Core Insights - Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is recognized as one of the 14 Best Dividend Growth Stocks to Buy and Hold in 2026 [1] Group 1: Analyst Downgrade and Market Sentiment - BMO Capital downgraded Brown & Brown, Inc. from Outperform to Market Perform and reduced its price target from $90 to $88 [2] - The downgrade is attributed to expectations that consensus organic growth estimates will decline in 2026, which may negatively impact market sentiment towards the stock [2] - BMO's forecast is 100 basis points below consensus, indicating a close correlation between the company's valuation and organic growth [2] Group 2: Acquisition Activity - Brown & Brown announced the acquisition of the assets of the J. Kevin Campbell Agency, Inc. for an undisclosed amount [3] - The acquisition was confirmed by J. Scott Penny, the chief acquisitions officer, and Kevin Campbell, the principal of the Campbell Agency [3] - Kevin Campbell founded the agency in 1991, focusing on workers' compensation insurance solutions, and will transition to a role within Brown & Brown [4] Group 3: Company Overview - Brown & Brown operates as an insurance brokerage, providing risk management solutions across property, casualty, and employee benefits lines [5]

Company Overview - W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) is a global insurance holding company headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, with a market cap of approximately $25.4 billion, providing property and casualty coverage through various segments [1] - The company expands its operations through units such as Acadia, Admiral, Berkley Agribusiness, and Berkley Edge, offering professional liability, casualty, and reinsurance solutions [2] Stock Performance - WRB shares are currently trading 14.4% below their November high of $78.96 and have decreased by 6.3% over the past three months, while the Nasdaq Composite has gained 8.1% [3] - Over the past 52 weeks, WRB stock has increased by 10.3% and has gained 15.5% year-to-date, although these figures lag behind the Nasdaq's advances of 20.2% and 22.5%, respectively [4] - The stock has remained above its 200-day moving average of $71.35 since the beginning of the year, but it has recently slipped, with the 50-day moving average trending lower at $74.77, indicating short-term pressure [5] Financial Performance - On October 20, WRB reported revenue of $3.77 billion, a year-over-year increase of 10.8%, surpassing Wall Street's expectations of $3.71 billion, while adjusted EPS was $1.10, aligning with forecasts [6] - The muted market reaction to the earnings report reflects investor caution regarding changes in the insurance sector dynamics [6] Analyst Sentiment - Compared to American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG), which has seen a decline of 4.4% over the past 52 weeks and about 2.8% year-to-date, WRB's performance appears more resilient [7] - Among 19 analysts, the consensus rating for WRB is "Hold," with an average price target of $75.88, suggesting a potential upside of 12.3% from current levels [7]

Core Insights - American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has a market capitalization of $41.1 billion and operates as a global insurance company providing services to commercial, institutional, and individual clients across North America and international markets [1] - AIG is categorized as a "large-cap" stock and operates through three main segments: North America Commercial, International Commercial, and Global Personal, offering a diverse range of insurance products [2] Stock Performance - AIG shares have declined over 13% from their 52-week high of $88.07 and have decreased 5.8% over the past three months, underperforming the Nasdaq Composite's 8.5% increase during the same period [3] - Year-to-date, AIG stock is up 5.2%, significantly lagging behind the Nasdaq Composite's 20.5% gain, and has dipped marginally over the past 52 weeks compared to the Nasdaq's 21.1% return [4] Financial Results - In Q3 2025, AIG reported an adjusted EPS of $2.20, which was better than expected; however, shares fell 5.4% the following day due to weaker GAAP earnings of $0.93 per share and a 21% drop in total net investment income to $772 million [5] - The decline in net premiums written by 2% and the impact of net realized and unrealized losses related to AIG's Corebridge stake contributed to investor concerns [5] Competitive Landscape - AIG's rival, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B), has outperformed AIG, with BRK.B stock returning 12.2% year-to-date and 5.3% over the past 52 weeks [6] - Despite AIG's underperformance, analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a mean price target of $88.86, indicating a potential upside of nearly 16% from current levels [6]

Core Points - Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. has priced a public offering of $150 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.750% Senior Notes due 2030, with the offering expected to close on November 25, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions [1][2] - The net proceeds from this offering will be used for capital contributions to the insurance company subsidiary to support business growth and for other general corporate purposes [2] - The offering is being conducted under a registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) [3] Company Overview - Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. is a growing specialty insurance business that provides casualty, professional liability, and healthcare liability insurance products [5] - The company is led by industry veteran Stephen Sills and comprises a team of experienced professionals with a focus on delivering specialized solutions that require deep underwriting and claims expertise [5][6] - The company emphasizes a collaborative culture that enhances service quality and partner experience [6]

Core Insights - Small-cap stocks present lucrative investment opportunities due to frequent mispricings resulting from limited analyst coverage [1] - The focus is on identifying long-term winners among small-cap stocks, with two recommended stocks and one to avoid [2] Company Analysis The Toro Company (TTC) - Market Cap: $7.20 billion - Current share price is $73.01, trading at a forward P/E of 16.1x [3][5] - The company has historical significance, having ceased production during World War II to support the war effort [3] TTM Technologies (TTMI) - Market Cap: $7.04 billion - Operates as one of the largest printed circuit board manufacturers globally, serving various industries including aerospace and telecommunications [6] - Current share price is $66.25, trading at a forward P/E of 24.7x [8] Skyward Specialty Insurance (SKWD) - Market Cap: $1.85 billion - Experienced a 2.4% annual sales decline over the last two years, indicating significant end-market challenges [9] - Free cash flow margin decreased by 5.6 percentage points over the past five years, suggesting increased capital intensity due to rising competition [9] - Despite challenges, the company achieved a 10.5% annual revenue growth over the last two years and projects 11.2% revenue growth for the next 12 months [10] - Earnings per share grew by 32.4% annually over the last two years, significantly outperforming peers [10] - Founded in 2006, the company provides specialized insurance solutions for underserved markets [11]

