HCI

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The board of directors of HCI Group, Inc. (NYSE: HCI) has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend in the amount of 40 cents per common share. The dividend is scheduled to be paid December 18, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business November 20, 2026. About HCI Group, Inc. HCI Group is a diversified holding company founded in 2006 which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in homeowners insurance, reinsurance, real estate, insurance claims services, and insurance technology. The HCI Group portfolio of companies includes multiple property and casualty underwriters, exchanges, and captive reinsurers as well as a claims management business, a commercial real estate investment company, and a leading insurance technology company, Exzeo Group, Inc. HCI Group's common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "HCI" and are included in the Russell 2000 and S&P SmallCap 600 Indexes. HCI Group regularly publishes financial and other information in the Investor Information section of the company's website. For more information about HCI Group and its subsidiaries, visit www.hcigroup.com. Exzeo's common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "XZO." For more information about Exzeo, visit www.exzeo.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "confident," "prospects" and "project" and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance, for example, that changes in the company's cash flow and cash balances will not impact the ability or willingness of HCI Group to pay a dividend. Some of these risks and uncertainties are identified in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should any risks or uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have material adverse effects on the company's business, financial condition and results of operations. HCI Group, Inc. disclaims all obligations to update any forward-looking statements. Company Contact: Nathaniel Otis Investor Relations HCI Group, Inc. Tel (813) 355-5341 [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Matt Glover and Clay Liolios Gateway Group, Inc. Tel 949-574-3860 [email protected]

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HCI Group, Inc. (NYSE: HCI) will hold a conference call on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026. Financial results will be issued in a press release the same day after the close of the market. HCI management will host the presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period. Interested parties can listen to the live presentation by dialing the listen-only number below or by clicking the webcast link available on the Investor Information section of the company's website at www.hcigroup.com. Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026 Time: 4:45 p.m. Eastern Time (1:45 p.m. Pacific Time) Toll Free: 888-506-0062 International: 973-528-0011 Participant Access Code: 794892 Webcast Please call the conference telephone number 10 minutes before the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 949-574-3860. A replay of the call will be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day as the call, as well as via the Investor Information section of the HCI Group website at www.hcigroup.com. Toll Free: 877-481-4010 International: 919-882-2331 Replay Passcode: 54651 About HCI Group, Inc. HCI Group is a diversified holding company founded in 2006 which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in homeowners insurance, reinsurance, real estate, insurance claims services, and insurance technology. The HCI Group portfolio of companies includes multiple property and casualty underwriters, exchanges, and captive reinsurers as well as a claims management business, a commercial real estate investment company, and a leading insurance technology company, Exzeo Group, Inc. HCI's common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "HCI" and are included in the Russell 2000 and S&P SmallCap 600 Index. HCI Group, Inc. regularly publishes financial and other information in the Investor Information section of the company's website. For more information about HCI Group and its subsidiaries, visit www.hcigroup.com. Exzeo's common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "XZO." For more information about Exzeo, visit www.exzeo.com. Investor Relations Contacts: Nat Otis Investor Relations HCI Group, Inc. Tel (813) 355-5341 [email protected] Matt Glover Gateway Group, Inc. Tel 949-574-3860 [email protected]

Travelers (TRV) came out with quarterly earnings of $9.18 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.07 per share. This compares to earnings of $8.14 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +29.84%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this insurer would post earnings of $5.31 per share when it actually produced earnings of $10.04, delivering a surprise of +89.08%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times. Travelers, which belongs to the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry, posted revenues of $12.45 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.41%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $12.44 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Travelers shares have added about 32.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13.1%. While Travelers has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Travelers was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $9.40 on $12.37 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $34.25 on $48.82 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Insurance - Property and Casualty is currently in the top 26% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Another stock from the same industry, HCI Group (HCI), has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. This property and casualty insurance holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.01 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +2.2%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.2% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. HCI Group's revenues are expected to be $248.59 million, up 14.9% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV) : Free Stock Analysis Report HCI Group, Inc. (HCI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

