Over a quarter of UK consumers suggested that a telematics/usage-based insurance (UBI) policy gives them privacy concerns, a GlobalData survey has found. Meanwhile, the telematics provider IMS has warned that insurers risk stalling the adoption of UBI policies in 2026, unless they address consumer concerns around data privacy and transparency. GlobalData’s 2025 UK Insurance Consumer Survey found that 27.6% of UK consumers cited data privacy as a key concern associated with UBI policies. The findings sugg ...

Core Viewpoint - American Coastal Insurance is positioning itself for growth through strategic partnerships and the establishment of a new E&S carrier, while providing optimistic financial guidance for 2026 [3][4][12]. Company Overview - American Coastal Insurance, founded in 2007, specializes in underwriting commercial residential property insurance in Florida, focusing on habitational risks such as condominiums and apartments [2]. - The company insures building shells and related structures but does not cover flood, liability, or contents of individual units [2][18]. Market Position - The company claims to be the market leader for Florida condominium associations, with a number one market share and approximately 4,300 of the 17,000 eligible condominium associations [1]. - American Coastal reported $637 million in premium in-force at the end of Q3 [1]. Strategic Initiatives - The company announced a partnership expansion with AmRisc, targeting a 6% participation in AmRisc's nationwide E&S portfolio, which is expected to generate about $75 million in gross written premium by 2026 [6][8][9]. - A new wholly owned E&S carrier, ACES Specialty Insurance Company, is being established with an initial policyholder surplus of $30 million, aiming to transition to direct underwriting [5][12][13]. Financial Guidance - For 2026, American Coastal projects earnings before income tax between $85 million and $100 million, and total revenue between $335 million and $365 million [4][15]. - The company emphasizes a long-term debt-to-capital target of less than 25% and has authorized up to $25 million for share repurchases [4][16]. Reinsurance Strategy - The company plans to retain a small portion of risk to mitigate catastrophe-driven volatility, with a separate catastrophe reinsurance program to cover its share of the portfolio's exposure [10][11]. - Management indicated that retention would likely be capped at approximately $10.8 million, with additional protections in place for catastrophic events [10][16]. Capital Allocation - American Coastal has paid special cash dividends of $0.50 per share in January 2025 and $0.75 per share in January 2026, supporting a stronger capital position [16][17]. - The company has seen steady growth in liquidity and book value over the last 24 months [15][16].

Core Viewpoint - F&G Annuities & Life (FG) shares have underperformed, losing approximately 30% of their value over the past year due to concerns about capital allocation and private credit exposure [1] Company Performance - The stock faced initial challenges in 2025 related to capital allocation, which negatively impacted its performance [1] - Recent fears regarding the company's exposure to private credit have further contributed to the decline in share value [1]

American Coastal Insurance (NasdaqCM:ACIC) Update / briefing January 14, 2026 11:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsLana Castle - CFOBrad Martz - President and CEOBrad MartzHello. I'm Brad Martz, President and CEO of American Coastal Insurance Corporation. Here with me is our CFO, Lana Castle, who will also be presenting, and we welcome you to our Flash Strategic Update. This presentation is intended to share some exciting developments at ACIC that are anticipated to create shareholder value by driving revenue an ...

Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when Travelers (TRV) reports results for the quarter ended December 2025. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on January 21. On ...

Core Viewpoint - HSBC is considering selling its insurance business in Singapore, potentially valued at over $1 billion, as part of a broader strategy to reorganize and simplify its operations [1][2]. Group 1: Business Strategy - HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery has initiated an overhaul of the bank, which includes reorganizing divisions and exiting certain businesses [3]. - The bank has already sold its life insurance business in the UK and its custody and private banking operations in Germany, and has also sold its life insurance unit in France [3]. - HSBC aims to focus on areas where it has a competitive advantage and opportunities for growth, as indicated by its recent transactions and strategic decisions [4]. Group 2: Market Activity - Interest from other insurance and investment companies in HSBC Life (Singapore) has been noted, although the review process is still in its early stages [2]. - HSBC has launched a new asset management business in the UAE, which is expected to enhance its wealth franchise in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) [5]. - The bank has registered 10 new onshore investment funds in the UAE, indicating a commitment to expanding its presence in the region [5].

