Zacks Research Has Positive View of Axis Capital Q1 Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised Axis Capital's Q1 2026 EPS estimate to $3.17 (from $3.07) and lifted FY2026 to $13.19, with additional upward revisions for 2027–2028, signaling near‑term and multi‑year earnings upgrades.
• Axis recently reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with EPS of $3.25 versus consensus $2.97 and revenue of $1.73 billion, up 17.8% year‑over‑year.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.44 (annualized $1.76, yield 1.7%), and the stock trades around $101.65 versus a MarketBeat consensus target of $124 (consensus rating: Moderate Buy).

Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS - Free Report) - Zacks Research upped their Q1 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Axis Capital in a report issued on Tuesday, March 17th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the insurance provider will earn $3.17 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $3.07. 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 Q2 2026 earnings at $3.18 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $3.36 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $3.47 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $13.19 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $3.47 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $3.64 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $3.43 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $13.94 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $15.03 EPS.

Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The insurance provider reported $3.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.97 by $0.28. Axis Capital had a return on equity of 18.72% and a net margin of 15.37%.The firm had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.33 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.38 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 17.8% on a year-over-year basis.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Axis Capital in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Axis Capital from a "buy (b+)" rating to a "buy (a-)" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Compass Point set a $121.00 price objective on shares of Axis Capital in a report on Monday, November 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $110.00 target price on shares of Axis Capital in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on Axis Capital from $121.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $124.00.

Axis Capital Trading Down 0.3%

Shares of AXS opened at $101.65 on Thursday. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $102.83 and its 200 day simple moving average is $100.42. The company has a market capitalization of $7.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.20, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.65. Axis Capital has a 1-year low of $84.81 and a 1-year high of $110.34.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Axis Capital

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Axis Capital by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,954,373 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $762,029,000 after purchasing an additional 43,901 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Axis Capital by 30.9% in the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 4,592,270 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $491,786,000 after purchasing an additional 1,083,579 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Axis Capital by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,382,665 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $362,263,000 after buying an additional 63,751 shares during the period. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC boosted its position in Axis Capital by 47.7% during the second quarter. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC now owns 1,817,204 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $188,662,000 after buying an additional 586,576 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Axis Capital by 1.0% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,631,198 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $170,069,000 after buying an additional 15,755 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.44% of the company's stock.

Axis Capital Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.44 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Axis Capital's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.21%.

Axis Capital News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised 2026 quarterly and full‑year EPS: Q1 2026 to $3.17 (from $3.07), Q2 2026 to $3.18 (from $3.13), Q3 2026 to $3.36 (from $3.30), Q4 2026 to $3.47 (from $3.43) and lifted FY2026 to $13.19 (from $12.94). This signals near‑term earnings upside versus prior forecasts. Zacks 2026 estimate upgrades
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks also boosted 2027 quarterly and full‑year estimates: Q2 2027 to $3.47 (from $3.43), Q3 2027 to $3.64 (from $3.61), Q4 2027 to $3.43 and raised FY2027 to $13.94 (from $13.79). These revisions imply continued margin/earnings improvement into FY2027. Zacks 2027 estimate upgrades
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks nudged FY2028 to $15.03 (from $15.01), a modest increase that rounds out a multi‑year upward revision trend and supports a higher earnings runway. Zacks FY2028 revision

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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