Keefe Bruyette Raises Price Target on Essent Group (ESNT) to $71, Maintains Market Perform Rating

Core Insights - Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE:ESNT) is recognized among the 15 Dividend Growth Stocks with the highest growth rates [1] - Keefe Bruyette raised the price target for Essent Group from $67 to $71 while maintaining a Market Perform rating [3] - The company plays a crucial role in the US housing finance system by providing private mortgage insurance and is expanding into title insurance [2] Business Strategy - Essent Group focuses on maintaining strong partnerships with leading mortgage lenders and aligning with GSE regulations [4] - The company effectively manages credit risk through reinsurance and disciplined capital allocation [4] - Its broader strategy aims to preserve credit quality, enhance capital efficiency, and deliver solid returns to shareholders [4] Dividend Performance - Essent Group has increased its dividends for five consecutive years, with an average annual growth rate of nearly 14% [5] - The current quarterly dividend is $0.31 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.04% as of October 30 [5]