Longleaf Partners, managed by Southeastern Asset Management, released its “Small-Cap Fund” third-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund returned 2.03% in the third quarter, compared with the Russell 3000’s 8.18% and the Russell 2000’s 12.39%. For more information on the fund’s best picks in 2025, please check its top five holdings. In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Longleaf Partners Small-Cap Fund highlighted stocks such as White Mountains Insurance Gr ...

Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE:ORI) is included among the 15 High Quality Dividend Stocks for Long-Term Investors. Consistent Dividend Strategy Underscores Old Republic’s Resilience in 2025 Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay On November 25, Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE:ORI) announced that it would pay a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share, matching its previous payout.‍ T⁠he d‌ividend is scheduled for December 15, 2025, fo⁠r‌  shareholders on​ record as of December 5. ...

Group 1 - Brown & Brown, Inc. reported Q3 2025 revenue of $1.6 billion, reflecting over 35% growth year-over-year [3] - The company's EBITDAC margin increased to 36.6%, an expansion of 170 basis points from the prior-year quarter [3] - Barclays lowered its price target on Brown & Brown to $84 from $102 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating [2] Group 2 - Brown & Brown announced a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.165 per share, marking 32 consecutive years of dividend growth [4] - The board approved an expansion of the share repurchase program to $1.5 billion, emphasizing the company's commitment to shareholder value [4] - The Programs and Wholesale segments were combined into a new Specialty Distribution segment, branded as Arrowhead Intermediaries, which now manages approximately $20 billion in written premium [4]

Core Insights - MetLife, Inc. has a market capitalization of $50.3 billion and operates in various financial services sectors, including insurance and asset management [1] - The company is categorized as a "large-cap" stock, providing a diverse range of products such as life and health insurance, pension risk transfers, and capital markets investments [2] Stock Performance - MetLife's stock has decreased by 13.9% from its 52-week high of $88.59 and has fallen 6.2% over the past three months, which is a more significant decline compared to the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLF) 2% drop [3] - Year-to-date, MET stock is down 6.8%, underperforming XLF's 9.4% gain, and has fallen 13.5% over the past 52 weeks, while XLF has returned over 3% [4] Financial Results - In Q3 2025, MetLife reported net income of $818 million and adjusted EPS increased by 21% to $2.34, alongside strong investment income and sales momentum in key regions like Asia [5] - The company returned $875 million to shareholders and secured $12 billion in new pension risk transfer mandates, yet the stock fell by 3.4% the following day [5] Competitive Position - Rival Aflac Incorporated has outperformed MetLife, with Aflac's shares gaining 5.9% year-to-date and dropping 3.9% over the past 52 weeks [6] - Despite MetLife's underperformance, analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a mean price target of $93.38, indicating a potential upside of 22.4% from current levels [6]

Core Insights - The State Street SPDR S&P Insurance ETF (KIE) is a smart beta ETF that debuted on November 8, 2005, providing broad exposure to the Financials ETFs category [1] - KIE aims to match the performance of the S&P Insurance Select Industry Index, which represents the insurance segment of the S&P Total Market Index [5] Fund Overview - KIE is managed by State Street Investment Management and has accumulated assets exceeding $635.06 million, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in the Financials sector [5] - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35%, making it one of the least expensive options in its category, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.56% [6] Sector Exposure and Holdings - KIE's portfolio is entirely allocated to the Financials sector, minimizing single stock risk through diversified exposure [7] - The top holding, Kinsale Capital Group Inc (KNSL), constitutes approximately 2.08% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 20.11% of total assets [8] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, KIE has increased by approximately 6.55%, but it has decreased by about -2.35% over the last 12 months as of December 2, 2025 [10] - The fund has a beta of 0.75 and a standard deviation of 17.14% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the insurance space include Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF (KBWP) and iShares U.S. Insurance ETF (IAK), with assets of $410.32 million and $508.98 million respectively [12] - KBWP and IAK have expense ratios of 0.35% and 0.38%, respectively, providing investors with additional options [12]

