Essent Group downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Keefe Bruyette

Keefe Bruyette downgraded Essent Group (ESNT) to Market Perform from Outperform with a price target of $67, up from $65. The firm says that while operating trends for the mortgage insurers have remained strong year-to-date, it sees a lack of near-term positive catalysts. Credit risk could increase modestly in the back half of 2025 as the pace of home price appreciation is likely to slow, the analyst tells investors in a research note. As such, Keefe sees mortgage insurer valuations as range-bound. It downgraded three names in the sector.