- In early October 2026, analysts highlighted HCI Group's consistent earnings surprises, including recent EPS of US$5.60 versus US$4.97 expected, alongside a strong Zacks Rank and positive Earnings ESP that supported confidence ahead of its latest results. - This combination of an earnings beat track record and bullish analyst revisions has reinforced the view that HCI's operational execution may be stronger than earlier consensus implied. - With analysts pointing to HCI's history of earnings surprises, we'll now examine how this renewed confidence interacts with its investment narrative. Find 27 companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. To own HCI Group, you need to believe its Florida focused insurance and technology plus reinsurance model can keep translating into solid earnings while managing catastrophe exposure and reinsurance costs. The recent pattern of earnings surprises and positive estimate revisions supports the near term earnings catalyst, but does not fundamentally change that weather severity and future reinsurance pricing remain the key swing factors for the business. Among recent developments, HCI's 2026 to 2027 catastrophe reinsurance program, which increased coverage while cutting ceded premiums by over 10% and is expected to save more than US$10 million per quarter, looks especially relevant. It underpins the earnings story behind analysts' renewed confidence, but also highlights how dependent the company still is on maintaining access to reasonably priced reinsurance capacity as market conditions evolve. Yet even with these earnings surprises, investors should be aware that HCI's concentration in Florida means... Read the full narrative on HCI Group (it's free!) HCI Group's narrative projects $1.1 billion revenue and $205.8 million earnings by 2029. This implies 5.9% yearly revenue growth and an earnings decrease of $92 million from $297.8 million today. Uncover how HCI Group's forecasts yield a $241.67 fair value, a 26% upside to its current price. Three Simply Wall St Community fair value estimates range widely from about US$241.67 to US$876.53 per share, showing how far apart individual views can be. When you set that against HCI's reliance on reinsurance cost savings as a key earnings driver, it underlines why you may want to explore several alternative viewpoints before forming your own expectations for the company's performance. Explore 3 other fair value estimates on HCI Group - why the stock might be worth over 4x more than the current price! Disagree with existing narratives? Extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd, so go with your instincts. - A great starting point for your HCI Group research is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign that could impact your investment decision. - Our free HCI Group research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate HCI Group's overall financial health at a glance. Our daily scans reveal stocks with breakout potential. Don't miss this chance: - The future of work is here. Discover the 88 top robotics and automation stocks leading the charge in AI-driven automation and industrial transformation. - Invest in the nuclear renaissance through our list of 16 elite nuclear energy infrastructure plays powering the global AI revolution. - Rare earth metals are an input to most high-tech devices, military and defence systems and electric vehicles. The global race is on to secure supply of these critical minerals. Beat the pack to uncover the 33 best rare earth metal stocks of the very few that mine this essential strategic resource. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include HCI. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider HCI Group (HCI). This company, which is in the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry, shows potential for another earnings beat. When looking at the last two reports, this property and casualty insurance holding company has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 9.46%, on average, in the last two quarters. For the most recent quarter, HCI Group was expected to post earnings of $4.97 per share, but it reported $5.6 per share instead, representing a surprise of 12.68%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $5.13 per share, while it actually produced $5.45 per share, a surprise of 6.24%. For HCI Group, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. HCI Group currently has an Earnings ESP of +35.40%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HCI Group, Inc. (HCI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how HCI Group (NYSE:HCI) and the rest of the property & casualty insurance stocks fared in Q2. Property & Casualty (P&C) insurers protect individuals and businesses against financial loss from damage to property or from legal liability. This is a cyclical industry, and the sector benefits when there is 'hard market', characterized by strong premium rate increases that outpace loss and cost inflation, resulting in robust underwriting margins. The opposite is true in a 'soft market'. Interest rates also matter, as they determine the yields earned on fixed-income portfolios. On the other hand, P&C insurers face a major secular headwind from the increasing frequency and severity of catastrophe losses due to climate change. Furthermore, the liability side of the business is pressured by 'social inflation'—the trend of rising litigation costs and larger jury awards. The 31 property & casualty insurance stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.3% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.9% above. While some property & casualty insurance stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 4.5% since the latest earnings results. Starting as a Florida "take-out" insurer that assumed policies from the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, HCI Group (NYSE:HCI) provides property and casualty insurance, primarily homeowners coverage, while leveraging proprietary technology to improve underwriting and claims processing. HCI Group reported revenues of $246.7 million, up 11.