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GooseHead Insurance Inc (GSHD)
NASDAQ:GSHD

GooseHead Insurance (GSHD) AI Stock Analysis

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GSHD

GooseHead Insurance

(NASDAQ:GSHD)

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Neutral 60 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:60Neutral
Price Target:
$57.00
▲(5.17% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/20/26
The score is primarily driven by strong operating performance and cash generation, reinforced by favorable growth guidance and strategic progress from the latest earnings call. These positives are meaningfully offset by elevated balance-sheet risk (higher debt and negative equity), a weak technical setup with a pronounced downtrend, and a premium P/E valuation.
Positive Factors
Recurring revenue growth & franchise productivity
Sustained multi-year revenue expansion and accelerating policies-in-force indicate durable scale in commission revenue. Combined with franchise productivity gains (higher gross payments per franchise and same-store sales), this strengthens unit economics and supports predictable, repeatable cash flows over the medium term.
Strong cash generation and free cash flow
Robust operating and free cash flow that closely tracks net income provides internal funding for technology investments, buybacks, and franchise support without immediate reliance on external financing. This cash convertibility underpins strategic flexibility and enhances resilience to cyclical insurer or commission volatility.
Technology & digital distribution scale
Deploying a full digital buying/binding platform and AI-driven service tools can lower acquisition and servicing costs as adoption scales, expand addressable distribution via enterprise partnerships, and create a differentiated, durable distribution moat if rollouts continue beyond initial markets.
Negative Factors
Elevated leverage and negative equity
A sharp increase in debt and a shift to negative equity materially weaken financial flexibility, raising refinancing and covenant risks. This higher leverage amplifies sensitivity to revenue or commission shocks and reduces the cushion for investments or carrier disruptions over the medium term.
Margin compression from strategic investments
Planned sizable tech and AI investments will depress EBITDA margins in 2026, constraining near-term profitability and free cash flow. If revenue and retention gains take longer than expected, the margin hit could delay recovery toward targeted combined-growth/margin goals and strain returns on invested capital.
Contingent commission & revenue mix uncertainty
Material reliance on contingent commissions creates revenue and margin volatility tied to carrier profitability and compensation trends. A durable decline in contingent commission rates would directly reduce revenue and margins, making medium-term earnings more sensitive to carrier economics and regulatory shifts.

GooseHead Insurance (GSHD) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

GooseHead Insurance Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionGoosehead Insurance, Inc. operates as a holding company for Goosehead Financial, LLC that provides personal lines insurance agency services in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Corporate Channel and Franchise Channel. It offers homeowner's, insurance, automotive, dwelling property insurance, flood, wind, earthquake, excess liability or umbrella, motorcycle, recreational vehicle, general liability, property, and life insurance products and services. As of December 31, 2021, the company had 2,151 total franchises. Goosehead Insurance, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Westlake, Texas.
How the Company Makes MoneyGooseHead Insurance generates revenue primarily through commissions earned from insurance carriers for policies sold by its agents. The company's revenue model is based on a percentage of the premiums paid by policyholders, which varies depending on the type of insurance product and the terms negotiated with different insurers. Key revenue streams include personal lines insurance, such as homeowners and auto insurance, as well as commercial lines. Additionally, GooseHead benefits from its franchise model, where franchisees pay initial franchise fees and ongoing royalties based on their sales, thus contributing to the company's overall earnings. Strategic partnerships with a diverse array of insurance carriers allow GooseHead to offer competitive rates and a wide selection of products, enhancing its market position and revenue potential.

GooseHead Insurance Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue By Type
Revenue By Type
Categorizes revenue sources, providing insight into which segments drive the most income and potential areas for growth or diversification.
Chart InsightsGoosehead Insurance's Franchise Revenues have shown robust growth, outpacing Commissions & Agency Fees, reflecting strategic expansion and strong partnerships. Despite challenges like a depressed housing market and high turnover in the corporate sales team, the company has improved client retention and contingent commissions. The latest earnings call highlights a 16% increase in total revenue and significant investments in digital platforms, aiming for substantial premium growth. These initiatives suggest a focus on scaling operations and enhancing service delivery, positioning Goosehead for sustained long-term growth despite current market challenges.
Data provided by:The Fly

