Chesnara PLC (LSE:CSN) CEO Steve Murray talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company’s €110 million acquisition of Scottish Widows Europe and why the deal is expected to generate approximately €250 million in lifetime cash. Murray explained that lifetime cash generation remains a core attraction in Chesnara’s acquisition strategy. Of the €250 million expected from the transaction, around €100 million is forecast within the first five years, supporting early capital return alongside long-term ...

Aon has selected Nick Fraccalvieri to serve as CEO of global facultative at its Reinsurance Solutions division, effective from 1 March 2026. Fraccalvieri joined Aon in 2023, becoming CEO of EMEA facultative reinsurance activities, a role he will retain alongside his new responsibilities. He has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, with a background in both regional and international leadership roles. Since his arrival, he has managed a team focused on developing the facultative r ...

Group 1 - Chesnara PLC is acquiring Scottish Widows Europe from Lloyds Banking Group for €110 million in cash, which will add €1.7 billion of assets and is expected to generate €250 million of lifetime cash [1] - Empire Metals Ltd has initiated its largest drilling campaign at the Pitfield project in Western Australia, planning to drill more than 750 holes to upgrade and expand its titanium resource [1] Group 2 - Tertiary Minerals PLC reported positive momentum in Zambia following a new copper-silver discovery at Mushima North, with drilling set to resume in the second quarter and a JORC Exploration Target expected soon [2] - Applied Nutrition PLC anticipates full-year results to exceed forecasts after a strong performance in January, with first-half revenue increasing by 57% to £74.5 million and full-year guidance raised to approximately £140 million [2] Group 3 - Pan African Resources PLC will hold a new general meeting in London on 26 March due to a court ruling that the notice for its previous capital reduction vote was not properly given [3]

Core Viewpoint - Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) is experiencing a decline in stock performance compared to broader market indices, despite reporting positive earnings growth in its latest quarter [2][5]. Financial Performance - For Q4 2025, PRU reported after-tax adjusted operating income of $1.168 billion, or $3.30 per share, and net income of $905 million, or $2.55 per share, both showing year-over-year increases [5]. - Analysts project PRU's EPS to rise by 1.9% year-over-year to $14.70 for the current year ending in December [6]. Stock Performance - PRU's stock has decreased by 6.5% over the past 52 weeks and 7.3% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 Index has returned 11.8% over the same period [2]. - The stock has also underperformed compared to the iShares U.S. Insurance ETF, which rose by 3.9% over the past year [3]. Analyst Ratings - Among 19 analysts covering PRU, the consensus rating is a "Hold," with two "Strong Buy" ratings, 15 "Holds," and two "Strong Sells" [6]. - Mizuho analyst Yaron Kinar maintained a 'Neutral' rating while lowering the price target from $126 to $113, indicating a potential upside of 10.2% from current market prices [8].

Colin Wildey appointed Chief Risk Officer, International [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationLONDON, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Markel Insurance, the insurance operation within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), today announced that Colin Wildey has been promoted to Chief Risk Officer for Markel International, subject to regulatory approval.Wildey has been Head of Risk for Markel International since 2022, where he has played a central role in advancing the organisation's Risk Management framework and he ...

Core Insights - Three stocks with strong value characteristics and a buy rank are highlighted for investors: Deluxe Corporation, Slide Insurance Holdings, and Ford Motor Company [1][2][3] Company Summaries Deluxe Corporation - Provides integrated payments, data, and marketing solutions for businesses nationwide - Holds a Zacks Rank 1 - Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increased by 11.1% over the last 60 days - Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is 6.38, compared to the industry average of 10.80 - Possesses a Value Score of A [1][2] Slide Insurance Holdings, Inc. - An insurance company with a Zacks Rank 1 - Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increased by 4.9% over the last 60 days - Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is 6.24, compared to the industry average of 10.30 - Possesses a Value Score of B [2] Ford Motor Company - An automobile giant with a Zacks Rank 1 - Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings increased by 7% over the last 60 days - Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) is 9.28, compared to the industry average of 33.40 - Possesses a Value Score of A [3]

