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LMND vs. EVER: Which InsurTech Stock Is the Better Pick?
ZACKS· 2025-12-18 16:36
Core Insights - InsurTech companies like Lemonade Inc. (LMND) and EverQuote Inc. (EVER) are leveraging advanced technologies but face challenges such as lower interest rates, increased competition, and inflation [1][2] Group 1: Lemonade Inc. (LMND) - Lemonade has diversified its offerings beyond renters and homeowners insurance to include auto, pet, and life insurance, which strengthens its revenue base [3] - The auto insurance segment is performing well, with in-force premiums (IFP) reaching $1.16 billion, marking eight consecutive quarters of growth, and management projects year-end IFP of $1.218 billion to $1.223 billion [4] - Lemonade's reinsurance structure helps stabilize financial performance by transferring claims costs, resulting in loss adjustment expenses averaging 7% of premiums [5] - Geographic expansion into Europe provides additional revenue opportunities and a favorable regulatory environment, although the company has yet to achieve profitability [6] - Shares of LMND have increased by 116% year to date, but its return on equity is negative at -31.9%, lagging behind industry averages [7] Group 2: EverQuote Inc. (EVER) - EverQuote is positioned for long-term growth with a focus on property and casualty insurance and a debt-free balance sheet, supported by a proprietary data platform [10][13] - The company is investing in innovation to enhance monetization and strengthen relationships with advertisers, integrating proprietary data with various tools [11] - Inorganic growth through acquisitions, such as PolicyFuel, has expanded EverQuote's product offerings and increased exposure to the $135 billion commission-based market [12] - EverQuote has authorized a $50 million share repurchase program, reflecting management's confidence in its performance [13] - Shares of EVER have also rallied 116% year to date, with a return on equity of 38.2%, outperforming the industry [13] Group 3: Financial Estimates and Valuation - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LMND's 2025 revenues indicates a 38.6% year-over-year increase, while EPS estimates show a 17.2% increase [14] - For EVER, the 2025 revenue estimate implies a 34.8% year-over-year increase, with EPS estimates indicating a significant 65.9% increase [15] - LMND's price-to-book ratio is 11.65, significantly above its three-year median of 1.85, while EVER's ratio is 5.6, above its median of 5.26 [17] Group 4: Conclusion - Lemonade is focusing on growth through acquisitions and expanding its market presence, targeting a 30% growth in in-force premiums by 2026 [18] - EverQuote aims to sustain growth by diversifying revenue and leveraging technology to attract consumers, positioning itself strongly in the digital insurance market [19] - Based on return on equity, EVER is currently a more attractive investment compared to LMND, with a Zacks Rank of 1 for EVER and 3 for LMND [20]
Root vs. EverQuote: Which Stock Is the Stronger Bet in Insurtech?
ZACKS· 2025-09-19 17:15
Core Insights - InsurTech companies like ROOT Inc. and EverQuote Inc. are striving to innovate using advanced technologies but face challenges from market conditions and competition [1][2] ROOT Inc. Overview - ROOT operates primarily in the auto insurance market, utilizing telematics and data-driven pricing models for differentiation [3] - The company is focused on geographic expansion and targeted investments, with a steady increase in policies in force [3] - ROOT has managed fixed expenses while investing in marketing, with a key catalyst being the expected refinancing of its debt facility, projected to reduce interest expenses by 50% in 2025 [4] - The company has improved its net margin significantly, expanding by 15,350 basis points over the past three years, marking its first profitable year in 2024 [4][9] - ROOT has successfully lowered its gross loss ratio to below the long-term target of 60-65%, although elevated debt levels remain a concern [5] - The return on equity for ROOT stands at 38.24%, significantly higher than the industry average of 8.3% [6] EverQuote Inc. Overview - EverQuote is a leading online marketplace for insurance, connecting consumers with insurance providers and focusing on growth in property and casualty insurance [7] - The company anticipates benefiting from the recovery of auto insurance carrier demand and aims to expand into new verticals [8] - EverQuote projects revenues between $155 million and $160 million for Q3 2025, driven by increased consumer traffic and new advertising channels [8][9] - The company leverages AI-driven efficiency and a proprietary data platform to enhance operations and streamline workflows [11][12] - EverQuote has a debt-free balance sheet and has approved a $50 million share buyback program, with a return on equity of 36.9% [13] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ROOT's 2025 revenues and EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 16.4% and 43.4%, respectively [14] - For EverQuote, the estimates imply a 48.9% increase in revenues and a 30% increase in EPS for 2025 [15] - ROOT's price-to-book multiple is 6.38, while EverQuote's is 5.33, both above their respective medians over the last three years [16] Conclusion - ROOT aims to be the largest and most profitable company in the industry, focusing on technological advancements in pricing and underwriting [17] - EverQuote is positioned for long-term growth due to its exclusive data assets and strong financial profile [18] - Year-to-date stock performance shows ROOT shares have increased by 39.1%, while EverQuote shares have risen by 24.4% [18]
ROOT vs. LMND: Which InsurTech Has More Upside Potential?
ZACKS· 2025-04-11 17:46
Core Insights - InsurTech companies like ROOT Inc. and Lemonade are facing challenges such as lowered interest rates, increased competition, inflation, and higher repair costs, while also striving for profitability amidst regulatory scrutiny [1][2] ROOT Inc. Overview - ROOT focuses on auto insurance, employing telematics and data-driven pricing models, with a growth strategy centered on geographic expansion and increased distribution channels [3] - The company is expanding across automotive, financial services, and agent sub-channels, which is driving growth in new writings [4] - ROOT expects to refinance its debt facility with Blackrock in October 2024, potentially lowering interest expenses by 50% in 2025, and has shown improvement in its net margin over time [5] - The net margin has improved by 15,350 basis points over the last three years, marking 2024 as the first year of profitability, although high debt levels pose a financial risk [6] Lemonade Overview - Lemonade's growth strategy includes acquiring profitable businesses and focusing on car insurance, which it sees as a major growth engine [7] - The company aims for a tenfold business growth, targeting a 28% increase in in-force premium by 2025, and plans to achieve positive EBITDA by 2026 and net profit by 2027 [8] - Lemonade is exposed to catastrophe losses but has implemented strategic initiatives to manage this risk, contributing to improvements in its gross loss ratio [9][10] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ROOT's 2025 revenues indicates a year-over-year decrease of 89.6%, while EPS is expected to increase by 5.1% [11] - For Lemonade, the 2025 revenue and EPS estimates imply a year-over-year increase of 1.1% and 24.8%, respectively [12] Valuation Metrics - ROOT is trading at a price-to-book multiple of 8.86X, significantly above its five-year median of 0.92X, while Lemonade's price-to-book multiple is at 3.2X, also above its median of 1.77X [13] Conclusion - ROOT aims to be the largest and most profitable company in the industry, leveraging technology for operational efficiency and growth [16] - Lemonade's focus on growth and technology is promising, but it has yet to achieve profitability, with ROOT outperforming in return on equity [17] - Over the past year, ROOT shares have surged by 77.8%, while Lemonade shares have gained 55.6%, indicating that ROOT is currently a more attractive investment option [18]