GooseHead Insurance Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 17, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 29, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presented a generally favorable picture: strong full-year revenue (+16%) and adjusted EBITDA (+14%), durable growth in written premiums (+17%), accelerating policies in force (+14%), clear productivity gains in the franchise network (gross payments per franchise +29%, same-store sales +19%), meaningful technology progress (Digital Agent 2.0 live in Texas; Lily handling hundreds of thousands of interactions), and strong cash generation (operating cash flow +28%) combined with an active share repurchase program. Offsetting items include near-term margin compression due to deliberate investments in AI, digital binding, and partnerships, some uncertainty in contingent commission levels (guidance 60–85 bps vs. 86 bps in 2025), a trailing decline in NPS tied to prior price increases, and short-term revenue headwinds from franchise consolidation. Overall, highlights materially outweigh lowlights, and management articulated a clear path for growth and margin recovery over time.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Top-Line Revenue Growth
Total revenue for FY2025 was $365.3 million, up 16% year-over-year; Q4 total revenue was $105.3 million, up 12% year-over-year. Core revenues grew 16% for the full year to $317.9 million and 15% in the quarter to $78.2 million.
Strong Premiums and Policies in Force Expansion
Total written premiums for FY2025 were $4.4 billion, up 17% YoY; Q4 written premiums were $1.1 billion, up 13% YoY. Policies in force increased 14% to 1.9 million, accelerating from 13% in Q3.
Profitability and Cash Generation
Adjusted EBITDA for FY2025 was $113.6 million, up 14% YoY and producing a 31% adjusted EBITDA margin. Q4 adjusted EBITDA was $39.2 million, up 5% YoY. Operating cash flow for the year was $91.8 million, up 28% YoY.
Franchise Productivity and Consolidation Benefits
Gross payments per franchise increased 29% YoY. Producers per franchise rose from 1.9 to 2.1 during the year. Producer count increased slightly from 2,092 to 2,113 while operating franchises declined from 1,103 to 1,009, reflecting consolidation into higher-productivity agencies. Same-store sales grew 19% in Q4.
Technology & Digital Distribution Progress
Digital Agent 2.0 (end-to-end choice buying/binding) is live in Texas with multiple auto carriers and active home carrier implementations. The company launched a mobile app and 'Lily' AI phone assistant, which has handled hundreds of thousands of client interactions to date.
Partnerships & Enterprise Sales Momentum
Enterprise sales headcount nearly doubled to 115, and partnership pipeline represents 2.3 million potential clients across mortgage origination, servicing and other financial services. Enterprise channel nearly doubled new business production in 2025.
Capital Allocation and Share Repurchases
Strong buyback activity: $22.5 million repurchased in Q4 (323k shares) and $81.7 million repurchased in FY2025. Board authorized an additional $180 million buyback. Balance sheet: $34.4 million cash and $298.5 million total debt at year-end.
Market Environment & Strategic Positioning
Management cites improving insurance market dynamics (carriers restoring profitability and re-entering growth), positioning Goosehead favorably to win share; reiterated long-term target of operating towards a 'Rule of 60' (combined revenue growth + EBITDA margin > 60%).
Negative Updates
Near-Term Margin Pressure from Strategic Investments
Management expects adjusted EBITDA margins to be 'modestly down' in 2026 as the company invests in Digital Agent 2.0, partnerships and expanded AI applications. FY2025 included $2.9 million of incremental strategic investments in Q4; 2026 cash tech investment guidance is $25–35 million (with $8–11 million hitting P&L).
Contingent Commissions Uncertainty
Contingent commissions (ancillary revenues) were $41.1 million for FY2025 and represented 86 basis points of total written premium in 2025. Management's initial 2026 expectation is 60–85 basis points, implying potential downward pressure on revenue and margin versus 2025.
Customer Sentiment (NPS) Trailing Low
Net Promoter Score (trailing 12 months) dipped to one of the lowest levels seen recently, reflecting prior pricing increases and affordability concerns; management notes CSAT is stable (~4.2/5) and retention is improving, but NPS is a near-term reputational metric to monitor.
Short-Term Revenue Impact from Franchise Consolidation
Deliberate consolidation (fewer operating agencies) is expected to create short-term revenue headwinds as single-producer franchises exit and production is reallocated, even though it is intended to improve long-term productivity and economics.
Q4 Profitability Growth Moderate
Q4 adjusted EBITDA growth was modest at +5% YoY ($39.2M vs $37.4M), lagging the stronger full-year trends and reflecting both reinvestment and timing effects.
Geographic Concentration & Regulatory Risk
Texas remains a significant portion of premiums (40% for the full year; 38% in Q4), though management is diversifying. Management also flagged potential but uncertain regulatory actions (e.g., pricing/profitability caps) in some states as a wildcard for carrier appetite and commission economics.
Company Guidance
Goosehead guided 2026 to organic total revenue growth of 10%–19% and organic total written premium growth of 12%–20%, with low‑double‑digit core revenue growth expected in the first half and acceleration in the second half as pricing stabilizes, retention improves and partnerships/Digital Agent 2.0 scale; contingent commissions are initially expected at 60–85 basis points of TWP (vs. 86 bps in 2025), policies in force (1.9M, +14% in 2025) are expected to accelerate, and margins are forecast to be modestly down in 2026 as the company invests ($25–35M of cash technology investment, $8–11M hitting the P&L, including $2.9M in Q4); at year‑end the company held $34.4M cash, $298.5M debt, produced $91.8M cash from operations in 2025, and authorized an additional $180M share repurchase program.

