Key Takeaways Kinsale Capital expands in E&S with premium growth, renewals and disciplined underwriting.Digital tools speed underwriting, cut costs and fuel growth in transport and homeowners.Kinsale Capital holds low debt, strong coverage, and has raised dividends five times in five years.Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) has been trading below its 50-day simple moving average (SMA), signaling a short-term bearish trend.The 50-day SMA is a key indicator for traders and analysts to identify support and res ...

Core Thesis - Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. is positioned as a high-growth, capital-light insurance business with strong financial fundamentals and efficient capital allocation, making it an attractive investment opportunity [2][5]. Financial Performance - The company's total revenues have compounded at a 36% CAGR since 2020, with net income increasing from $88 million in 2020 to over $414 million in 2023, indicating disciplined execution and significant earnings growth [2]. - Operating income and free cash flow have consistently scaled, with free cash flow reaching approximately $952 million, significantly exceeding minimal capital expenditure requirements due to the capital-light model [2]. Profitability Metrics - Kinsale's insider ownership stands at 5.2%, which is below the 10% benchmark, but the company maintains robust profitability metrics with strong operating and net income margins, resulting in returns on invested capital exceeding 10% [3]. - The absence of goodwill on the balance sheet highlights the organic strength of Kinsale's business model [3]. Capital Management - Stock-based compensation has a modest effect on adjusted free cash flow, but this impact is mitigated by the company's substantial cash generation [4]. - Share repurchases have been ongoing since 2020, with $17 million executed last year, reflecting management's confidence in long-term prospects, although some investors suggest that funds could be better reinvested into growth [4]. Valuation Metrics - Valuation metrics appear favorable, with forward P/E trading below historical medians, suggesting potential undervaluation [5]. - The combination of strong free cash flow conversion, scalable profitability, and a clean balance sheet presents Kinsale as a business with resilient fundamentals and attractive risk/reward positioning for long-term investors [5]. Market Position - Kinsale has a niche focus in the E&S market, strong underwriting discipline, and an industry-leading combined ratio, contributing to its profitable growth [6]. - The stock price has appreciated approximately 4.8% since previous coverage, reinforcing the bullish thesis on the company's continued delivery of profitable growth [6].

Core Viewpoint - Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) has underperformed compared to its industry and broader market indices, with a year-to-date share price decline of 2.1% against a 7.5% growth in the S&P 500 Composite [1] Company Performance - Kinsale Capital has a market capitalization of $10.6 billion and an average trading volume of 0.2 million shares over the last three months [1] - The company has consistently surpassed earnings estimates in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 11.5% [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kinsale Capital's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 14%, with revenues projected to reach $1.8 billion, reflecting a 13.4% improvement [6] Valuation Metrics - Kinsale Capital shares are trading at a price-to-book value of 7.07X, significantly higher than the industry average of 1.52X, indicating a premium valuation [4][9] - The average price target from analysts for KNSL is $499.11 per share, suggesting an 8.7% upside from the last closing price [11] Growth Projections - The expected long-term earnings growth for Kinsale Capital is pegged at 14.9%, outperforming the industry average of 7% [7] - Revenue growth has been robust, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38% from 2019 to 2024, driven by premiums and investment income [9][15] Market Position and Strategy - Kinsale Capital has established a strong position in the U.S. excess and surplus market, benefiting from favorable pricing conditions and healthy broker submissions [15] - The company has maintained an underlying combined ratio below 95%, supported by disciplined underwriting practices [17] - Kinsale's proprietary digital platform enhances operational efficiency and cost management, contributing to sustained market share gains [19] Shareholder Value - Kinsale Capital has demonstrated a commitment to shareholder value creation, raising its dividend five times in the past five years, with a total payout growth of 12.43% during this period [21]

Analyst's Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of KNSL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. I believe in fundamental analysis and disciplined market research. I have strong quant background with a Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering, Universit ...

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits. PGR currently has a forward P/E ratio of 13.79, while KNSL has a forward P/E of 24.49. We also note that PGR has a PEG ratio of 1.44. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into acco ...

