven operating model and rapid AI adoption. The company operates without legacy software, allowing it to focus on automation and innovation. Management said in its second-quarter 2026earnings callthat every Kinsale associate has an enterprise license for two leading AI models. Kinsale Capital has also incorporated AI functionality into its proprietary underwriting worksheets.
These capabilities are supporting strong operating results, with the company reporting $105.4 million of underwriting income and a 75.5% combined ratio in the second quarter. Management said that the company's AI initiatives are improving productivity, customer service and accuracy, potentially strengthening its already strong cost and underwriting advantages.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kinsale Capital's 2026 earnings indicate 8.2% growth from the year-ago reported figure, on 5.5% higher revenues. The consensus estimate for 2026 earnings has moved up 2.2% in the past 60 days. The expected long-term earnings growth rate is pegged at 15%. KNSL stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Headquartered in Northbrook, IL, Allstate Corp. is the fourth-largest property-casualty (P&C) insurer and the largest publicly-held personal lines carrier in the United States. The company also provides a range of life insurance and investment products to its diverse customer base. Growing premiums, Protection Services, business streamlining efforts and solid cash flows are expected to drive long-term growth.
Allstate is using data, AI and advanced analytics across underwriting, pricing, claims and customer service. The company has more than 250 significant models and 40 petabytes of data supporting its operations. Its ALLIE platform is designed to expand the use of AI across the business. Allstate targets a 45% reduction in policy billing inquiries, AI review or generation of 100% of claims adjuster emails and AI handling of 15% of new coding, which could improve employee productivity and lower operating costs. The company's 2026 strategy explicitly includes using AI to improve customer acquisition and launching agentic AI experiences across purchasing, servicing and claims.
These capabilities are supporting strong operating results, with underwriting income in the Property-Liability segment surging 56.7% year over year to $2 billion. The underlying combined ratio improved 10 basis points to 79.4% in the second quarter of 2026. Allstate also benefits from Arity, which has collected more than 2 trillion miles of driving data. This data can help improve pricing, risk assessment and loss prediction, further strengthening Allstate’s technology-driven underwriting capabilities.
The consensus estimate for 2026 earnings has moved up 17% in the past 60 days. The expected long-term earnings growth rate is pegged at 12.5%. ALL stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
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https://www.zacks.com
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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 a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Travelers, Kinsale Capital and Allstate

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. KNSL is leveraging its focus on small and mid-sized accounts to support growth in the excess and surplus (E&S) market, where pricing has started to soften. The strategy allows Kinsale to focus on less competitive areas while maintaining underwriting discipline.
The E&S market remains attractive as insurers provide customized coverage for complex and hard-to-place risks. However, competition has increased, particularly in large shared and layered property accounts. Kinsale is responding by focusing on smaller risks, where business activity remains stronger.
In the second quarter of 2026, more than half of Kinsale's divisions recorded double-digit submission growth, while activity in accounts with premiums of $25,000 or less continued to expand. Growth is also expanding beyond large commercial property risks. Kinsale launched nine new products or product enhancements in the first half of 2026, helping it capture opportunities across different E&S classes.
This strategy gives Kinsale greater flexibility in a softer market. The company can prioritize underwriting profitability by avoiding poorly priced business and focusing on risks that meet its return requirements. Its proprietary technology and analytics further support efficient underwriting and risk selection.
Kinsale’s underwriting performance remains a key strength. Its second-quarter combined ratio was 75.5%, supporting strong underwriting profitability despite the challenging pricing environment.
The softer E&S market remains a risk to premium growth. However, strong business activity outside large property accounts, a small-account focus and disciplined underwriting should help Kinsale protect margins and support profitable growth.
What About Its Peers?
Among KNSL’s peers, RLI Corp. RLI is taking a selective approach as competition increases in E&S property, focusing on risks where pricing adequately reflects the underlying exposure. Meanwhile, W.R. Berkley WRB is using its decentralized underwriting model to walk away from risks when pricing does not provide adequate returns. This approach allows W.R. Berkley to prioritize profitability over premium volume as competition increases across property and casualty markets.
Both RLI and Berkley are emphasizing risk selection over premium growth as pricing softens. Kinsale’s focus on small and mid-sized E&S accounts could help it target areas where pricing remains more attractive.