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway has averaged annual gains of about 20% over the past decades, although growth has slowed recently [1][4] - The stock is currently priced at approximately $497.45 per share, with a market capitalization of $1.1 trillion [7] - The company is involved in various sectors including insurance, energy, transportation, manufacturing, and retail, owning numerous subsidiaries and a significant stock portfolio [7][8] Investment Potential - Investing in Berkshire Hathaway is suggested as a safer alternative to growth stocks, which can be overvalued and more volatile during market downturns [2][4] - A conservative estimate for future growth is around 11% annually, which could lead to substantial returns over time, such as $1,372,960 after 25 years with a monthly investment of $1,000 [5][4] - The company has a diverse portfolio, including ownership stakes in major companies like Chevron, American Express, Coca-Cola, and Bank of America [7]

LHV Group’s results for January 2026 were characterised by higher profitability and growth in business volumes. The consolidated loan portfolio of LHV Group increased by EUR 51 million over the month, reaching EUR 5.52 billion. Total deposits decreased by EUR 214 million to EUR 7.92 billion. The volume of funds managed by LHV increased by EUR 13 million to EUR 1.72 billion. In January, 8.7 million payments related to financial intermediaries were processed. AS LHV Group earned a consolidated net profit of E ...

Core Insights - Keenan Capital has initiated a new position in Accelerant Holdings by acquiring 3,139,980 shares valued at approximately $51.34 million as of February 13, 2026 [2][8] - Accelerant Holdings operates a data-driven risk exchange and underwriting services platform, primarily targeting small and medium-sized commercial clients across various geographies [6][9] Company Overview - As of February 13, 2026, Accelerant Holdings' stock price was $10.95, with a market capitalization of $2.38 billion [4] - The company reported a total revenue of $839.6 million and a net income of -$1.3 billion for the trailing twelve months [4] Financial Performance - In the third quarter, Accelerant's exchange written premium increased by 17% year over year to $1.043 billion, while total revenue rose by 74% to $267.4 million [7] - Adjusted net income reached $79.8 million, reflecting a 320% year-over-year increase [7] Business Model - Accelerant Holdings employs a multi-segment model that includes risk exchange services, managing general agent (MGA) operations, and direct underwriting, generating revenue through volume-based fees and insurance underwriting [9] - The company has a strong focus on maintaining high net revenue retention, which stood at 135%, and has expanded its platform membership to 265 [10] Investment Implications - The significant GAAP loss of $1.367 billion is primarily attributed to a one-time, non-cash profit interest distribution related to its IPO, indicating that underlying operational momentum remains strong [10] - Long-term investors are encouraged to focus on premium growth durability, retention trends, and margin expansion rather than headline losses, as the valuation reset since the IPO may present an investment opportunity [12]

Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway, traditionally viewed as a strong long-term investment, has underperformed the S&P 500 over the past year, raising concerns among investors about its future performance and the implications of Warren Buffett's retirement [4][5]. Group 1: Company Performance - Berkshire Hathaway has delivered an average annual return of nearly 20% since Warren Buffett took control in 1965, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's average annual return of 10% [1]. - The company's stock has risen by less than 4% over the past 12 months, while the S&P 500 has advanced nearly 12% [4]. - Berkshire's market capitalization stands at approximately $1.08 trillion, with a portfolio worth $320 billion, accounting for 30% of its market cap [2]. Group 2: Strategic Decisions - The company paused its buybacks for five consecutive quarters, indicating that its shares may be overvalued [4]. - Buffett's decision to sell many of Berkshire's top stocks has resulted in a record cash position of $382 billion by the end of Q3 2025, suggesting concerns about the overheated S&P 500 [5]. - Buffett's retirement at the end of 2025 has led to uncertainty among investors, prompting some to consider selling their shares [5]. Group 3: Investment Products - Direxion offers an inverse ETF, the Daily BRKB Bear 1X Shares, which allows investors to bet against Berkshire Hathaway's stock [7]. - This ETF uses total return swaps to replicate a short position against Berkshire, meaning it rises when Berkshire's stock declines and falls when Berkshire's stock rises [8]. - The strategy is highly leveraged and carries risks, with a high expense ratio of 0.97% and daily resets of returns [9].