Go from market noise to clarity and start the free trial now! If you don't know Kinsale, let me first introduce it briefly. Last Thursday, July 24, Kinsale Capital Group ( KNSL ) reported its Q2 earnings. In this article, I will analyze those numbers and look at the valuation. Potential Multibaggers focuses on stocks that have the potential to go up -5x-10x or more over the next decade. Potential Multibaggers is for long-term investors who want to fill their portfolio with potentially life-changing returns ...

Core Viewpoint - Kinsale Capital Group reported strong second-quarter earnings that exceeded analysts' expectations, but its share price has remained flat due to concerns over increased competition in the commercial property insurance market [2][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Kinsale's second-quarter earnings led to a 7% increase in share price initially, but it has since returned to flat levels [2]. - The company increased gross written premiums (GWPs) by 5% and grew earnings per share by 45% [6]. - Kinsale recorded a combined ratio of 76%, indicating profitability, and delivered a return on equity of 33% [6]. Group 2: Market Challenges - The largest insurance division, commercial property, experienced a 17% decline in GWPs compared to the previous year, attributed to heightened competition and lower pricing [3]. - Despite the decline in commercial property, the growth rates for the rest of Kinsale's business increased by 14%, showcasing the company's diversification strategy [5]. Group 3: Management Insights - Management acknowledged that GWP growth fell below the target of annualized increases between 10% and 20%, attributing this to standard cyclicality in the excess-and-surplus insurance industry [7]. - CEO Michael Kehoe emphasized that the company's loss reserves are conservatively stated, which, along with strong underwriting capabilities, positions Kinsale as a promising long-term investment [7].