KNSL’s Price Performance
Shares of Kinsale Capital have declined 18.3% in a year against the industry’s 1.6% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
KNSL’s Overvaluation
The stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-book value multiple of 4.19, higher than the industry average of 1.43.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
KNSL’s Growth Projection
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kinsale’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year increase of 8.2%.
The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.98 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 5.5%.
The consensus estimate for 2027 EPS and revenues indicates an increase of 1.9% and 0.8%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings moved 0.3% north while the 2027 metric has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
KNSL stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Kinsale Capital's Small-Account Focus Supports E&S Growth

In the latest close session, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) was down 1.76% at $373.90. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.33%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.7%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.12%.
Shares of the company have appreciated by 6.79% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Finance sector's gain of 0.82%, and the S&P 500's gain of 3.87%.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $4.87, indicating a 6.53% decline compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $479.3 million, down 3.66% from the prior-year quarter.
Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $21.1 per share and revenue of $1.98 billion, indicating changes of +8.15% and +5.51%, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.
Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.1% lower. Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Looking at valuation, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 18.04. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 11.7.
We can additionally observe that KNSL currently boasts a PEG ratio of 1.2. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. KNSL's industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.84 as of yesterday's close.
The Insurance - Property and Casualty industry is part of the Finance sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 62, placing it within the top 26% of over 250 industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.
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 a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) Declines More Than Market: Some Information for Investors

The Travelers Companies, Inc. TRV is strengthening its insurance operations through artificial intelligence, proprietary data and advanced analytics. Its AI strategy focuses on improving underwriting decisions, speeding up claims and increasing employee productivity, which could support long-term underwriting profitability.
A key part of the strategy is TravelersLLM, the company's proprietary large language model designed specifically for property-casualty insurance. Trained on millions of company documents, the model helps employees access decades of institutional knowledge, improve underwriting analysis, accelerate research and enhance workflows. In testing, TRV said TravelersLLM delivered higher-quality results than commercial AI models at lower cost and greater speed.
AI is also being used to improve underwriting efficiency. TRV's New Business Submission Automation reduced the time required to register new business submissions from two hours to two minutes, enabling underwriters to process opportunities faster and potentially allowing the company to pursue more business.
The company is extending AI into claims management. Its AI Claim Assistant helps customers initiate auto-damage claims, while Claim Insights helps risk managers identify and prioritize important claims. Faster claims processing can allow employees to focus on more complex cases and improve customer service.
Overall, TRV's combination of proprietary data, insurance expertise and AI could improve risk selection, productivity and operating efficiency. As these tools expand across the business, they could become an increasingly important driver of underwriting profitability.
What About Its Peers?
Insurers like The Allstate Corporation ALL and Kinsale Capital Group KNSL are also increasingly using AI, data and analytics to improve underwriting efficiency.
Allstate's AI strategy is focused on improving underwriting, claims and customer experiences. Allstate has been integrating AI into claims and underwriting processes, with the goal of improving efficiency and decision-making. Allstate also ranks among the leading insurers in AI adoption, according to the 2026 Evident Insurance AI Index.
Kinsale uses proprietary technology, internal data, analytics and machine learning to support risk selection, pricing and underwriting efficiency. Kinsale is also expanding the use of AI across underwriting, claims and analytics, to improve productivity and operating efficiency.
TRV’s Price Performance
Shares of TRV have gained 36.3% in the past year, outperforming the industry’s growth of 2.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
TRV’s Overvaluation
The stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-book value multiple of 2.34, higher than the industry average of 1.43. It carries a Value Score of B.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimate Movement for TRV
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Travelers’ 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year decrease of 0.1%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $48.82 billion, implying a 1.2% year-over-year increase.
The consensus estimate for 2027 EPS indicates a decrease of 11.5%, while revenues indicate an increase of 2.9%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings have moved 2.9% and 0.7% north, respectively, over the last 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
TRV stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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Travelers' AI Investments Support Underwriting Profitability

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Arch Capital Group (ACGL). Shares have lost about 3.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Arch Capital due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Arch Capital Group Ltd. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
ACGL Q2 Earnings Beat on Reserve Gains, Investment Income
Arch Capital Group reported second-quarter 2026 operating income of $2.56 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.8%. The bottom line decreased 0.8% year over year.
Revenues of $4.43 billion declined 6.9% year over year and missed the consensus mark by 3.1%. Results reflected lower earned premiums and catastrophe pressure, partly offset by higher net investment income.