Core Insights - Brennan Patrick Sean, the Executive Vice President and CFO of Selective Insurance Group, purchased 2,700 shares valued at approximately $205,700 on October 24, 2025, increasing his direct ownership to 17,948 shares, valued at around $1.39 million [1][2][3] Transaction Summary - The transaction involved 2,700 shares traded at a price of $76.17 per share, resulting in a total transaction value of approximately $205,700 [2] - Post-transaction, Sean's direct ownership represents about 0.03% of the outstanding shares [3] Historical Activity - Between October 3, 2024, and October 24, 2025, Sean completed four reportable transactions, all net purchases, accumulating an additional 5,700 shares, which is a 46.54% increase in direct holdings over that period [4] Market Context - The shares were purchased at approximately $76.17, which is about 0.7% above the market price of $75.61 as of October 28, 2025. The shares have seen a total return decline of 16.0% over the year ending October 28, 2025 [5] Company Overview - Selective Insurance Group reported a total revenue of $5.22 billion and a net income of $406.67 million for the trailing twelve months (TTM) [7] - The company has a dividend yield of 1.65% and experienced a 1-year price change of -15.95% as of October 24, 2025 [7] Business Operations - Selective Insurance Group provides property, casualty, and flood insurance products, along with investment management services, targeting commercial, personal, and excess & surplus lines [8][9] - The company generates revenue primarily from insurance premiums and investment income from its portfolio [8] Recent Performance - In the third quarter of 2025, Selective Insurance Group reported a 4% year-over-year increase in net premiums written, with an improvement in the combined ratio from 99.5% to 98.6% [10] - Management anticipates further improvement in the combined ratio, projecting a midpoint of 97.5% and a return on equity of approximately 14% for the full year [11] Dividend Growth - Selective Insurance has increased its quarterly dividend by 13% this year, with long-term investors seeing a 72% rise in quarterly payouts over the past five years [12]

Core Insights - Everest Group, Ltd. reported a net income of $255 million for Q3 2025, which translates to $6.09 per diluted share, a decrease from the net income of $509 million or $11.80 per diluted share in Q3 2024 [1] Financial Performance - The net operating income for Q3 2025 was $316 million, equating to $7.54 per diluted share, compared to the previous year's figures [1]

Core Insights - ACNB Corporation reported a net income of $14.9 million, or $1.42 diluted earnings per share, for Q3 2025, a significant increase from $7.2 million, or $0.84 per share, in Q3 2024 and $11.6 million, or $1.11 per share, in Q2 2025 [1][4]. Financial Performance - The acquisition of Traditions Bancorp, completed on February 1, 2025, impacted ACNB's financial results, making comparisons to prior periods less direct [3]. - Net interest income for Q3 2025 was $32.1 million, up $1.1 million from Q2 2025 and $11.2 million from Q3 2024, with a net interest margin of 4.27%, reflecting increases from both previous quarters [6][10]. - Noninterest income for Q3 2025 was $8.4 million, a decrease from Q2 2025 but an increase from Q3 2024, driven by various factors including insurance commissions and service charges [8]. Asset Quality and Loans - Total loans outstanding were $2.34 billion at the end of Q3 2025, a decrease from Q2 2025 but an increase of $659.5 million from Q3 2024, with a loan yield of 6.29% [10][11]. - The allowance for credit losses was $23.7 million, showing a decrease from Q2 2025 but an increase from Q3 2024 [11]. Deposits and Borrowings - Total deposits were $2.47 billion at the end of Q3 2025, a decrease from Q2 2025 but an increase of $674.6 million from Q3 2024, with noninterest-bearing deposits increasing significantly [12]. - Total borrowings increased to $335.8 million, driven by short-term borrowings [13]. Stockholders' Equity - Total stockholders' equity rose to $408.6 million at the end of Q3 2025, up from $395.2 million in Q2 2025 and $306.8 million in Q3 2024, primarily due to net income and unrealized gains [14].

Core Insights - Everest Group, Ltd. has announced the retirement intention of Ricardo Anzaldua, EVP and General Counsel, in the coming months [1] - The company has initiated a search for a successor to ensure a smooth transition [1] - Mr. Anzaldua will continue in his role as General Counsel during the interim period [1]

Core Viewpoint - Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) is recognized as a stable and undervalued dividend stock, particularly appealing in volatile market conditions due to its strong performance and consistent dividend history [1][2]. Company Overview - Chubb Limited, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is the largest publicly traded insurer globally, providing property, casualty, health, and supplemental insurance. The company was formerly known as ACE Limited until its acquisition of Chubb in 2016 [2]. - The company has been expanding internationally, with overseas markets contributing 43% of its revenue in 2024 [3]. Financial Performance - Chubb Limited's consolidated net premiums have shown steady growth over the past six years, despite facing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and geopolitical tensions [4]. - The primary revenue source remains its core property and casualty (P&C) insurance policies [4]. Dividend History - Chubb Limited has a robust dividend history, having increased its payouts for 32 consecutive years. The current quarterly dividend stands at $0.97 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 1.42% as of September 19 [5].