Essent Group price target raised to $70 from $67 at Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs analyst Ryan Nash raised the firm’s price target on Essent Group (ESNT) to $70 from $67 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. Regional banks underperformed the market by 200-300 basis points in 2025, weighed by macro concerns and credit worries, though stocks rallied 13% late in the year, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Looking to 2026, solid loan growth, net interest income momentum, positive operating leverage, and improving returns support continued multi-year fundamental improvement, with credit risk as the main wildcard, Goldman says.