ACGL's Underwriting Results Weaken
Gross premiums written declined 1.1% year over year to $6.13 billion. Net premiums written decreased 6.9% to $4.05 billion, reflecting lower volumes in the Insurance and Reinsurance segments. Net premiums earned fell 8.1% to $3.99 billion.
Underwriting income fell 19.7% to $657 million. The combined ratio, which measures claims and expenses as a percentage of premiums, deteriorated 230 basis points to 83.5%. Catastrophe losses totaled $201 million, while favorable prior-year reserve development was $165 million.
Arch Capital's Insurance Segment Faces Cat Losses
Insurance gross premiums written declined 2.9% year over year to $2.60 billion. The figure was lower than our estimate of $2.7 billion. Net premiums written fell 5.1% to $1.93 billion. The figure was lower than our estimate of $1.95 billion.
Underwriting income plunged 79.1% to $27 million. The figure was lower than our estimate of $70.2 million. The combined ratio worsened by 510 basis points to 98.5%. The combined ratio excluding catastrophe activity and prior-year development was 91.6%, up 100 basis points.
ACGL's Reinsurance Profitability Remains Strong
Reinsurance gross premiums written inched up 0.2% to $3.20 billion. The figure was lower than our estimate of $3.06 billion. Net premiums written dropped 10.4% to $1.84 billion, partly due to non-renewals, reduced participations and targeted increases in retrocessions. The figure was lower than our estimate of $2 billion.
Underwriting income decreased 9.1% to $410 million. The figure was higher than our estimate of $384.2 million. However, the combined ratio improved 100 basis points to 77.5%. The underlying combined ratio increased 270 basis points to 79.9%.
Arch Capital's Mortgage Results Moderate
Mortgage gross premiums written rose 0.3% year over year to $324 million, while net premiums written increased 7.5% to $272 million. Growth in international business offset lower U.S. monthly premium volume. The figure for gross premiums written was higher than our estimate of $314.9 million, while that for net premiums written was higher than our estimate of $247.6 million.
Underwriting income declined 7.6% to $220 million. The figure was lower than our estimate of $226.7 million. The combined ratio deteriorated 760 basis points to 22.8%. Excluding prior year development, the combined ratio was 39.8% compared with 39.3% a year earlier.
ACGL's Investment Portfolio Adds Support
Pre-tax net investment income increased 3% year over year to $417 million, supported by growth in average invested assets and strong operating cash flows. The figure was higher than our estimate of $420.9 million. Equity in net income from investments accounted for under the equity method rose to $196 million from $162 million.
Arch Capital ended the quarter with $1.11 billion in cash and $4.29 billion in senior notes. Book value per share rose 2.8% sequentially to $68.04. Net cash provided by operating activities increased 17.6% year over year to $1.32 billion.
Arch Capital's Returns and Capital Actions
Net income available to common shareholders was $1.05 billion, or $3 per share, compared with $1.23 billion, or $3.23 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Annualized net income return on average common equity was 18%, which contracted 490 basis points year over year, while annualized operating return was 15.3%, which contracted 290 basis points year over year.
The company completed a $2 billion senior notes offering in June and used part of the proceeds for debt refinancing and tender offers. Interest expense increased to $44 million from $38 million. Arch Capital also repurchased $1.2 billion of shares during the quarter, contributing to an 8.2% year-over-year decline in diluted weighted-average shares.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates revision.
VGM Scores
Currently, Arch Capital has a poor Growth Score of F, a score with the same score on the momentum front. However, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the second quintile for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Notably, Arch Capital has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry Player
Arch Capital belongs to the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry. Another stock from the same industry, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL), has gained 2.8% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended June 2026.
Kinsale Capital Group reported revenues of $548.52 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.8%. EPS of $5.54 for the same period compares with $4.78 a year ago.
For the current quarter, Kinsale Capital Group is expected to post earnings of $4.87 per share, indicating a change of -6.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.1% over the last 30 days.
Kinsale Capital Group has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of D.
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Why Is Arch Capital (ACGL) Down 3.7% Since Last Earnings Report?

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Cincinnati Financial (CINF). Shares have lost about 6.1% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
But investors have to be wondering, will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Cincinnati Financial due for a breakout? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent drivers for Cincinnati Financial Corporation before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.
