Royal Bank of Canada Sells 12,647 Shares of Axis Capital Holdings Limited $AXS

Key Points

• Royal Bank of Canada cut its Axis Capital stake by 26.3%, selling 12,647 shares and retaining 35,456 shares valued at approximately $3.6 million. Institutional investors still own 93.44% of the company.
• Axis Capital reported quarterly EPS of $2.84, below the $3.25 consensus estimate, although revenue of $1.75 billion exceeded expectations and rose 7.4% year over year.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed: the consensus rating is “Moderate Buy” with a $120.50 price target, while Zacks downgraded the stock to “Strong Sell” and reduced earnings forecasts.

Royal Bank of Canada decreased its position in shares of Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS - Free Report) by 26.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 35,456 shares of the insurance provider's stock after selling 12,647 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada's holdings in Axis Capital were worth $3,596,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Activest Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Axis Capital in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Assetmark Inc. grew its stake in Axis Capital by 80.8% in the first quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 396 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the period. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Axis Capital in the first quarter worth $43,000. Fideuram Asset Management Ireland dac purchased a new stake in Axis Capital in the fourth quarter worth $47,000. Finally, DV Equities LLC bought a new position in Axis Capital in the fourth quarter worth $54,000. Institutional investors own 93.44% of the company's stock.

Axis Capital Stock Up 1.3%

Axis Capital stock opened at $101.32 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $7.39 billion, a PE ratio of 7.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.36 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.64. Axis Capital Holdings Limited has a one year low of $88.07 and a one year high of $119.99. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $107.41 and a 200 day moving average of $103.29.

Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The insurance provider reported $2.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.25 by ($0.41). The firm had revenue of $1.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.74 billion. Axis Capital had a net margin of 16.23% and a return on equity of 17.00%. The firm's revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.29 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Axis Capital Holdings Limited will post 12.39 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently commented on AXS. BMO Capital Markets restated a "market perform" rating on shares of Axis Capital in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on shares of Axis Capital from $131.00 to $125.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Axis Capital from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Axis Capital from a "buy (b+)" rating to a "buy (a-)" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Axis Capital from $134.00 to $126.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $120.50.

Axis Capital News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Axis Capital this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Axis Capital’s preferred stock, AXS PFD E, was highlighted for offering a competitive yield relative to other insurance companies, which may support investor interest in the company’s preferred securities. The report has less direct impact on common shares. AXS PFD E Offers Competitive Yield Versus Other Insurance Companies
• Neutral Sentiment: Axis Capital’s shares have increased while trading near $101, but remain below their 50-day and 200-day moving averages. The stock’s low valuation—approximately 7.2 times earnings—and strong profitability may be providing some support, although recent earnings expectations have weakened.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research downgraded AXS from “Hold” to “Strong Sell” and lowered its earnings forecasts across multiple periods. Estimates were reduced for Q3 2026 to $2.87 per share from $3.38, FY2026 to $12.58 from $13.54, FY2027 to $13.40 from $13.64, and FY2028 to $14.45 from $14.62. Additional cuts included Q1 2027 to $3.20, Q2 2027 to $3.33, Q3 2027 to $3.28, and Q1 2028 to $3.39 per share. The broad-based reductions signal concern about Axis Capital’s earnings trajectory and could pressure the common stock. Zacks Research Decreases Earnings Estimates for Axis Capital

Axis Capital Profile

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.

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