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ net premiums earned estimates but a miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates. Interestingly, the stock is up 1.8% since reporting and currently trades at $184.16. Is now the time to buy HCI Group? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. Serving as a crucial bridge between homebuyers and the American dream of homeownership, Essent Group (NYSE:ESNT) provides private mortgage insurance and title services that enable lenders to offer home loans with down payments of less than 20%. Essent Group reported revenues of $362.7 million, up 13.6% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 9.7%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 1.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $66.47. Is now the time to buy Essent Group? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free. Founded during the housing boom of 1977 and weathering multiple real estate cycles since, Radian Group (NYSE:RDN) provides mortgage insurance and real estate services, helping lenders manage risk and homebuyers achieve affordable homeownership. Radian Group reported revenues of $580.7 million, up 95.7% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates. As expected, the stock is down 12.4% since the results and currently trades at $34.33. Read our full analysis of Radian Group’s results here. With roots dating back to 1872 and a business model that empowers local decision-making, American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) is an insurance holding company that specializes in commercial property and casualty insurance products for businesses through its Great American Insurance Group. American Financial Group reported revenues of $1.90 billion, up 5.3% year on year. This result was in line with analysts’ expectations. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a miss of analysts’ net premiums earned estimates. The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $141.20. Read our full, actionable report on American Financial Group here, it’s free. Founded in 1852 during a time when fire insurance was crucial for protecting businesses and homes, The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG) provides property and casualty insurance products through independent agents, serving individuals, small businesses, and mid-sized companies. The Hanover Insurance Group reported revenues of $1.72 billion, up 4% year on year. This print came in 0.5% below analysts’ expectations. Taking a step back, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates. The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $223.17. Read our full, actionable report on The Hanover Insurance Group here, it’s free. Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership. Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products. By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

In recent results, HCI Group reported that net premiums earned increased by 15.5% annually over the past two years, while earnings per share grew 36.3% annually, highlighting strong operational execution and technology-enabled efficiency gains. This gap between premium growth and even faster earnings expansion points to underwriting discipline and cost control that could be increasingly important for HCI’s insurance and technology-focused model. We’ll now examine how HCI’s rapid earnings expansion relative to premium growth could influence the company’s existing investment narrative and risk profile. AI is about to change healthcare. These 37 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10b in market cap - there's still time to get in early. To own HCI Group, you need to believe its technology plus underwriting focus can keep turning moderate premium growth into much faster earnings growth. The latest results, with earnings per share expanding far ahead of net premiums, broadly support that view. However, they do not remove the near term concern that heavier reliance on reinsurance and a still Florida centric book could limit how much further margins can stretch from here. One recent development that fits closely with this earnings story is HCI’s ongoing US$80,000,000 share buyback program, alongside its regular US$0.40 quarterly dividend. Both signal confidence in the company’s current earnings power and cash generation, which ties directly back to the strong per share profit growth relative to premiums, but investors still need to weigh this against concentration and catastrophe exposure risks. Yet behind the strong earnings and active capital returns, investors should be aware of how concentrated exposure to Florida catastrophes could... Read the full narrative on HCI Group (it's free!) HCI Group's narrative projects $1.1 billion revenue and $197.3 million earnings by 2029. This implies 4.9% yearly revenue growth but a $93.2 million earnings decline from $290.5 million today. Uncover how HCI Group's forecasts yield a $245.00 fair value, a 31% upside to its current price. Simply Wall St Community members offer three fair value views for HCI Group, spanning roughly US$241.67 to US$876.53 per share, underscoring how far apart individual estimates can be. When you set those against the recent gap between premium and earnings growth, it becomes even more important to weigh how sustainable HCI’s underwriting and cost discipline really is over time. Explore 3 other fair value estimates on HCI Group - why the stock