We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best Property & Casualty Insurance Stocks to Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE:TRV) stands against the other property and casualty insurance stocks.
The property and casualty (P&C) insurance sector is a pivotal part of the global financial landscape, providing essential coverage against a wide array of risks that both individuals and businesses face daily. These risks can range from property damage and natural disasters to accidents and liabilities, and the need for reliable insurance coverage has made the P&C sector one of the most significant in the financial markets.
Technological Advancements and Digital Transformation:
The shift toward digitalization has become a hallmark of the P&C insurance sector. Insurers are increasingly relying on advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and big data analytics to improve underwriting, pricing, and claims processing. Leveraging these technologies, insurers can better predict risks, optimize pricing models, and streamline claims handling processes, all while improving the customer experience. According to a report from Reuters, AI has been valuable in insurance pricing and underwriting, enabling insurers to analyze large volumes of data quickly and make more accurate decisions, although success has been more limited when AI entirely takes over underwriting.
Impact of Climate Change:
While the technology-driven transformation is a key trend, another significant shift within the P&C insurance sector is the growing focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. According to a report by PwC, insurers are increasingly under pressure to assess and address the environmental impact of the risks they insure. This includes evaluating the implications of climate change on their portfolios and developing sustainable insurance products that align with global efforts to combat environmental degradation.
Social issues such as cybersecurity threats and the growing need for cyber insurance have prompted P&C insurers to develop new policies and coverage options to protect businesses and individuals from the increasing risks associated with digital exposure. According to a report by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the number of cyber insurance policies in force increased by 11.7% in 2023, reaching almost 4.4 million policies. This growth reflects a growing recognition of the need for coverage against cyber risks.
Competitive Landscape:
The competitive landscape within the P&C insurance market is also evolving. As the demand for insurance products grows, more companies are entering the market, while established players are expanding their offerings and geographic reach. In December 2024, Florida welcomed eight new home insurance companies, aiming to stabilize the property insurance market and provide homeowners with more choices. Insurers are seeking to gain a competitive edge through mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships that enable them to scale operations, enter new markets, and diversify their portfolios. For instance, Swiss insurer Baloise announced plans to increase its return on equity to 12-15% and generate over $2.3 billion in cash between 2024 and 2027, following a strategic refocusing.
For investors, the property and casualty insurance sector presents a range of opportunities, particularly as the industry is characterized by strong demand for essential services, as well as solid fundamentals in many of the top companies. Some of the biggest players in the sector have demonstrated remarkable financial performance, boasting robust growth in both premium volumes and profits despite challenges such as inflation, natural disasters, and increased regulatory scrutiny. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best insurance stocks.
Our Methodology
For this list, we examined the holdings of the Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF (KBWP), which tracks companies in the property and casualty insurance sector. We then consulted Insider Monkey’s database of hedge fund holdings as of Q3 2024 to identify which of the ETF’s holdings had the highest number of hedge fund investors. We ranked the top 12 companies based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them, providing a list of firms with significant institutional interest in the property and casualty insurance industry.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).
A woman signing a policy document while a representative from the insurance company looks on.
The Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE:TRV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37
The Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE:TRV) is one of the largest insurance providers in the United States, offering a wide range of property and casualty insurance products. The company specializes in providing coverage for personal, business, and specialty needs. Its products include home, auto, and life insurance, as well as commercial lines for businesses of all sizes, including workers’ compensation, liability, and property insurance.
The Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE:TRV) reported impressive fourth-quarter and full-year results for 2024, with a record core income of about $2.1 billion in Q4, a 30% increase year-over-year, and a full-year core income of $5 billion, up 64%. Earnings per share (EPS) for Q4 were $9.15, reflecting a 31% rise from the prior year, and full-year EPS was $21.58, up 64%. The company’s net income for Q4 was $2.1 billion, up 28% from the previous year, while operating cash flow reached a record $9.1 billion for the full year.
On January 24, 2025, Paul Newsome of Piper Sandler upgraded The Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE:TRV) from a “Hold” to a “Buy” rating, raising the price target from $259 to $310, which reflects a potential upside of nearly 28%.
Overall TRV ranks 6th on our list of the best property and casualty insurance stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential for TRV as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TRV but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.