Core Insights - Stand has completed a $35 million Series B funding round led by Eclipse to expand its operations into Florida, a significant catastrophe market in the US [1] - The company has established a presence in California, underwriting an insured value of $1 billion within just over a year of operation [1] Funding and Investment - The Series B funding round included contributions from existing investors such as Inspired Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, and Equal Ventures [1] - Eclipse's investment of $30 million reflects a belief in Stand's model of resilience and proactive property fortification [4] Business Model and Strategy - Stand's insurance model integrates coverage with proactive home fortification measures to enhance resilience against natural disasters [2] - The company aims to mitigate potential damage and reduce long-term insurance costs for property owners through property improvements [2] Underwriting Approach - Stand employs physics-based underwriting models initially designed for wildfire risk assessment, now expanded to evaluate wind-related threats [3] - These models provide a precise assessment of a building's ability to withstand extreme weather conditions [3] Leadership and Vision - Stand's leadership team comprises experts from various sectors, including insurance, technology, and applied sciences [4] - The CEO and co-founder emphasized the need for a new insurance model that links coverage to home fortification against wind storms, particularly in Florida [5]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Property and Casualty Insurance industry ranks within the top 17% of 245 Zacks industries, currently holding a Zack Industry Rank of 42, indicating strong growth potential driven by better pricing, prudent underwriting, increased exposure, and ongoing economic expansion [1] Price Performance - The property and casualty (P&C) insurance industry has returned 6.4% over the past year, underperforming the Finance sector's growth of 17.9% and the Zacks S&P 500 composite's rise of 18.4% [2] - Notable performers include Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR), W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB), and Axis Capital Holdings Limited (AXS), which have outperformed both the industry and the sector [2] Driving Forces - Global commercial insurance rates fell by 4% in Q2 2025, marking the fourth consecutive decline after seven years of increases [3] - Gross premiums in the insurance sector are projected to exceed $722 billion by 2030, driven by price hikes, operational strength, and strong renewal rates [3] Catastrophe Losses - Global insured losses from natural catastrophes reached $80 billion in the first half of 2025, nearly double the 10-year average, with severe convective storms accounting for $31 billion [4] - Total global economic losses from natural catastrophes increased to $162 billion in the first half of 2025, which continues to drive policy renewal rates [4] Interest Rate Environment - The Federal Reserve cut rates by 25 basis points to a range of 4-4.25%, with expectations for two more cuts in 2025, which is beneficial for insurers with large invested asset bases [6][7] - An improving rate environment is advantageous for long-tail insurers, enhancing their investment income [7] Technological Investments - Insurers are heavily investing in technology, including blockchain, AI, and insurtech solutions, to improve efficiency and profitability, with projections of generating around $4.7 billion in annual global premiums from AI-related insurance by 2032 [9] Company Highlights Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR) - PLMR focuses on catastrophe insurance and is well-positioned for growth due to strong premium retention, geographic expansion, and better pricing [11] - The company expects adjusted net income between $198 million and $205 million in 2025, with a projected revenue growth of 46.9% and 27.4% for 2025 and 2026, respectively [12][13] W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) - WRB is one of the largest commercial lines property casualty insurance providers, benefiting from premium increases and international market growth [14][15] - The consensus estimate for WRB's 2025 revenues is $14.64 billion, reflecting an 8.2% year-over-year improvement [16] Axis Capital Holdings Limited (AXS) - AXS provides a broad range of specialty insurance and reinsurance solutions, with a focus on growth in attractive lines and underwriting excellence [19][20] - The consensus estimate for AXS's 2025 revenues is $6.43 billion, indicating a year-over-year improvement of 5.5% [21]

Market Overview - The U.S. equity markets have experienced a steady downtrend due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly following U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and Iran's retaliatory missile strikes against Israel [1] - The geopolitical tensions have raised concerns about their potential impact on the oil and gas industry, leading investors to seek safe-haven assets [1] Federal Reserve and Investment Strategies - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell indicated a cautious approach regarding rate cuts, awaiting more clarity on the effects of President Trump's tariffs on inflation [2] - In light of market uncertainties, investors are turning to momentum stocks as a strategy to achieve sustained profits, particularly when traditional value or growth investing fails [2][3] Momentum Investing - Momentum investing is characterized by the strategy of "buying high and selling higher," based on the belief that established trends are likely to continue [3] - This investment approach capitalizes on the human tendency to project current trends into the future before mean reversion occurs [3] Screening Parameters for Momentum Stocks - The screening process for momentum stocks involves selecting the top 50 stocks with the best percentage price change over the last 52 weeks, ensuring steady appreciation [5] - From these, the bottom 10 performers over the past week are chosen to identify those experiencing a short-term pullback [6] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) are included, as they have a history of outperformance regardless of market conditions [6] - A Momentum Style Score of B or better is also a criterion, indicating favorable timing for stock acquisition [7] - Additional parameters include a minimum stock price of $5, a market capitalization within the top 3000, and an average 20-day trading volume exceeding 100,000 [8] Featured Momentum Stocks - **Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR)**: The stock has surged 99.2% over the past year but declined 3.3% in the past week, with a Momentum Score of B [9] - **Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV)**: This gold-focused royalty and stream firm has rallied 42.1% in the past year but lost 3.5% in the past week, holding a Momentum Score of A [10] - **Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC)**: The cloud-based HCM provider has seen a 57.5% increase in stock price over the past year, with a recent decline of 5.2% in the past week, and a Momentum Score of A [11]