might be worth over 4x more than the current price! Disagree with existing narratives? Extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd, so go with your instincts. A great starting point for your HCI Group research is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign that could impact your investment decision. Our free HCI Group research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate HCI Group's overall financial health at a glance. Don't miss your shot at the next 10-bagger. Our latest stock picks just dropped: Uncover the next big thing with 7 elite penny stocks that balance risk and reward. Invest in the nuclear renaissance through our list of 19 elite nuclear energy infrastructure plays powering the global AI revolution. The future of work is here. Discover the 95 top robotics and automation stocks leading the charge in AI-driven automation and industrial transformation. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include HCI. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

On August 6, HCI Group (NYSE:HCI) reported a second quarter that kept the momentum from earlier in the year rolling. Pre-tax income climbed to $111 million from $94 million a year earlier, and diluted earnings per share rose to $5.60 from $5.18. The Tampa-based insurer is proving that last year's strong run was not a one-off, even as some of the numbers underneath the headline tell a more complicated story. Gross premiums earned rose 6% to $321 million in the quarter, and the company said the increase came from writing more policies rather than raising the average premium per policy. That pattern held for the first half too, with premiums earned up 7% to $647 million. At the same time, the cost of laying off risk to reinsurers actually fell in the quarter, to $102 million from $103 million a year earlier, thanks to new catastrophe reinsurance programs that took effect June 1. Growing the business while paying less to protect it is the kind of combination that shows up directly in the bottom line, and it did: net income after noncontrolling interests reached $74 million in the quarter, up from $66 million. HCI Group also moved fast on its own stock. The company launched an $80 million repurchase program on March 3, with authorization to run through February 27, 2027, and had already used the entire amount by July 17, buying back 504,330 shares. Book value per share jumped to $86.60 at the end of June from $58.55 a year earlier, and shares outstanding fell to about 12.47 million from nearly 13 million. Debt costs eased too: interest expense for the first half dropped to $2.0 million from $7.1 million, while the Exzeo insurance technology platform kept adding new carrier customers, pushing other revenue up to $8 million for the six months from $3 million. Not every line moved in HCI Group's favor. The gross loss and loss adjustment expense ratio ticked up to 22.2% in the quarter from 21.3% a year earlier, and losses and loss adjustment expenses grew faster than premiums, reaching $71 million versus $64 million. G&A personnel expenses rose to $24 million from $20 million, which the company attributed to additional headcount, annual merit increases and stock-based compensation. Those are the kind of costs that tend to stick around even if premium growth cools. A less obvious wrinkle sits in how that profit gets divided up. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests jumped to $20.7 million for the first half from $8.7 million a year earlier, growing far faster than net income itself. That shift was large enough that basic earnings per share for the six months actually fell, to $11.39 from $12.00, even though net income after noncontrolling interests rose. Cash on the balance sheet also thinned out, dropping to $872 million at the end of June from $1.21 billion at the start of the year, as the company shifted money into investments and stock buybacks. And with operations concentrated across 13 states, HCI Group's results still hinge heavily on how hurricane season plays out in the markets it serves. The number of hedge funds holding HCI Group fell to 27 in the most recent quarter from 31 in the prior one. That decline suggests some institutional money has been trimming its position. Shares carry a short interest of 4.71% of the float, which points to modest but real skepticism rather than a crowded bearish bet. The stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 9.51 as of September 2, a multiple that assumes little in the way of continued growth. That gap is the tension investors are weighing. HCI Group closed the first half of 2026 with pre-tax income growing to $226 million from $195 million and a buyback completed months ahead of schedule, evidence that the underlying insurance business is throwing off real cash. But the widening gap between net income and noncontrolling interest allocations, plus a loss ratio that crept higher, shows the growth is not landing evenly for every shareholder. Continued policy growth under the cheaper reinsurance program that started in June would keep that cash flow building. While we acknowledge the potential of HCI as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best Future Stocks to Buy Under $10 and 12 Best Performing Semiconductor Stocks to Invest In. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. UVE is benefiting from stronger underwriting, premium growth and an improving Florida insurance environment. The company’s strategy is increasingly focused on growing profitably, while expansion outside Florida is helping diversify its risk profile. UVE’s top-line momentum remained healthy. In the second quarter of 2026, direct premiums written increased 4.1% year over year to $621.3 million, supported by higher policies in force, disciplined pricing and geographic diversification. Growth outside Florida was particularly strong, with premiums increasing 14.4%, compared with 0.8% growth in Florida in the second quarter. This expansion could help reduce catastrophe concentration while supporting longer-term premium growth. Florida’s legislative reforms remain an important driver of underwriting improvement. Lower litigation frequency and severity helped UVE’s net loss ratio improve 750 basis points to 64.8% in the second quarter. As a result, the net combined ratio improved 620 basis points to 91.6%, pointing to stronger underwriting profitability.Reinsurance is another important part of the strategy. UVE’s 2026-27 renewal benefited from more favorable rates and includes $352 million of multi-year coverage, providing greater protection against catastrophe losses and reducing renewal uncertainty. Catastrophe risk remains the biggest challenge, particularly given UVE’s Florida exposure. Verisk’s latest 2026 report estimates global economic losses from natural catastrophes at more than $450 billion annually, while global modeled insured property catastrophe losses are estimated at $171 billion. However, geographic diversification, stronger reinsurance protection, premium growth and underwriting discipline could help UVE manage catastrophe exposure while supporting profitable growth. Among UVE’s peers, Mercury General MCY is also seeing strong premium growth and improving underwriting. In the second quarter, net premiums earned increased 9.6%, while the combined ratio improved 260 basis points to 89.9%. Direct premiums written rose 9.3%, supported by growth in its core auto and homeowner businesses. Meanwhile, HCI Group HCI remains more focused on Florida homeowner insurance, making its premium growth and underwriting performance. HCI Group's expansion beyond Florida also supports diversification as insurers look to manage catastrophe exposure. Shares of Universal Insurance Holdings have rallied 76.2% in the past year, outperforming the industry’s growth of 1.6%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research UVE’s shares are trading at a premium compared with the industry. Its trailing 12-month price-to-book value of 1.88X is higher than the industry average of 1.42X. However, it currently carries a Value Score of A. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Universal Insurance’s 2026 revenues are pegged at $1.60 billion, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 0.5%. The consensus estimate for UVE’s 2026 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year decrease of 21.8%. The consensus estimates for 2027 revenues and EPS indicate an increase of 1.5% and 2.1%, respectively, from the corresponding 2026 estimates. Thus, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings have remained unchanged, respectively, over the past 30 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research UVE stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC (UVE) : Free Stock Analysis Report HCI Group, Inc. (HCI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Mercury General Corporation (MCY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

HCI Group (HCI) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given a notable revision in the company's earnings estimates. While the stock has been gaining lately, the trend might continue since its earnings outlook is still improving. Analysts' growing optimism on the earnings prospects of this property and casualty insurance holding company is driving estimates higher, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. Our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- has this insight at its core. The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008. Consensus earnings estimates for the next quarter and full year have moved considerably higher for HCI Group, as there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising estimates. The chart below shows the evolution of forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimate: For the current quarter, the company is expected to earn $2.66 per share, which is a change of -45.7% from the year-ago reported number. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCI Group has increased 19.06% because two estimates have moved higher compared to no negative revisions. The company is expected to earn $19.47 per share for the full year, which represents a change of -14.3% from the prior-year number. In terms of estimate revisions, the trend for the current year also appears quite encouraging for HCI Group. Over the past month, four estimates have moved higher compared to no negative revisions, helping the consensus estimate increase 6.44%. The promising estimate revisions have helped HCI Group earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision.You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500. Investors have been betting on HCI Group because of its solid estimate revisions, as evident from the stock's 5.3% gain over the past four weeks. As its earnings growth prospects might push the stock higher, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HCI Group, Inc. (HCI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Never miss an important update on your stock portfolio and cut through the noise. Over 7 million investors trust Simply Wall St to stay informed where it matters for FREE. HCI Group (HCI) is back on investors’ radar after updating its buyback program in early August, alongside fresh second quarter 2026 results that included revenue, net income and earnings per share figures. See our latest analysis for HCI Group. HCI Group’s recent buyback activity and second quarter 2026 earnings sit against a share price that has eased over the past week, yet still shows a 30 day share price return of 3.58% and a 1 year total shareholder return of 18.92%, with multi year total shareholder returns that have been very large. Recent gains over 90 days suggest momentum has been building even as short term moves stay choppy around the latest results and capital management decisions. If you are comparing HCI Group with other insurers and financials, it can also be useful to