CINF Q2 Earnings Miss Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y on Premium Growth
Cincinnati Financial reported second-quarter 2026 operating income of $1.43 per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 21.4%. The bottom line declined 27.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Total operating revenues for the second quarter were $3 billion, reflecting a 6.8% year-over-year increase. The figure, however, missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.4%.
Quarterly results benefited from strong premium growth, improved pricing, and higher net investment income. However, weaker underwriting performance, driven by higher catastrophe losses, weighed on results.
Operational Update
Earned premiums climbed 6.3% year over year to $2.6 billion, driven by higher renewal pricing, increased insured exposures and new business growth. The figure marginally missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.5%.
Net investment income, net of expenses, increased 12% year over year to $319 million, primarily due to a 14% rise in interest income from fixed-maturity securities and a 3% jump in equity portfolio dividends. The figure marginally beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.8%
Total benefits and expenses increased 12.8% year over year to $2.7 billion, mainly due to higher insurance losses and underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses.
In its property and casualty insurance business, CINF reported an underwriting loss of $18 million, compared to an underwriting profit of $128 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting higher catastrophe losses. The Zacks Consensus Estimates was $62.6 million.
The combined ratio, a key measure of underwriting profitability, deteriorated 590 basis points year over year to 100.8%, underperforming the consensus estimate of 97.1.
Quarterly Segment Update
Commercial Lines Insurance: Total revenues of $1.25 billion increased 3% year over year, driven by a 3% increase in earned premiums and higher investment income.
Underwriting recorded a loss of $49 million, against a profit of $87 million in the prior-year quarter. The combined ratio deteriorated 1,120 basis points year over year to 104.1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was 99.8%.
Personal Lines Insurance: Total revenues of $881 million increased 9% year over year, driven by a 9% rise in earned premiums. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was $889 million.
Underwriting profit increased significantly year over year to $1 million from a loss of $14 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6 million. The combined ratio deteriorated 210 basis points year over year to 99.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was 98.1.
Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance: Total revenues of $190 million grew 9% year over year, aided by a 9% increase in earned premiums. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was $185 million.
Underwriting profit increased 19% year over year to $19 million, significantly surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $14.5 million. The combined ratio improved 60 basis points year over year to 90.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was 92.4%.
Life Insurance: Total revenues were $142 million, up 9% year over year, driven by 5% higher earned premiums and 10% higher investment income, net of expenses. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was $140.3 million. Total benefits and expenses increased 7% year over year to $104 million.
CINF's Financial Update
As of June 30, 2026, Cincinnati Financial reported total assets of $43.2 billion, up 5.4% from the 2025-end level.
Long-term debt was $791 million, remaining nearly flat from the 2025-end level.
The company's debt-to-total-capital ratio improved to 4.6% from 4.9% at 2025-end.
As of June 30, 2026, CINF’s book value per share increased 6.1% from the 2025-end level to $108.64.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates review.
VGM Scores
Currently, Cincinnati Financial has a poor Growth Score of F, a score with the same score on the momentum front. However, the stock was allocated a score of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Interestingly, Cincinnati Financial has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry Player
Cincinnati Financial is part of the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry. Over the past month, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL), a stock from the same industry, has gained 4.8%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.
Kinsale Capital Group reported revenues of $548.52 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.8%. EPS of $5.54 for the same period compares with $4.78 a year ago.
Kinsale Capital Group is expected to post earnings of $4.87 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -6.5%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.4%.
Kinsale Capital Group has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) based on the overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions. Additionally, the stock has a VGM Score of D.
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Cincinnati Financial (CINF) Down 6.1% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Rebound?

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 8/28/26, Kinsale Capital Group Inc (Symbol: KNSL) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.25, payable on 9/14/26. As a percentage of KNSL's recent stock price of $390.82, this dividend works out to approximately 0.06%.
In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from KNSL is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 0.26% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of KNSL shares, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, KNSL's low point in its 52 week range is $287.20 per share, with $485 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $391.79.
According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, KNSL makes up 5.96% of the AGF U.S. Market Neutral Anti-Beta Fund ETF (Symbol: BTAL) which is trading higher by about 0.3% on the day Wednesday. (see other ETFs holding KNSL).
In Wednesday trading, Kinsale Capital Group Inc shares are currently up about 0.7% on the day.