Core Insights - Kinsale Capital Group (KNSL) reported second-quarter 2025 net operating earnings of $4.78 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.4% and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 27.5% [1][9] - Operating revenues rose 22.2% year over year to $470 million, driven by increased premiums, fee income, and net investment income, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $434 million [1][9] Operational Update - Gross written premiums reached $555.5 million, a 4.9% increase year over year, supported by strong broker submissions and favorable pricing [2] - Net written premiums increased 6.6% year over year to $458.7 million, slightly below the estimate of $473.5 million [2] - Net investment income grew 29.6% year over year to $46.5 million, driven by a robust investment portfolio and higher interest rates [3] - Total expenses rose 12.2% year over year to $301.5 million, influenced by increased losses and underwriting expenses [4] - Underwriting income was reported at $95.5 million, a 25.5% increase year over year, attributed to premium growth and lower net commissions [4] Financial Metrics - The combined ratio improved by 190 basis points to 75.8, better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78 [5] - The expense ratio improved by 40 basis points to 20.7, while the loss ratio improved by 150 basis points to 55.1 [5] - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q2 2025 were $138 million, a 21.2% increase from the end of 2024 [6] - Stockholders' equity increased 16.1% to $1.7 billion, with book value per share rising 16% to $73.93 [6] - Annualized operating return on equity contracted by 180 basis points year over year to 27% [7] Share Repurchase - Kinsale Capital repurchased $10 million worth of shares during the second quarter of 2025 [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Kinsale's operating earnings per share increased by 27.5% and gross written premium grew by 4.9% compared to Q2 2024 [4] - The company posted a combined ratio of 75.8% and a six-month operating return on equity of 24.7% [4] - Book value per share increased by 16% since the end of 2024 [4] - Net income and net operating earnings increased by 44.9% and 27.4% respectively [10] - The expense ratio improved to 20.7% from 21.1% year-over-year [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial property division saw premiums drop by 16.8% due to high competition and rate declines [6] - Excluding the commercial property division, Kinsale's premium grew by 14.3% in the second quarter [6] - Submission growth was 9% for the quarter, down from 10% in the first quarter [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The E and S market remains competitive, with robust premium growth in small business property, high-value homeowners, commercial auto, entertainment, and general casualty [12] - Pricing trends align with the AmWINS index, which reported a 2.4% overall decrease, with commercial property down 20% [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Kinsale focuses on small E and S accounts, maintaining control over underwriting and providing exceptional customer service [5] - The company is expanding its product suite, including broadening its agribusiness vertical and launching new homeowners products in multiple states [14] - Kinsale aims to capture market opportunities while remaining cautious around loss cost trends due to inflation [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges heightened competition, particularly in the commercial property division, but remains optimistic about growth prospects [22][23] - The company is cautious about long-tail casualty lines due to inflation and is conservative in its reserving practices [26][80] - Management believes that under-reserving in the industry could lead to significant issues for some players, but Kinsale's conservative approach positions it well [13][16] Other Important Information - Kinsale's reinsurance program was renewed with favorable terms, including increased retention on casualty treaties and a slight increase in ceding commissions [8] - The company reported a net investment income increase of 29.6% due to growth in its investment portfolio [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Long-term growth target amidst competition - Management does not provide a specific growth prospect but believes a 10% to 20% growth over the cycle is a conservative estimate, acknowledging current headwinds in the commercial property division [22][23] Question: Underlying margin improvement - The underlying margin improvement is attributed to a mix of business, with a focus on cautious long-tail casualty reserving [25][26] Question: Commercial property pricing dynamics - The commercial property division is experiencing intense competition, with rates and terms dropping significantly [29][30] Question: New business growth contribution - While specific statistics on new versus renewal business growth are not available, management suggests that new business is likely driving most of the premium growth [42][44] Question: Reserve releases and trends - Management emphasizes a conservative approach to reserves, particularly for long-tail casualty lines, while short-tail business shows better results [80][81] Question: Cash flow and operational growth - Management indicates that as long as top-line growth continues, cash flow from operations should also increase, although it is influenced by loss experience [65][66]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Kinsale's operating earnings per share increased by 27.5% and gross written premium grew by 4.9% compared to Q2 2024 [4] - The company posted a combined ratio of 75.8% and a six-month operating return on equity of 24.7% [4] - Book value per share increased by 16% since the end of 2024 [4][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial property division saw premiums drop by 16.8% in Q2 due to high competition and rate declines [6] - Excluding the commercial property division, Kinsale's premiums grew by 14.3% in Q2 [6] - Submission growth was 9% for the quarter, down from 10% in Q1, with the commercial property division experiencing a decline in submissions [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The E and S market remains competitive, with varying levels of competition across different industry segments [6] - Pricing trends align with the AmWINS index, which reported a 2.4% overall decrease, with commercial property down 20% [18] - Casualty pricing was mixed but modestly positive, with some professional and management liability lines slightly negative [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Kinsale focuses on small E and S accounts, maintaining control over underwriting and providing exceptional customer service [5] - The company continues to expand its product suite, including broadening its agribusiness vertical and launching new homeowners products in multiple states [17] - Kinsale aims to capture market opportunities while being cautious around loss cost trends and inflation [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in profitability and growth prospects despite heightened competition, particularly in the commercial property division [26] - The company remains optimistic about its loss results and growth prospects, emphasizing its position as a low-cost provider [19] - Management highlighted the importance of cautious reserving practices in the current economic environment [19][90] Other Important Information - Kinsale's net investment income increased by 29.6% in Q2 due to growth in the investment portfolio [11] - The company renewed its reinsurance program with favorable terms, reflecting strong historical results [7] Q&A Session Summary Question: Long-term growth target amidst competition - Management believes the 10% to 20% growth target is conservative, acknowledging variability due to heightened competition, especially in commercial property [25][26] Question: Underlying margin improvement - The underlying margin improvement is attributed to cautious approaches in long-tail casualty lines and strong performance in shorter-tail lines like property [30][31] Question: Commercial property pricing outlook - The commercial property division is experiencing intense competition, with rates and terms dropping significantly [33][34] Question: New business growth contribution - New business is likely driving most of the premium growth, with specific lines like high-value homeowners and small business property showing robust growth [48][51] Question: Reserve releases and trends - Management is conservative in releasing reserves, particularly in long-tail casualty lines, while short-tail business shows good results [89][90]