broaden your watchlist with companies that rely on strong leadership teams and aligned incentives, including 21 top founder-led companies After that buyback spree, a firm second quarter and a share price near US$184, the question now is simple: Does HCI Group still offer an appealing balance of risk and reward at this level, once valuation is unpacked next? HCI Group’s fair value in the most widely followed narrative sits at $245 per share, compared with the latest close near $184. This sets up a meaningful gap between where the narrative says value lies and where the market is currently pricing the stock. Read the complete narrative. Want to see what sits behind that confidence in HCI Group’s Exzeo platform and margin profile? The key is how revenue, earnings and valuation multiples are wired together in this fair value framework. The narrative sets a clear path for premium growth and profitability, then layers on a higher future earnings multiple. Curious which assumptions really move the $245 figure and how much depends on buybacks versus core underwriting. Result: Fair Value of $245 (UNDERVALUED) Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what's behind the forecasts. However, HCI Group’s heavy Florida exposure and rising reinsurance costs could pressure margins and earnings, especially if Citizens depopulation and catastrophe trends move against the current narrative. Find out about the key risks to this HCI Group narrative. With HCI Group pulling strong opinions in both directions, it helps to look past the headlines and focus on the underlying data yourself. To see how risks and potential rewards compare side by side, start with the 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign If you stop with HCI Group, you miss other opportunities that may suit your goals just as well. Broaden your search and let the data work for you. Target potential mispricings by scanning 52 high quality undervalued stocks that combine quality fundamentals with market skepticism. Strengthen your income focus by reviewing 10 dividend fortresses that pair higher yields with disciplined payout profiles. Dial down portfolio stress by assessing 80 resilient stocks with low risk scores that carry more resilient risk scores. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include HCI. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

HCI Group, Inc. recently reported past second-quarter 2026 results showing revenue of US$246.65 million and net income of US$73.8 million, alongside completing a US$80.00 million buyback of 504,330 shares, or 3.91% of its share base, under a repurchase program announced in March 2026. The combination of higher quarterly earnings per share and meaningful share repurchases signals management’s confidence in the company’s financial position and its willingness to return capital to shareholders. We’ll now explore how HCI Group’s stronger second-quarter earnings and completed US$80.00 million buyback could influence its existing investment narrative. The future of work is here. Discover the 37 top robotics and automation stocks leading the charge in AI-driven automation and industrial transformation. To own HCI Group, you need to believe its focus on tech-enabled underwriting can still create value even as Florida exposure and reinsurance costs remain key swing factors. The stronger second-quarter numbers and completion of the US$80.00 million buyback appear supportive of the near term earnings story, but they do not materially change the main short term catalyst, which remains progress on diversifying risk beyond Florida, or the biggest risk around catastrophe losses and reinsurance pricing. The latest quarterly earnings release is most relevant here, as it frames the buyback against a backdrop of higher revenue and net income year on year. Together, the earnings momentum and capital returns keep attention on whether HCI can sustain attractive profitability while gradually reducing its dependence on Florida homeowners risk and the Citizens depopulation channel over time. Yet investors should also be aware that rising reinsurance costs could eventually pressure margins and returns if catastrophe experience turns less favorable... Read the full narrative on HCI Group (it's free!) HCI Group's narrative projects $1.1 billion revenue and $197.3 million earnings by 2029. Uncover how HCI Group's forecasts yield a $245.00 fair value, a 33% upside to its current price. Three members of the Simply Wall St Community value HCI between US$241.67 and US$876.53 per share, highlighting very different expectations. As you weigh these views, remember that HCI’s heavy Florida concentration and exposure to severe weather could have broad implications for its long term earnings stability and capital needs. Explore 3 other fair value estimates on HCI Group - why the stock might be worth over 4x more than the current price! Disagree with existing narratives? Extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd, so go with your instincts. A great starting point for your HCI Group research is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign that could impact your investment decision. Our free HCI Group research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate HCI Group's overall financial health at a glance. Every day counts. These free picks are already gaining attention. See them before the crowd does: Rare earth metals are an input to most high-tech devices, military and defence systems and electric vehicles. The global race is on to secure supply of these critical minerals. Beat the pack to uncover the 28 best rare earth metal stocks of the very few that mine this essential strategic resource. Find 52 companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. We've uncovered the 10 dividend fortresses yielding 5%+ that don't just survive market storms, but thrive in them. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include HCI. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]