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Further KNSL Research:

Ex-Div Reminder for Kinsale Capital Group (KNSL)

Shares of Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) have gained 19.6% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 4.2% growth.
KNSL shares have benefited from strong earnings, robust underwriting performance and high returns. The insurer has surpassed earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the average being 8.9%. However, its premium valuation and continued weakness in commercial property pricing could limit further upside, while slower premium growth may weigh on future earnings.
Shares of other industry players like American Financial Group, Inc. AFG, Arch Capital Group Ltd. ACGL and CNA Financial Corporation CNA have gained 6.3%, 2.2% and 13.3%, respectively, over the past three months.
3-Month Price Performance: KNSL, CNA, AFG, ACGL & Industry
KNSL’s Growth Projection Encourages
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kinsale Capital’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year increase of 8.2%. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.92 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 5.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The consensus estimate for 2027 EPS and revenues indicates an increase of 1.9% and 0.9%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates.
Earnings have grown 38% in the past five years, better than the industry average of 22.7%. The expected long-term earnings growth rate is 15%, outperforming the industry average of 7.5%.
KNSL’s Efficient Use of Shareholder Funds
Kinsale Capital’s return on equity (ROE) was 25.8% for the trailing 12 months, better than the industry’s 7.4%, reflecting the company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ funds. This insurer targets mid-teens ROE over the long term.
What’s Driving KNSL Stock
Kinsale Capital prioritizes profitability over premium growth and avoids poorly priced business, helping protect margins in a soft E&S market. In the second quarter of 2026, underwriting income rose 10.5% to $105.4 million, while net earned premiums increased 8.9%. Its 75.5% combined ratio and 24.4% ROE in the second quarter of 2026 highlight strong underwriting performance. Management targets a long-term combined ratio in the mid-80% range.
Kinsale Capital continues to witness healthy growth outside commercial property, with Gross written premium (GWP) rising 3.7% in the second quarter and 4.8% in the first half of 2026. New business submissions increased 6%, while submissions excluding commercial property rose 8%. Strong demand in the small- and medium-sized enterprise market and favorable growth in excess casualty, commercial auto, entertainment, environmental, agribusiness casualty and energy support premium growth.
The company launched nine new products or enhancements in the first half of 2026, with five more set to launch soon and 10 in the pipeline. It also added 24 wholesale brokers and 176 retail brokers to Aspera, expanding market reach and supporting future premium growth.
KNSL is well-positioned to generate an improved expense ratio, given its proprietary technology platform, which includes 17 years of internal data, advanced analytics and machine learning to improve risk selection and pricing. This supports strong loss ratios even in a competitive market.
KNSL’s net investment income increased 19.9% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, supported by growth in the investment portfolio. The investment portfolio generated a 4.5% annualized gross return in the first half of 2026, while new-money yields were around 5.25%. As of June 30, 2026, Kinsale Capital's float increased to $3.4 billion from $3.1 billion at year-end 2025, providing a larger base for investment income.
Kinsale Capital’s operating cash flow supports organic growth, investment portfolio expansion and capital returns. Net cash provided by operating activities was $490.8 million in the first half of 2026 compared with $498.9 million a year earlier. The company repurchased $100 million of shares in the second quarter. In July 2026, the board added $250 million to the authorization, bringing remaining capacity to $337.5 million, providing additional support to EPS and shareholder returns.
Risks for KNSL
Intense competition in commercial property and casualty lines is pressuring pricing and growth. Commercial property GWP fell 32.7% in the second quarter of 2026, while overall pricing declined 5.9%. Kinsale Capital’s disciplined underwriting protects margins but may limit premium growth. Rising casualty loss costs and a shift toward longer-tail business could also pressure profitability.
Higher reinsurance retentions are raising KNSL’s expense ratio, while investment volatility has widened accumulated other comprehensive loss. Additionally, Kinsale Capital’s 4.17X price-to-book multiple, well above the P&C industry’s 1.41X, leaves limited room for execution missteps amid slower growth.
End Notes
Kinsale Capital is poised to gain from its long-term expansion in the United States. E&S market and its focus on smaller, hard-to-place risks, prudent underwriting, lower expense ratio, technology-enabled efficiency, higher investment income and effective capital deployment. Favorable growth estimates and higher return on equity are other positives.
However, given its slower commercial property growth and expensive valuation, it is better to wait for some more time before taking a call on this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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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 a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).