Q1 EPS Estimates for Axis Capital Lowered by Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research lowered Axis Capital’s Q1 2027 EPS estimate to $3.20 from $3.25 and maintained a “Strong Sell” rating. Its full-year 2027 EPS estimate is $13.40, while the current full-year consensus stands at $12.39.
• Axis Capital’s latest quarterly EPS of $2.84 missed analysts’ $3.25 consensus, although revenue rose 7.4% year over year to $1.75 billion and exceeded expectations.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed: UBS, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, and Mizuho retain positive ratings despite lowering price targets, while MarketBeat reports a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and a $120.50 price target versus the stock’s $100.07 opening price.

Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Zacks Research lowered their Q1 2027 EPS estimates for Axis Capital in a report issued on Thursday, August 13th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the insurance provider will post earnings of $3.20 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $3.25. Zacks Research currently has a "Strong Sell" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Axis Capital's current full-year earnings is $12.39 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Axis Capital's Q2 2027 earnings at $3.33 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $3.28 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $13.40 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $3.39 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $3.75 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $14.45 EPS.

Several other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group reduced their target price on Axis Capital from $131.00 to $126.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Capital One Financial set a $108.00 price objective on shares of Axis Capital in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. BMO Capital Markets restated a "market perform" rating on shares of Axis Capital in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on shares of Axis Capital from $131.00 to $125.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Axis Capital from $142.00 to $130.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Axis Capital presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $120.50.

Axis Capital Trading Up 0.6%

AXS opened at $100.07 on Friday. Axis Capital has a one year low of $88.07 and a one year high of $119.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $107.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $103.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.11, a PEG ratio of 4.34 and a beta of 0.50.

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). Axis Capital had a return on equity of 17.00% and a net margin of 16.23%.The firm had revenue of $1.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.74 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.29 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Axis Capital

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AXS. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in shares of Axis Capital by 12.4% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 63,457 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $6,361,000 after purchasing an additional 7,023 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Axis Capital by 6.6% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 205,553 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $20,605,000 after buying an additional 12,680 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Axis Capital by 86.2% during the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 47,277 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $4,739,000 after buying an additional 21,892 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth grew its holdings in shares of Axis Capital by 42.1% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 10,417 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $1,044,000 after buying an additional 3,085 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Axis Capital by 33.6% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,924 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $407,000 after acquiring an additional 987 shares in the last quarter. 93.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Axis Capital

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

• Positive Sentiment: AXS continues to benefit from its specialty-insurance focus, premium growth and capital-return potential. Its valuation also remains relatively low, with a price-to-earnings ratio of about 7.1, although catastrophe losses and competitive pressure could limit upside. AXS Lags Industry, Trades at a Discount: Here's How to Play the Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks’ revised full-year 2026 EPS forecast of $12.58 matches the cited consensus estimate, while its 2027 forecast remains $13.64. This suggests expectations are being reset rather than signaling an immediate collapse in profitability. Zacks Research Decreases Earnings Estimates for Axis Capital
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research cut its FY2026 EPS estimate to $12.58 from $13.54 and its FY2027 estimate to $13.64 from $14.35. Quarterly estimates were also reduced, including Q3 2026 to $2.87 from $3.38 and Q3 2027 to $3.29 from $3.69. These broad reductions imply weaker anticipated underwriting or investment results.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks downgraded Axis Capital from “Hold” to “Strong Sell,” reinforcing the bearish signal from its lower earnings forecasts. The company previously reported quarterly EPS of $2.84, below the $3.25 analyst consensus, despite revenue exceeding expectations and rising year over year. Zacks Research rating update

Axis Capital Company 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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