Q3 EPS Estimates for Axis Capital Raised by Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised Axis Capital’s Q3 2026 EPS estimate to $2.92 from $2.87, while forecasting full-year 2026 EPS of $12.62. Despite the higher estimate, Zacks maintains a “Strong Sell” rating.
• Axis Capital’s latest quarterly results fell short of expectations, with EPS of $2.84 versus the $3.25 consensus estimate, although revenue rose 7.4% year over year to $1.75 billion.
• Analyst sentiment is mixed but leans positive overall: MarketBeat reports a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $120.50, while institutional investors own 93.44% of the company’s stock.

Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS - Free Report) - Zacks Research lifted their Q3 2026 earnings estimates for Axis Capital in a note issued to investors on Thursday, August 13th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the insurance provider will post earnings per share of $2.92 for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $2.87. 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 FY2026 earnings at $12.62 EPS and Q4 2027 earnings at $3.59 EPS.

AXS has been the topic of a number of other reports. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Axis Capital from $131.00 to $126.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Axis Capital from a "buy (b+)" rating to a "buy (a-)" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Mizuho lowered their price target on Axis Capital from $142.00 to $130.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Axis Capital from $134.00 to $126.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of Axis Capital in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $120.50.

Axis Capital Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:AXS opened at $101.32 on Monday. Axis Capital has a 1-year low of $88.07 and a 1-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 stock has a market cap of $7.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.20, a P/E/G ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.50. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $107.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $103.29.

Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The insurance provider reported $2.84 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.25 by ($0.41). Axis Capital had a net margin of 16.23% and a return on equity of 17.00%. The business had revenue of $1.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.74 billion. The business's revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.29 earnings per share.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Axis Capital

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in AXS. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Axis Capital by 30.9% during the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 4,592,270 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $491,786,000 after buying an additional 1,083,579 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Axis Capital by 8.9% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,682,238 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $373,412,000 after buying an additional 299,573 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC increased its holdings in Axis Capital by 1.2% in the first quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 1,710,902 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $173,504,000 after buying an additional 21,001 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Axis Capital by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,631,198 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $170,069,000 after acquiring an additional 15,755 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Axis Capital by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,387,004 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $148,565,000 after acquiring an additional 10,246 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.44% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting Axis Capital

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

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

Continue following MarketBeat

Add MarketBeat as your preferred source on Google to see our latest stories in your feed.

Add As Preferred Source