ProAssurance stock rating cut to Market Perform by Citizens JMP

Published 03/04/2025, 08:20
ProAssurance stock rating cut to Market Perform by Citizens JMP

On Thursday, Citizens JMP analysts downgraded ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE:PRA) stock from Market Outperform to Market Perform. The decision follows the recent acquisition announcement by The Doctors Company, which agreed to purchase ProAssurance for $25.00 per share in cash. Currently trading at $23.36, with an impressive 86% return over the past year according to InvestingPro, the stock has shown remarkable momentum. This acquisition price represents a substantial 60% premium over ProAssurance’s closing share price on March 18, the last trading day before the announcement.

The offer, based on ProAssurance’s March 18 share price, values the deal at a 25x multiple of the company’s estimated earnings per share (EPS) for 2026 and 1.06 times the reported book value. With a current market capitalization of $1.2 billion and trading at 0.99x book value, InvestingPro data shows the company maintains a GOOD financial health score. Analysts noted that ProAssurance shares are currently trading at about a 6% discount to the acquisition price proposed by The Doctors Company.

Analysts believe that the current market price fairly reflects the potential outcomes of the acquisition process. They also consider the likelihood of a competing offer to be low, citing the strategic fit of the acquisition for The Doctors Company, the significant premium offered, and the all-cash nature of the proposal.

Given these factors, the downgrade to Market Perform indicates that Citizens JMP analysts do not foresee significant stock price movement for ProAssurance in the near term. The analysts recommend that investors adjust their expectations accordingly, as the acquisition appears to be moving forward without significant hurdles.

In other recent news, ProAssurance Corporation reported strong financial results for Q4 2024, significantly exceeding analyst expectations. The company posted earnings per share of $0.36, doubling the expected $0.18, and reported revenue of $290.1 million, surpassing the forecast of $228.42 million. Meanwhile, The Doctors Company announced a definitive agreement to acquire ProAssurance for approximately $1.3 billion, with the transaction expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals. Fitch Ratings has maintained The Doctors Company’s ’A’ (Strong) Insurer Financial Strength rating following this acquisition announcement, citing alignment with TDC’s operational strategy. Similarly, AM Best has confirmed that the financial strength ratings of both The Doctors Company and ProAssurance remain stable post-announcement. The acquisition will position The Doctors Company as a major player in the medical professional liability insurance market, with ProAssurance being the fourth-largest MPL insurer in the United States. Financial advisory services for the acquisition are being provided by Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) Capital, Inc. and Howden Capital Markets & Advisory.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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