Why Is Brown & Brown (BRO) Up 9.3% Since Last Earnings Report?

Core Viewpoint - Brown & Brown's recent earnings report shows strong performance with adjusted earnings and revenue growth, indicating positive momentum leading up to the next earnings release [2][3][6]. Financial Performance - Q4 2024 adjusted earnings were 86 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 14.7% and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 48.3% [2]. - Total revenues for Q4 reached $1.2 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.4$1.1 billion, contributing significantly to revenue growth [3]. - Investment income rose 22.2% year over year to $22 million, although it fell short of internal estimates [4]. - Adjusted EBITDAC for Q4 was$390 million, up 22.6% year over year, with an EBITDAC margin expansion of 190 basis points to 32.9% [4]. Expense Analysis - Total expenses increased by 35.72% to $909 million, driven by higher employee compensation and other operational costs [5]. Full-Year Highlights - For the full year, adjusted earnings were$3.25 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.73 per share, but still reflecting an 81.2$4.8 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improving 12.9% year over year [6]. - Adjusted EBITDAC for the full year increased 17% to $1.7 billion, with a margin expansion of 130 basis points to 35.2$2.5 billion, an 8.6% increase from the previous year [7]. - Long-term debt was reported at $4 billion, up 11.5$1.6 billion, reflecting a 16.2% year-over-year increase [7]. Dividend Information - The board of directors declared a regular cash dividend of $154 million during the reported quarter [8]. Market Sentiment - There has been an upward trend in estimates revisions for Brown & Brown, indicating positive market sentiment [9]. - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting an expectation of in-line returns in the coming months [12].