KNSL Lags Industry, Trades at Premium: How to Play the Stock

Core Insights - Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) shares have increased by 17.4% over the past year, slightly underperforming the Finance sector's growth of 18.2% and the industry growth of 17.5%, but outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite return of 9.5% [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $10.74 billion, with an average trading volume of 0.2 million shares over the last three months [4] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kinsale Capital's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 10%, with revenues projected at $1.75 billion, reflecting a 10.2% improvement [5] - Earnings have grown by 44.3% over the past five years, surpassing the industry average of 20.8%, with a long-term earnings growth rate expected at 15%, compared to the industry average of 6.8% [6] Earnings Performance - Kinsale Capital has consistently surpassed earnings estimates in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 11.07% [7] Financial Metrics - The return on equity (ROE) for Kinsale Capital stands at 26.37%, significantly higher than the industry average of 7.8%, indicating efficient use of shareholders' funds [10] - The return on invested capital (ROIC) is reported at 22.7%, compared to the industry's 5.9%, reflecting effective capital utilization [11] Analyst Sentiment - Mixed analyst sentiment is observed, with six out of eight analysts raising estimates for 2025, while six out of seven have lowered estimates for 2026 over the past 60 days [12] Valuation - Kinsale Capital shares are currently trading at a price-to-book value of 6.79X, which is higher than the industry average of 1.55X, indicating a premium valuation [13] Price Target - The average price target for Kinsale Capital, based on short-term estimates from eight analysts, is $474.63 per share, suggesting a potential upside of 2.9% from the last closing price [14] Market Positioning - Kinsale Capital is well-positioned in the excess and surplus (E&S) market, benefiting from high retention rates and improved underwriting results compared to the broader P&C industry [16] - The company targets small to medium-sized accounts, which allows for better pricing and reduced competition, with management estimating low double-digit rate increases across its business [17] Operational Efficiency - Kinsale Capital's proprietary technology platform enhances operational efficiency and expense ratios, contributing to improved margins and lower loss ratios [18] - The company has maintained a free cash flow conversion rate exceeding 85% in recent quarters, reflecting stable earnings [19] Dividend and Share Repurchase - Kinsale Capital has a strong dividend history, with a seven-year CAGR of 12.1% from 2017 to 2024, and has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $100 million [21]