Zacks Research Lifts Earnings Estimates for Axis Capital

Key Points

• Zacks Research has increased its FY2025 EPS estimate for Axis Capital to $11.88, up from $11.84, while the consensus estimate is currently at $11.19.
• Axis Capital reported Q2 earnings of $3.29 per share, surpassing expectations by $0.41, but missed revenue estimates with $1.63 billion against a consensus of $1.68 billion.
• Several analysts have raised their target prices for Axis Capital, with Wells Fargo adjusting it from $104.00 to $105.00 and UBS increasing it to $119.00 from $115.00.

Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at Zacks Research raised their FY2025 earnings estimates for shares of Axis Capital in a report issued on Tuesday, September 2nd. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the insurance provider will post earnings per share of $11.88 for the year, up from their prior estimate of $11.84. The consensus estimate for Axis Capital's current full-year earnings is $11.19 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Axis Capital's Q4 2025 earnings at $2.96 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $2.98 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $3.04 EPS and Q1 2027 earnings at $3.71 EPS.

Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The insurance provider reported $3.29 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.88 by $0.41. The company had revenue of $1.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.68 billion. Axis Capital had a net margin of 14.30% and a return on equity of 18.77%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 12.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.93 EPS.

Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $119.00 price target (up from $115.00) on shares of Axis Capital in a report on Monday, August 4th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on shares of Axis Capital from $118.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Axis Capital from $104.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Axis Capital from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 2nd. Finally, Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Axis Capital in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $111.43.

Axis Capital Price Performance

AXS stock traded down $0.86 during trading on Thursday, hitting $97.23. 128,003 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 695,158. Axis Capital has a one year low of $74.68 and a one year high of $107.19. The stock has a market cap of $7.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $97.15 and a 200 day simple moving average of $97.82. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Axis Capital

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AXS. Smithfield Trust Co increased its holdings in Axis Capital by 94.0% during the second quarter. Smithfield Trust Co now owns 293 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Axis Capital during the first quarter worth $33,000. AlphaCore Capital LLC acquired a new position in Axis Capital during the second quarter worth $37,000. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Axis Capital during the second quarter worth $41,000. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in Axis Capital by 1,542.9% during the first quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 575 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 540 shares during the last quarter. 93.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Henry B. Smith sold 3,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.67, for a total value of $345,345.00. Following the sale, the director owned 47,295 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,666,597.65. The trade was a 6.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Daniel J. Draper sold 4,305 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.57, for a total transaction of $420,038.85. Following the transaction, the insider owned 16,269 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,587,366.33. The trade was a 20.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 12,205 shares of company stock worth $1,188,048. 0.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Axis Capital

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides various specialty insurance and reinsurance products in Bermuda, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment offers professional insurance products that cover directors' and officers' liability, errors and omissions, employment practices, fiduciary, crime, professional indemnity, medical malpractice, and other financial insurance related coverages for commercial enterprises, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and other professional service providers; and property insurance products for commercial buildings, residential premises, construction projects, property in transit, onshore renewable energy installations, and physical damage and business interruption following an act of terrorism.