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Enact Holdings (ACT)
NASDAQ:ACT
US Market

Enact Holdings (ACT) AI Stock Analysis

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ACT

Enact Holdings

(NASDAQ:ACT)

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Outperform 82 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:82Outperform
Price Target:
$47.00
▲(16.54% Upside)
The score is led by strong financial performance (high profitability, low leverage, and strong cash generation) and an attractive valuation (low P/E with a solid dividend). Technicals are supportive but somewhat capped near-term by elevated Stochastic, while the earnings call was broadly positive on capital returns and credit trends despite some operating and macro headwinds.
Positive Factors
High Profitability & Margins
Enact's sustained high gross and net margins with mid-teens revenue growth indicate durable underwriting economics and pricing power in mortgage insurance. Strong margins support internal capital generation for reserves, investment, and returns, underpinning resilience across credit cycles.
Capital Strength & Shareholder Returns
Robust cash generation and a prudent capital buffer enable meaningful shareholder returns. The company returned >$500M in 2025 and authorized a $500M buyback, reflecting excess capital availability and disciplined allocation that can sustainably support buybacks and dividends over the medium term.
Pricing Tech & Operational Scale
Rate360 pricing enhancements and operational advances strengthen Enact's competitive edge in risk selection and pricing accuracy. Combined with scale benefits from large insurance-in-force, these capabilities support consistent new business margins and durable market share in mortgage insurance.
Negative Factors
Declining Persistency
Lower persistency reduces in-force premium retention and increases acquisition needs to replace lapsing policies. Driven by lower rates and refinance activity, this trend can structurally compress earned premiums and uplift acquisition expense amortization, weighing on medium-term revenue durability.
Rising Delinquencies
Sequential increases in new and total delinquencies signal potential credit deterioration. Higher delinquency levels can translate into elevated claim frequency or larger reserve needs, pressuring loss ratios and capital planning if the trend persists through a multi-quarter credit cycle.
Macro & Regulatory Uncertainty
Enact's performance is structurally tied to mortgage origination volumes and regulatory capital regimes. Policy shifts at FHA/GSEs or sustained mortgage volatility can alter originations, pricing, and PMIERs requirements, creating durable uncertainty for growth, capital returns, and strategic planning.

Enact Holdings (ACT) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Enact Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionEnact Holdings, Inc. operates as a private mortgage insurance company in the United States. The company is involved in writing and assuming residential mortgage guaranty insurance. It offers private mortgage insurance products primarily insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans; and contract underwriting services for mortgage lenders. The company was formerly known as Genworth Mortgage Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Enact Holdings, Inc. in May 2021. Enact Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Enact Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of Genworth Holdings, Inc.
How the Company Makes MoneyEnact Holdings generates revenue primarily through the sale of mortgage insurance policies, which are designed to protect lenders against losses in the event of borrower default. The company charges premiums for these insurance policies, which can be structured as one-time upfront payments or ongoing monthly premiums. Additionally, Enact Holdings earns revenue from risk management services, providing analytics and consulting to lenders, which helps them in managing their mortgage portfolios effectively. Significant partnerships with financial institutions and collaborations with technology providers enhance its service offerings and expand its market reach, contributing to stable revenue growth.

