AXS vs. ACGL: Which P&C Insurance Stock Should You Hold Now?

Industry Overview - The Zacks Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance industry is experiencing growth due to solid retention, exposure growth across business lines, and improved pricing, which are driving higher premiums and maintaining profitability [1] - The industry is focusing on personalized offerings to enhance customer experience and is leveraging digitalization [1] - Catastrophic activities, both natural and man-made, may have negatively impacted underwriting profit [1] Company Analysis: Axis Capital Holdings Limited (AXS) - AXS has seen an increase in its top line driven by higher net premiums earned and net investment income [4] - The Insurance segment is performing well, contributing to improved premiums, with favorable market conditions expected to continue across property lines [5] - AXS is focused on growth in Marine Cargo, Cyber, and Renewable Energy, with a return on equity (ROE) of 19%, significantly above the industry average of 7.8% [6] - The company’s net investment income has shown a four-year CAGR of 21.4%, supported by increased fixed maturity assets and yields [7] - AXS has a strong track record of shareholder value enhancement through stock buybacks and consecutive dividend increases, with a ten-year CAGR of 4.2% [8] Company Analysis: Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL) - ACGL focuses on writing specialty lines of insurance and reinsurance, maintaining a strong track record of net premiums written with a four-year CAGR of 20.6% [9][10] - The company expects continued growth in its Insurance and Reinsurance segments due to rate increases and new business opportunities [11] - ACGL has seen a four-year CAGR of 30.2% in net investment income, benefiting from rising investment yields and a growing investment portfolio [12] - The company maintains a robust capital position and has improved its balance sheet, with a return on equity of 15.7%, also above the industry average [13] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXS' 2025 revenues and EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 7.8% and 3.4%, respectively [14] - For ACGL, the 2025 revenue estimate suggests a year-over-year increase of 13.5%, while EPS is projected to decline by 14.7% [15] Valuation Metrics - AXS is trading at a price-to-book multiple of 1.49, above its five-year median of 1.06, while ACGL's price-to-book multiple is at 1.69, above its median of 1.64 [16] Conclusion - AXS is well-positioned for growth in its Specialty Insurance and Reinsurance business, particularly in Marine Cargo, Cyber, and Renewable Energy [17] - ACGL is set to benefit from specialty lines of insurance and reinsurance, with growth driven by rate increases and a growing investment portfolio [17] - AXS has a solid dividend yield of 1.7%, significantly higher than the industry average of 0.2%, making it attractive for yield-seeking investors [18] - AXS has outperformed the industry with a year-to-date gain of 14.5%, while ACGL has gained only 0.7% [20]