Zacks Research Forecasts Higher Earnings for Axis Capital

Key Points

• Zacks Research has raised its Q3 earnings per share (EPS) estimate for Axis Capital to $2.45, from a previous forecast of $2.44, with a full-year EPS consensus estimate of $11.19.
• In its last earnings report, Axis Capital surpassed expectations by reporting $3.29 EPS, exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.88 by $0.41.
• Several analysts have upgraded their price targets on Axis Capital, with UBS Group increasing its target price to $119.00, maintaining a "buy" rating.

Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at Zacks Research lifted their Q3 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Axis Capital in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, September 2nd. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the insurance provider will earn $2.45 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $2.44. 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 Q1 2026 earnings at $3.02 EPS.

Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The insurance provider reported $3.29 earnings per share (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 return on equity of 18.77% and a net margin of 14.30%.Axis Capital's revenue was up 12.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.93 earnings per share.

Several other brokerages have also commented on AXS. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on Axis Capital from $118.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of Axis Capital in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Axis Capital from $104.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. UBS Group restated a "buy" rating and set a $119.00 price target (up previously from $115.00) on shares of Axis Capital in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Axis Capital from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 2nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $111.43.

Axis Capital Trading Down 1.9%

Shares of NYSE:AXS traded down $1.85 on Friday, hitting $97.44. 612,493 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 519,054. Axis Capital has a 12 month low of $74.68 and a 12 month high of $107.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.77. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $97.27 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $97.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.69.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Axis Capital

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Smithfield Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 142 shares during the period. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Axis Capital during the first quarter worth about $33,000. AlphaCore Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Axis Capital during the second quarter worth about $37,000. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Axis Capital during the second quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc lifted its holdings in Axis Capital by 1,542.9% in the first quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 575 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $58,000 after acquiring an additional 540 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.44% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Henry B. Smith sold 3,500 shares of Axis Capital stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.67, for a total transaction of $345,345.00. Following the completion of 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Daniel J. Draper sold 4,305 shares of Axis Capital stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.57, for a total value of $420,038.85. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 16,269 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,587,366.33. This trade represents a 20.92% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 12,205 shares of company stock valued at $1,188,048. Corporate insiders own 0.70% of the company's stock.

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.