Core Insights - RLI Corp. has achieved the status of a Dividend King by raising its annual dividend for the 50th consecutive year, demonstrating resilience through economic challenges [1][2] - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $5.8 billion and has faced a 21% decline in stock price this year due to various industry pressures [3] Company Performance - Despite the stock decline, RLI has managed to grow its operating earnings in the first nine months of the year, maintaining a combined ratio of slightly over 85%, indicating underwriting profitability [4] - The company has a dividend yield of around 1% and a free cash flow yield of nearly 10%, suggesting potential for continued dividend growth in the future [6] Market Context - RLI operates in a competitive insurance market and is experiencing challenges from rising technology investments and increased claims due to more frequent natural disasters [3] - The stock's current price is $61.67, with a 52-week range between $55.94 and $84.40, reflecting volatility in the market [5][6]

Group 1: Allstate Corporation - Allstate Corporation is an insurance company with a Zacks Rank 1 [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 30.3% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.40, significantly lower than the industry average of 1.70 [1] - Allstate possesses a Growth Score of B [1] Group 2: Sanmina Corporation - Sanmina Corporation is a global provider of electronics contract manufacturing services with a Zacks Rank 1 [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 38.9% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.64, compared to the industry average of 1.96 [2] - Sanmina possesses a Growth Score of A [2] Group 3: Commercial Metals Company - Commercial Metals Company is involved in steel manufacturing and recycling, holding a Zacks Rank 1 [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 24.4% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.42, lower than the industry average of 0.69 [3] - Commercial Metals possesses a Growth Score of B [3]

Core Insights - The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV) is a leading provider of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, with a market cap of $65.3 billion, indicating its significant presence in the industry [1][2] Financial Performance - TRV reported Q3 revenue of $12.5 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 4.8%, while adjusted EPS surged by 55.3% to $8.14 [6] - Year-to-date, TRV shares have risen by 20.6%, and over the past 52 weeks, they have increased by 9.2%, outperforming the Dow Jones Industrials Average (DOWI) [4] Stock Performance - Despite a recent decline of 2.1% from its 52-week high of $296.85, TRV stock has gained 7% over the past three months, surpassing DOWI's 3.8% increase [3] - TRV has consistently traded above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a bullish trend [4] Strategic Positioning - The company's strong underwriting profits are attributed to lower catastrophe losses and disciplined risk selection, along with increased investment income [5] - CEO Alan Schnitzer emphasized the importance of strategic investments in technology and AI to foster profitable growth and prepare for future challenges [5]

Core Insights - The article discusses the growing momentum around the issue of banning Congressional stock trading, highlighting that both retail investors and members of Congress are questioning the practice [1][2]. Stock Analysis - **LCI Industries (NYSE: LCII)**: This company, which manufactures components for the RV, marine, and housing industries, saw a significant stock increase of 24.2% following a trade by Congressman Tony Wied, who reported a purchase between $1 million and $5 million at an average price of $92.02. The RV industry is projected to see sales of approximately 337,000 units by the end of 2025, indicating potential growth [5][6][7]. - **LGI Homes (NASDAQ: LGIH)**: Focused on first-time homebuyers, LGI Homes' stock rose over 28% after Congressman Tim Moore purchased between $15,000 and $50,000 at an average price of $40.83. Analysts have set a consensus price target of $72.13, suggesting a potential gain of over 36% from its closing price on November 28. This aligns with signs of recovery in the housing market, although growth is limited to specific regions [8][10][11]. - **White Mountains Insurance Group (NYSE: WTM)**: This diversified insurance holding company saw its stock increase by 10.6% after Congressman Michael McCaul made two purchases between $15,000 and $50,000. The stock's performance is supported by strong earnings and a buyback plan, with the company initiating a self-tender offer to purchase up to $300 million in common shares [12][13][14].

South African short-term insurer Santam’s Syndicate 1918 has secured Lloyd’s approval to commence underwriting from 1 January 2026. The approval follows an in-principle licence granted in July and reflects the venture’s completion of all required operational procedures. In recent months, Santam has focused on establishing the syndicate’s core structure. The company appointed Rob Vetch, who has 30 years of experience in global reinsurance, as CEO and chief financial officer (CFO) of Syndicate 1918. Simo ...