Verisk Analytics (VRSK) Fell Along with Other Defensive Stocks in Q2

Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its “Baron Asset Fund” second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. U.S. stocks rose amid volatility caused by tariff policies and Middle East tensions. Early April risk-off sentiment was fueled by Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, seen as more severe than expected. U.S. equities rose after April 8, driven by favorable trade news, strong earnings, dovish Fed signals, and AI momentum, reaching record highs by quarter’s end. During the second quarter, the fund was up 7.85% (Institutional Shares) compared to an 18.20% gain for the Russell Midcap Growth Index. In addition, please check the fund’s top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Baron Asset Fund highlighted stocks such as Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK). Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) offers data analytics and technology solutions to the insurance industry. The one-month return of Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) was -8.34%, and its shares gained 4.52% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 31, 2025, Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) stock closed at $278.71 per share, with a market capitalization of $38.94 billion.

Baron Asset Fund stated the following regarding Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:

“Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) stock lagged alongside other defensive stocks during the quarter. There was no materially negative company specific news in the period. Verisk reported solid Q1 2025 earnings and CEO Lee Shavel sounded upbeat about the company’s growth potential. We maintain conviction in the competitive positioning, long-term growth, margin expansion, and capital deployment prospects for the business.”

An engineer using the latest predictive analytics software to formulate solutions.

Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 45 hedge fund portfolios held Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) at the end of the first quarter, which was 40 in the previous quarter. In the second quarter of 2025, Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) generated $773 million in revenue, representing an increase of 7.8% from Q2 2024. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) 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 VERISK ANALYTICS, INC. (NASDAQ:VRSK) and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

In another article, we covered Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSK) and shared Fidelity Growth Strategies Fund’s views on the company in the previous quarter. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.