Core Viewpoint - Hanover Insurance Group (THG) has experienced significant selling pressure, resulting in an 8.8% decline in stock price over the past four weeks, but analysts anticipate better earnings than previously predicted, indicating potential for recovery [1]. Group 1: Technical Analysis - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is utilized to determine if THG is oversold, with a current RSI reading of 24.88, suggesting that the stock is in oversold territory and may soon experience a trend reversal [2][5]. - The RSI serves as a momentum oscillator that measures price movement speed and change, oscillating between zero and 100, with readings below 30 indicating oversold conditions [2][3]. Group 2: Fundamental Indicators - Analysts covering THG have shown a strong consensus in raising earnings estimates for the current year, resulting in a 0% increase in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days, which typically correlates with price appreciation [7]. - THG holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, further supporting the potential for a near-term turnaround [8].

Industry Overview - Property and casualty insurance is one of the oldest modern industries and has structurally favorable economics, allowing for quiet compounding [1] Investment Focus - The focus is on identifying potential 5–10 baggers at the small- and mid-cap stage through careful fundamental analysis of businesses, financials, and valuations [1] - The emphasis is on early-commercial-stage life sciences companies, insurers, homebuilders, and select consumer-facing businesses [1]

Industry Overview - The insurance industry is experiencing soft pricing, with global commercial insurance rates declining by 4% in Q3 after seven years of increases [1] - Natural catastrophe losses are expected to reach approximately $107 billion by 2025, primarily due to events like LA wildfires and severe storms in the U.S. [2] - The combined ratio for the insurance sector is projected to improve to 98.5% in 2025, supported by increased exposure and prudent underwriting practices [2] Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) - Berkshire Hathaway operates as a diversified conglomerate with over 90 subsidiaries across various industries, with insurance being a key segment contributing about 25% of total revenues [4] - The company benefits from a float-driven model that enhances earnings and provides capital for investments, supported by a strong cash reserve exceeding $100 billion [5][7] - Despite a return on equity (ROE) of 7.3%, which is below the industry average of 8%, Berkshire has shown improvement over time [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BRK.B's 2026 revenues indicates a 6% year-over-year increase, while EPS is expected to decline by 4.2% [17] Chubb Limited (CB) - Chubb is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance, boasting a diversified business model that enhances earnings stability [11] - The company anticipates an 8.6% increase in EPS by 2026, contrasting with BRK.B's expected decline [10] - Chubb maintains one of the lowest combined ratios in the industry due to disciplined underwriting practices and strategic mergers and acquisitions [14] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CB's 2026 revenues suggests a 6.5% year-over-year decrease, while EPS is projected to rise by 8.6% [18] Comparative Analysis - Chubb outperforms Berkshire in terms of ROE and dividend growth, making it a more attractive investment option [10][24] - Berkshire's price-to-book multiple is 1.53, above its five-year median of 1.44, while Chubb's is 1.52, below its median of 1.56 [19] - Chubb has a solid dividend track record, increasing dividends for 32 consecutive years, with a current yield of 1.3%, compared to Berkshire's lack of dividends [23]

Core Insights - Cyber incidents remain the top global risk for companies in 2026, marking the fifth consecutive year at this position with a record score of 42% of responses, reflecting a 10% increase from the previous year [6][10] - The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) has propelled it to the second position in the risk rankings, with 32% of respondents identifying it as a significant concern, up from 10th place in 2025 [8][9] - Business interruption has dropped to the third position, indicating a shift in risk perception, although it remains a significant concern due to its connection with other risks [2][10] Cyber Risks - Cyber incidents are the primary concern across all regions, driven by increasing reliance on digital technology and evolving cyber threats [6][7] - Smaller and mid-sized enterprises are particularly vulnerable due to limited cybersecurity resources, while larger companies are investing in cybersecurity measures [7] - The evolving nature of cyber risks is compounded by reliance on third-party providers and the increasing threat landscape introduced by AI [7] Artificial Intelligence Risks - AI has emerged as a complex source of operational, legal, and reputational risks, with companies recognizing both its strategic opportunities and potential liabilities [9] - The rapid integration of AI into business operations is outpacing governance and regulatory frameworks, leading to heightened exposure to system reliability and data quality issues [9] - Concerns regarding automated decision-making and potential biases in AI models are becoming more pronounced as organizations scale their AI capabilities [9] Business Interruption and Geopolitical Risks - Business interruption is closely linked to geopolitical risks, with rising protectionist policies and regional conflicts contributing to uncertainty in global supply chains [10][11] - Political risks and violence have climbed to the seventh position in the risk rankings, reflecting growing concerns over geopolitical volatility [3][11] - Trade restrictions have significantly increased, affecting an estimated $2.7 trillion of merchandise, which is nearly 20% of global imports, prompting companies to explore alternative supply chain strategies [10]