Top U.S. Defense Stocks to Watch According to Jefferies Analysis
Investing.com - Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on Arch Capital (NASDAQ:ACGL), a prominent insurance player with a market capitalization of $34.3 billion and trailing twelve-month revenue of $19.2 billion, with a Sell rating and a price target of $88.00 on Tuesday.
The investment bank cited Arch Capital’s "structurally weaker positioning versus peers" as a key factor in its bearish outlook, pointing to the company’s peer-low investment and premium leverage combined with a less impactful mortgage book. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company currently appears undervalued, despite maintaining a GREAT overall financial health score and trading at a P/E ratio of 9.5x.
Goldman Sachs also highlighted "weaker than expected results" in Arch Capital’s insurance and reinsurance operations, which it attributed to cyclical market headwinds. InvestingPro data shows nine analysts have revised their earnings upward for the upcoming period, though net income is expected to decline this year. Discover more insights with InvestingPro’s comprehensive research report, available along with 8 additional ProTips.
The analysis noted that historically, Arch Capital produced better returns on equity than reinsurance peers, supported by strong mortgage insurance results and leading reinsurance operations, while underperformance in its insurance business could be overlooked. Current return on equity stands at 18%, with the company maintaining strong returns over both the past five and ten years.
Goldman Sachs believes that competitors can now match or exceed Arch Capital’s expected returns because its mortgage insurance business "has become less relevant" while the company still maintains the capital intensity of that business alongside an increased weighting to property-catastrophe business.
In other recent news, Arch Capital Group Ltd. reported its second-quarter 2025 earnings, revealing a strong performance with earnings per share of $2.58, exceeding analysts’ forecast of $2.30. This earnings beat highlights the company’s robust financial health amid a challenging market environment. Additionally, Arch Capital Group announced an increase in its share repurchase authorization by $2 billion, bringing the total available for repurchases to approximately $2.3 billion as of September 4, 2025. The company plans to execute these repurchases through open market or privately negotiated transactions, with timing dependent on market conditions and regulatory considerations. This move indicates the company’s confidence in its financial position and its commitment to returning value to shareholders. These recent developments underscore significant strategic decisions by Arch Capital Group, reflecting its proactive approach to capital management.
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