Enact Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 03, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
Next Earnings Date:May 06, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presented a predominantly positive tone: strong capital returns (>$500M), record insurance-in-force ($273B), improved credit outcomes (net reserve release $60M and loss ratio down to 7%), stable investment yield improvement, and robust capital metrics (PMIERs 162%). Offsetting items are modest: persistency softened (80%), sequentially higher delinquencies, a small YoY decline in full-year adjusted operating income (~4.2%), and a Q4 uptick in operating expenses. Management reiterated disciplined capital allocation, a new $500M repurchase authorization, and confidence in 2026 capital returns (~$500M) while noting macro and regulatory uncertainty. Overall, positives materially outweigh the listed headwinds.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Q4 and Full-Year Earnings
Q4 adjusted operating income of $179 million ($1.23 per diluted share) and full-year adjusted operating income of $688 million ($4.61 per diluted share). Q4 adjusted operating EPS increased vs. prior-year quarter ($1.23 vs. $1.09) and vs. Q3 2025 ($1.12). Adjusted operating ROE was 13.5% in Q4.
Record Insurance In-Force and New Business
Record insurance in-force of $273 billion (up $1 billion sequentially and ~$4 billion, ~1% YoY). Full-year new insurance written of $52 billion and Q4 new insurance written of $14 billion (Q4 NIW +2% sequential, +8% YoY).
Capital Returns and Shareholder Actions
Returned $503 million to shareholders in 2025 ($382 million repurchases, $121 million dividends). Q4 capital returned $157 million (3.4M shares repurchased for $127M; $30M dividends). Board authorized a new $500 million repurchase program and management expects ~ $500 million capital returns in 2026.
Improved Credit Performance and Reserve Release
Net reserve release of $60 million in Q4 driven by favorable cure performance and loss mitigation; claim rate assumption reduced from 9% to 8%. Q4 losses were $18 million and loss ratio improved to 7% (from 15% in Q3 2025 and 10% in Q4 2024).
Strong Capital & Liquidity Metrics
PMIERs sufficiency ratio at 162% ($1.9 billion above requirements). Third-party CRT program provides $1.9 billion of PMIERs capital credit. Entered a new $435 million revolving credit facility, enhancing financial flexibility.
Balance Sheet & Portfolio Quality
Risk-weighted average FICO of 746, risk-weighted average LTV of 93%, layered risk 1.2% of risk-in-force. 59% of loans have rates below 6%, supporting persistency and embedded portfolio equity.
Investment Income and Yield Improvement
Q4 investment income $69 million (flat sequential, +$6 million or +10% YoY). New-money investment yield approximately 5% and weighted average portfolio book yield 4.4% for the quarter.
Expense Discipline and Guidance
Full-year operating expenses $218 million ($217 million excluding restructuring), favorable to updated guidance of ~$219 million. Company expects 2026 operating expenses of $215–$220 million (excl. reorganization).
Operational & Strategic Execution
Launched Rate360 pricing engine enhancements, received multiple credit ratings upgrades and industry awards, advanced Enact Re participation in attractive GSE single- and multifamily deals, and announced largest-ever repurchase authorization.
Negative Updates
Persistency Decline
Persistency declined to 80% in Q4 (down 3 percentage points sequentially and down 2 points YoY), driven by lower prevailing mortgage rates and increased refinance activity.
Rising Delinquencies Sequentially
New delinquencies increased to 13,700 in Q4 from 13,000 in Q3 (+700, ~+5.4% sequential). Total delinquencies rose to 24,900 from 23,400 (+1,500, ~+6.4% sequential). Delinquency rate increased 10 bps sequentially to 2.6%.
Full-Year Adjusted Operating Income Slightly Lower YoY
Full-year adjusted operating income was $688 million in 2025 versus $718 million in 2024, a decline of ~$30 million (~-4.2% YoY), despite slight improvement in EPS per share.
Operating Expense Step-Up in Q4
Operating expenses increased to $59 million in Q4 from $53 million in Q3 (+$6 million, ~+11.3% sequential) and the reported expense ratio rose to 24% (from 22% in Q3).
Net Earned Premium Rate & Ceded Premiums
Base premium rate edged down slightly to 39.6 basis points (down 0.1 bp sequentially). Net earned premium rate was 34.8 bps, down modestly sequentially driven by higher ceded premiums.
Short-Term Investment Actions Caused Realized Losses
Management sold certain assets during the quarter which generated realized losses (with intent to recoup through higher future net investment income), indicating short-term drag on investment results.
Macroeconomic and Regulatory Uncertainty
Company highlighted ongoing macro uncertainty (mortgage rate volatility, affordability, housing supply differences by region) and potential regulatory changes (e.g., FHA/GSE actions) that could affect origination volumes and capital planning.
Company Guidance
Guidance centered on returning approximately $500 million of capital in 2026 (subject to business performance, loss experience, macro and regulatory developments), supported by a Board‑authorized $500 million share repurchase program and a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share (payable March 19); operating expense guidance of $215–$220 million for 2026 (ex‑reorg); an expectation that the base premium rate (39.6 bps in Q4) will be relatively flat versus 2025 (net earned premium rate was 34.8 bps in Q4); an outlook informed by a projected MI market increase of roughly 10–15% year‑over‑year and the company’s strong capital position (PMIERs sufficiency 162%, ~$1.9 billion above requirement, with ~$1.9 billion third‑party CRT capital credit), while investment yields remain attractive (new‑money yield ~5%, portfolio book yield 4.4%) and Q4/FY operating and origination metrics (Q4 NIW $14B; FY new insurance written $52B; insurance in‑force $273B) provide the backdrop for the plan.

