Palomar Holdings (PLMR) Slid on Investors’ Concerns

Core Insights - Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund's third-quarter 2025 investor letter indicates that equity markets continued to rise, with the S&P 500 Index increasing by 8.12% [1] - The fund's Class A shares underperformed compared to the Russell 2500 Growth Index during the same period [1] Company Overview - Palomar Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLMR) is identified as a specialty insurance company with a market capitalization of $3.02 billion, focusing on property and casualty coverage for risks like earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods [2][3] - The company primarily serves residential and commercial clients in the United States and generates revenue through underwriting specialized insurance policies and collecting premiums [3] Performance Metrics - Palomar Holdings, Inc. experienced a one-month return of -3.42% but saw a 20.86% increase in share value over the last 52 weeks, closing at $112.76 per share on October 28, 2025 [2] - The company's combined ratio, which reflects incurred losses and expenses as a percentage of earned premiums, was higher than analyst estimates, indicating margin pressure due to elevated expenses and a shift in premium mix [3] Market Position and Sentiment - Despite strong second-quarter earnings and raised full-year earnings guidance, investor concerns about underwriting quality negatively impacted Palomar's stock performance during the quarter [3] - The number of hedge funds holding Palomar Holdings increased from 25 to 28 in the second quarter, suggesting growing interest, although the company is not among the top 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds [4]