7 Best Low-Risk Dividend Stocks To Invest In

4. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO)

Beta (5Y Monthly): 0.81

5-Year Average Revenue Growth: 15.04%

Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) operates as an insurance broker, linking clients with insurers across a broad range of coverage. The business centers on risk management, with a focus on property, casualty, and employee benefits insurance products.

On January 29, BMO Capital cut its price objective on Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) to $81 from $88. The firm kept a Market Perform rating following the company’s Q4 results. The analyst noted that the stock is starting to look discounted versus its historical P/E relationship with the S&P 500. Even so, the firm does not see a clear near-term catalyst that would help the shares gain traction right away.

A few days earlier, on January 26, Brown & Brown reported higher adjusted profit for the fourth quarter, driven by stronger commission and fee income. The market reaction was less supportive. Shares dropped close to 6% as investors focused on signs of slowing organic growth. Organic revenue came in at $1.08 billion for the quarter ended December 31, down from $1.11 billion a year earlier.

Commissions and fees told a different story. Those rose 36% year over year to $1.58 billion. As a result, total revenue climbed to $1.61 billion, compared with $1.18 billion in the same quarter last year. Investment and other income also moved higher, reaching $27 million versus $23 million a year ago. Adjusted earnings increased to $0.93 per share, up from $0.86 in the prior-year period.