Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Can Personal Insurance Strength Drive Hartford's Q3 Earnings Beat?

Read MoreHide Full Article

Key Takeaways

  • Hartford's Q3 earnings are pegged at $3.15 per share, down 16.7%, while revenues may rise 3.3% to $5.3B.
  • HIG's Personal Insurance underlying combined ratio is expected to improve to 87.9% from 90% a year ago.
  • Higher operating costs and projected declines in auto policies and homeowners' policies pose risks.

The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 26, after the closing bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $3.15 per share on revenues of $5.3 billion.

The third-quarter earnings estimate has witnessed four upward estimate revisions against two downward movements over the past 30 days. Meanwhile, the bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year decline of 16.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests year-over-year growth of 3.3%.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

For the current year, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hartford’s revenues is pegged at $20.9 billion, implying a rise of 4.8% year over year. However, the consensus mark for current-year EPS is pegged at $12.89, implying a fall of around 4% on a year-over-year basis.

HIG beat the consensus estimate for earnings in three of the last four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 13.1%.

Q3 Earnings Whispers for HIG

Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Hartford this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here.

HIG has an Earnings ESP of +1.95% and currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

What’s Shaping HIG’s Q3 Results?

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for net premiums earned for the third quarter indicates 3.3% growth year over year. The consensus estimate for Business Insurance’s net investment income is $555.7 million, indicating 7.1% growth from the year-ago quarter’s figure.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for net investment income in the Personal Insurance business is pegged at $67.3 million, which indicates a 0.4% increase from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hartford’s Personal Insurance underlying combined ratio for the quarter under review is pegged at 87.9%, indicating improvement from the prior-year reported figure of 90%.

The consensus mark for the Employee Benefits business’ revenues is pegged at $1.9 billion, indicating a 3.8% rise from the prior-year quarter's figure.

However, the bottom line is expected to have been pressured by higher insurance operating costs and other expenses. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hartford’s Business Insurance underlying combined ratio is pegged at 89.5%, up from 89.4% a year ago.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hartford’s homeowners’ policies in force for the quarter under review indicates a decline of 2.2% year over year. Also, the consensus estimate indicates a 10% year-over-year decline in automobile policies in force.

Other Stocks That Warrant a Look

Here are some other companies worth considering from the broader Finance space, as our model shows that these, too, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around:

Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. (SKWD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +7.55% and carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Skyward Specialty Insurance Group’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $1.22 per share, indicating 16.2% year-over-year growth. The consensus estimate for revenues is pegged at $507.3 million. SKWD beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with the average surprise being 19.4%.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank #3.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cboe Global Markets’ bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $3.41 per share, indicating 27.7% year-over-year growth. It beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with the average surprise being 5.7%. The consensus estimate for CBOE’s revenues is pegged at $702.8 million.

Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.89% and carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Palomar Holdings’ bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $2.64 per share, indicating 31.3% year-over-year growth. It beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with the average surprise being 13%. The consensus estimate for PLMR’s revenues is pegged at $376.5 million.

Published in