Lemonade stock price target raised to $26 from $22 at KBW on reinsurance shift

Published 01/07/2025, 15:40
© Ben Kelmer, Lemonade PR

Investing.com - Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised its price target on Lemonade Inc . (NYSE:LMND) to $26.00 from $22.00 on Tuesday, while maintaining an Underperform rating on the insurance technology company.

The price target increase follows Lemonade’s announcement that it will reduce its quota share reinsurance ceding to 20% from 55%, a move that KBW expects will positively impact earnings through improved expense ratios.

Despite the higher price target, KBW reiterated its Underperform rating, noting that Lemonade shares have rallied approximately 50% over the past five weeks amid broader market risk-on sentiment. InvestingPro data shows the stock has delivered an impressive 166% return over the past year, though the company remains unprofitable with a -$217.3 million bottom line in the last twelve months.

KBW expressed concerns that the recent stock rally has "meaningfully raised the bar" for Lemonade, suggesting the company’s near-term performance will depend heavily on successful expansion of its auto insurance offering with simultaneous growth and loss ratio improvement.

The research firm also flagged potential questions about Lemonade’s capital capacity and the possibility of reduced in-force premium growth targets in the competitive insurance market environment.

In other recent news, Lemonade Inc. reported its first-quarter 2025 financial results, surpassing both revenue and earnings expectations. The company achieved a revenue of $151.2 million, exceeding the forecast of $145.92 million, and reported a narrower loss per share of -$0.86, compared to the anticipated -$0.92. Lemonade’s adjusted gross profit reached $46 million, outperforming estimates from JMP analysts, who have maintained a Market Outperform rating with a $60 price target. The company’s in-force premium grew by 27% year-over-year, with a notable expansion in its auto insurance offering, Lemonade Car, which has shown significant growth and increased conversion rates.

Additionally, Lemonade announced a reduction in its quota share reinsurance from 55% to 20%, citing improvements in diversification and underwriting capabilities as key factors. This strategic move is part of their annual reinsurance program renewal and is expected to improve margins while maintaining a capital-light structure. The company also plans to renew its ancillary reinsurance programs at terms similar to previous agreements. These developments reflect Lemonade’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its financial performance and operational strategy.

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