AXIS Capital Holdings (AXS) shares are trading at a discount to the Zacks Property and Casualty Insurance industry’s multiple of 1.65. Its price-to-book value of 1.36X is lower than the broader sector’s 3.74X and the Zacks S&P 500 composite’s 8.83X.Its pricing at a discount to the industry average gives a better entry point to investors. Also, it has a Value Score of A. This leading specialty insurer and global reinsurer has a market capitalization of $7 billion. The average volume of shares traded in the l ...

Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Axis Capital (AXS) , which belongs to the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry.This insurance company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 8.73%.For the most recent quarter, Axis Capital was expected to post earnings of $2.52 pe ...

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores provide a framework for evaluating stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, aiding in identifying securities likely to outperform the market [2][3][4] Zacks Style Scores Overview - The Style Scores categorize stocks into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score, each assessing different investment characteristics [2][3][4] - Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [2] - Growth Score evaluates a company's future earnings and financial health to find stocks with sustainable growth potential [3] - Momentum Score capitalizes on price trends and earnings outlook changes to identify high-momentum stocks [3] - VGM Score combines all three styles to provide a comprehensive assessment of stocks based on value, growth, and momentum [4] Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank utilizes earnings estimate revisions to guide investors in building successful portfolios, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [5] - A large number of stocks are rated under the Zacks Rank, with over 200 stocks classified as Strong Buy and around 600 as Buy on any given day [5] Stock Example: Axis Capital (AXS) - Axis Capital Holdings Limited is rated 2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank and has a VGM Score of A, indicating strong investment potential [8] - The company has a Value Style Score of A, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 7.48, making it attractive for value investors [8] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates for fiscal 2024 have increased the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $0.20 to $10.72 per share, with an average earnings surprise of 94.6% [8]

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced volatility at the start of the trading week due to inflation concerns, geopolitical tensions, and external pressures, including Hurricane Milton and the presidential election season [1] - Major indices saw declines: Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.9% to 41,954.24, S&P 500 decreased 1% to 5,695.94, and Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.2% to 17,923.90 [1] - Rising oil prices, influenced by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, contributed to market unease [1] Investment Opportunities - In the current uncertain market environment, value stocks are highlighted as a compelling investment option, trading below their intrinsic value and offering a margin of safety [1] - The Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio is emphasized as an effective valuation metric for evaluating value stocks, with lower ratios indicating better investment opportunities [2][3] Financial Health Indicators - Positive cash flow is crucial as it indicates an increase in a company's liquid assets, enabling it to settle debts, meet expenses, reinvest, and undertake shareholder-friendly actions [4] - Negative cash flow suggests a decline in liquidity, reducing a company's flexibility [4] Value Investing Strategy - A comprehensive investment strategy should include multiple valuation metrics such as P/CF, price-to-book ratio, price-to-earnings ratio, and price-to-sales ratio, alongside a favorable Zacks Rank and Value Score [5][6][7] - Parameters for selecting true-value stocks include P/CF less than or equal to industry median, price greater than or equal to $5, and average 20-day volume greater than 100,000 [5] Stock Highlights - JD.com, Inc. (JD) has a Zacks Rank 1, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 24% and a Value Score of A; shares surged 61% in the past year [8] - EnerSys (ENS) holds a Zacks Rank 2, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.5% and a Value Score of A; shares increased 7.3% in the past year [8] - AXIS Capital Holdings (AXS) also has a Zacks Rank 2, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 94.6% and a Value Score of A; stock advanced 39% in the past year [9] - Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (PB) carries a Zacks Rank 2, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 23.3% and a Value Score of A; shares declined 3.2% in the past year [10]

Have you been paying attention to shares of Axis Capital (AXS) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 7.1% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $82.34 in the previous session. Axis Capital has gained 48.4% since the start of the year compared to the 18.1% move for the Zacks Finance sector and the 29.1% return for the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry.What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't ...

Relying solely on stock price movements without understanding the company’s fundamentals can cause investors to lose money. Investors must carefully review a company's financial health to make informed decisions, especially in today’s unpredictable market.While sales and earnings are often the go-to metrics, they can sometimes be misleading and may not show whether a company has the financial strength to cover its obligations. This is where the coverage ratio holds the key — a higher ratio signals that a co ...

Group 1 - AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (AXS) has a Zacks Rank 1 and a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 7.39, significantly lower than the industry average of 15.80, indicating strong value characteristics [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXIS Capital's current year earnings has increased nearly 7% over the last 60 days [1] - DXP Enterprises, Inc. (DXPE) also holds a Zacks Rank 1 with a P/E of 14.68, compared to the industry average of 23.00, reflecting its strong value [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DXP's current year earnings has risen by 12.7% over the last 60 days [2] Group 2 - PCB Bancorp (PCB) is another company with a Zacks Rank 1, featuring a P/E of 11.22, which is lower than the S&P 500 average of 23.21, showcasing its value potential [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PCB's current year earnings has increased by 5.1% over the last 60 days [2]

The price-to-book (P/B) ratio is widely favored by value investors for identifying low-priced stocks with exceptional returns. The ratio is used to compare a stock’s market value/price to its book value.The P/B ratio is calculated as below:P/B ratio = market price per share/book value of equity per shareP/B ratio reflects how many times book value investors are ready to pay for a share. So, if the share price is $10 and the book value of equity is $5, investors are ready to pay two times the book value. Ide ...

When it comes to investing, the flashiest sectors often grab the headlines—think cutting-edge tech, electric vehicles, or artificial intelligence. However, some of the most reliable and profitable opportunities lie in industries that are often considered boring and mundane.Insurance, for example, is essential for businesses and individuals alike, yet it doesn’t inspire the same excitement as other sectors. Despite this, some of the top-performing stocks in the market come from the insurance industry, thanks ...

The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up higher on Friday, setting a new record after a strong week, driven by the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut in four years. The Dow rose by 38.16 points, or 0.09%, to close at 42,063.36. In contrast, the S&P 500 slipped 0.19% to 5,702.55, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.36% to finish at 17,948.32. This movement came after a midweek rally, during which the Dow surpassed the 42,000 mark and the S&P 500 hit a key milestone above 5,700. Despite Friday’s slight pullbacks, ...