Enact Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong overall fundamentals driven by high profitability (TTM net margin 55.36%), healthy revenue growth (15.3% TTM), prudent leverage (debt-to-equity 0.14), and robust free cash flow growth (55.3% TTM). Minor cautions include slight gross margin slippage and a modest ROE decline versus last year.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Enact Holdings demonstrates strong profitability with a consistent increase in revenue and robust margins. The TTM data shows a gross profit margin of 74.83% and a net profit margin of 55.36%, indicating efficient cost management and high profitability. Revenue growth is healthy at 15.3% in the TTM period, showcasing strong business expansion. However, a slight decline in gross profit margin from the previous year suggests potential cost pressures.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The company maintains a solid balance sheet with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, indicating prudent financial leverage. The return on equity is strong at 13.29%, reflecting effective use of equity capital. The equity ratio stands at 77.32%, highlighting a stable financial structure. However, the slight decrease in ROE from the previous year suggests a need for improved equity utilization.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Enact Holdings shows a robust cash flow position with a significant free cash flow growth rate of 55.3% in the TTM period. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 1.0 indicates efficient conversion of profits into cash. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is not available for the TTM period, which limits a complete assessment of cash flow efficiency.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.22B1.20B1.15B1.09B1.12B1.11B
Gross Profit893.35M940.31M903.38M949.75M748.55M490.66M
EBITDA893.35M929.22M903.38M949.92M746.23M490.66M
Net Income659.82M688.07M665.51M704.16M546.68M370.42M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets6.88B6.52B6.19B5.71B5.87B5.65B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.28B2.13B5.90B5.40B5.69B5.50B
Total Debt744.11M743.05M745.42M742.83M740.42M738.16M
Total Liabilities1.56B1.53B1.56B1.61B1.76B1.77B
Stockholders Equity5.32B5.00B4.63B4.10B4.11B3.88B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow704.38M686.26M632.04M567.13M-113.53M704.35M
Operating Cash Flow704.38M686.26M632.04M560.51M572.12M704.35M
Investing Cash Flow-373.35M-320.51M-229.40M-220.25M-398.78M-1.14B
Financing Cash Flow-460.82M-382.00M-300.73M-252.31M-200.29M300.30M

Enact Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price40.33
Price Trends
50DMA
39.38
Positive
100DMA
38.07
Positive
200DMA
36.96
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.19
Negative
RSI
56.87
Neutral
STOCH
86.14
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ACT, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 40.33 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 39.46, above the 50-day MA of 39.38, and above the 200-day MA of 36.96, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.19 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 56.87 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 86.14 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ACT.

Enact Holdings Risk Analysis

Enact Holdings disclosed 38 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Enact Holdings reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Enact Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
82
Outperform
$5.84B9.2912.75%2.02%2.40%1.18%
81
Outperform
$6.16B9.2712.35%1.88%2.78%-0.50%
79
Outperform
$3.02B8.0916.17%8.86%9.51%
78
Outperform
$6.16B8.7714.40%1.89%2.20%9.90%
74
Outperform
$6.52B13.749.28%3.58%25.99%426.44%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
63
Neutral
$4.46B8.2112.56%2.78%-3.68%3.65%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ACT
Enact Holdings
40.33
6.99
20.97%
FAF
First American Financial
64.69
2.97
4.81%
MTG
MGIC Investment
26.12
1.14
4.56%
RDN
Radian Group
32.72
-0.50
-1.51%
ESNT
Essent Group
63.05
5.08
8.76%
NMIH
NMI Holdings
38.72
-0.33
-0.85%

Enact Holdings Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyStock BuybackDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Enact Holdings Announces Strong 2025 Results, New Buyback Plan
Positive
Feb 3, 2026

On February 3, 2026, Enact Holdings reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results showing continued profitability and capital strength, with Q4 GAAP net income of $177 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, and adjusted operating income of $179 million, or $1.23 per diluted share. For 2025, the company generated $674 million in net income, maintained a solid adjusted operating return on equity of 13.3%, and grew primary insurance in-force to $273 billion, up 2% year over year. Losses incurred fell to $18 million in the fourth quarter, driving a loss ratio of 7%, helped by a $60 million net reserve release tied to favorable cure performance and lower expected claim rates, while elevated persistency and stable net premiums earned supported earnings despite a challenging housing backdrop. Enact also underscored its robust capital position, with PMIERs sufficiency of 162% (about $1.9 billion) and book value per share of $37.66, and returned $503 million to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and $382 million of share repurchases. In a further demonstration of shareholder-return focus, the board on February 3, 2026 authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $500 million of common stock and the company entered into a stock buyback agreement with its majority owner Genworth Financial, moves that reinforce capital management discipline and signal confidence in the company’s long-term earnings power.

The most recent analyst rating on (ACT) stock is a Hold with a $40.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Enact Holdings stock, see the ACT Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 04, 2026