On Friday, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a well-regarded financial services firm, increased its price target for Palomar Holdings (NASDAQ: PLMR) to $136, up from the previous $120, while reaffirming its Outperform rating on the stock. This adjustment comes after a constructive meeting with Palomar's CFO, Chris Uchida, which left the firm with a very positive impression of the company's growth prospects.
The firm's analyst cited the rationale behind maintaining the Outperform rating and elevating the 12-month target price. The new target is based on a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis, which now values the stock at 22.9 times the firm's updated 2025 estimated earnings per share (EPS), and 19.4 times the 2026 estimated EPS.
With a current P/E ratio of 25.64x and impressive revenue growth of 40.19%, these estimates reflect an optimistic view of the company's ability to grow its gross and net written premiums at a faster pace than previously expected, although this may be slightly mitigated by an anticipated increase in core loss ratios.
The financial services firm is projecting robust growth for Palomar, maintaining its 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimate at $4.75, while increasing its 2025 and 2026 EPS forecasts to $5.95 and $7.00, respectively, from the former estimates of $5.90 and $6.80. InvestingPro subscribers can access detailed financial health metrics, where Palomar scores an impressive 3.58 out of 5, indicating strong overall financial performance.
The platform offers 12 additional ProTips and comprehensive analysis through its Pro Research Report. The upward revision in earnings estimates is predicated on the assumption that Palomar will continue to experience significant growth in gross written premiums and will retain a larger portion of its gross premiums, which should, in turn, provide a lift to the company's share price over the next year.
Palomar Holdings, which specializes in providing insurance solutions, is expected to capitalize on its rapid gross written premium (GWP) growth, along with the benefits of retaining more of its gross premiums. This strategy is anticipated to contribute to the company's earnings upside and share performance.
The firm's outlook for Palomar Holdings is based on detailed financial analysis and expectations of the company's operational performance. The new price target of $136 reflects a confidence in Palomar's strategic initiatives and its potential to deliver strong financial results in the coming years.
In other recent news, Palomar Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:PLMR). has seen significant developments. The company recently appointed Benson Latham as Executive Vice President, Head of Crop, a move that is part of Palomar's strategic efforts to expand and strengthen its position in the specialty insurance sector. With three decades of experience in the Crop insurance industry, Latham is expected to lead Palomar’s Crop insurance operations effectively.
Palomar Holdings also reported robust growth in its third-quarter performance in 2024. The company's adjusted net income and total premium growth increased by 39% and 32% respectively, driven by substantial gains in the Earthquake, Casualty, and Crop insurance segments. Palomar successfully raised $160 million in equity, intending to capitalize on market dislocations and expand its crop business.
The company's Crop insurance segment generated $60 million in premiums, a significant increase from the previous year's $12.1 million. Palomar anticipates a full-year adjusted net income guidance of $124 million to $128 million, a 35% increase from 2023.
The company is also on track to meet its Palomar 2X goal, which aims to double its adjusted underwriting income in three years. Management plans to take on more risk in the Crop sector starting January 1, 2025, indicating a strategic focus on this particular segment.
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