GooseHead Insurance Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong multi-year revenue growth and improved operating profitability, supported by robust operating cash flow and free cash flow with good earnings-quality alignment. However, the sharp rise in debt and shift to negative equity materially increase financial risk and reduce balance-sheet flexibility, keeping the score below the top tier.
Income Statement
74
Positive
Top-line momentum remains strong, with revenue growing sharply over the past several years and still positive in 2025 (annual revenue up from $117M in 2020 to $365M in 2025). Profitability has also improved meaningfully from earlier years, with 2025 operating margin around 20% and EBITDA margin around 24%. The key weakness is earnings volatility: net margin fell in 2025 versus 2024 (about 7.6% vs. 9.7%) despite higher revenue, suggesting incremental costs and/or margin pressure.
Balance Sheet
34
Negative
Balance sheet quality is the primary concern. Total debt rose sharply in 2025 (to ~$403M from ~$153M in 2024), while equity turned negative in 2025, which weakens financial flexibility and makes leverage risk materially higher. While assets have grown steadily, the combination of higher debt and negative equity increases sensitivity to downturns and limits the cushion available to shareholders.
Cash Flow
81
Very Positive
Cash generation is a clear strength. Operating cash flow and free cash flow increased in 2025 (operating cash flow ~$92M; free cash flow ~$86M), and free cash flow growth was strong year-over-year. Free cash flow is also closely aligned with reported earnings (2025 free cash flow was roughly 94% of net income), supporting earnings quality and providing internal funding capacity. The main risk is that the stronger cash profile is occurring alongside a much more leveraged balance sheet.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue365.30M314.50M261.28M209.39M151.31M
Gross Profit168.94M141.56M261.28M209.39M151.31M
EBITDA85.91M64.99M42.42M17.24M13.97M
Net Income27.83M30.43M14.14M565.00K5.40M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets414.86M397.65M354.89M321.35M270.29M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments34.39M54.28M41.96M28.74M28.53M
Total Debt403.46M153.38M143.22M165.16M174.96M
Total Liabilities577.65M358.58M338.11M354.98M339.48M
Stockholders Equity-95.50M43.89M56.55M10.67M-14.02M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow86.09M70.56M38.60M23.42M20.04M
Operating Cash Flow91.76M71.54M50.76M36.03M35.44M
Investing Cash Flow-23.54M-12.42M-19.18M-12.57M-15.38M
Financing Cash Flow-88.25M-45.20M-17.92M-23.55M-15.83M

GooseHead Insurance Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price54.20
Price Trends
50DMA
64.47
Negative
100DMA
67.55
Negative
200DMA
80.62
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-4.21
Negative
RSI
46.46
Neutral
STOCH
81.00
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GSHD, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 54.2 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 53.85, below the 50-day MA of 64.47, and below the 200-day MA of 80.62, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -4.21 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 46.46 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 81.00 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for GSHD.

GooseHead Insurance Risk Analysis

GooseHead Insurance disclosed 54 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. GooseHead Insurance 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

GooseHead Insurance Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
84
Outperform
$35.63B8.6219.54%16.68%-28.54%
79
Outperform
$38.85B10.5821.66%1.55%7.11%22.52%
79
Outperform
$1.11B8.7218.68%4.00%0.76%
70
Outperform
$10.53B11.5216.22%6.98%7.08%-4.36%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
60
Neutral
$1.98B51.7724.81%55.93%
57
Neutral
$2.00B8.97-0.57%2.55%11.71%-101.08%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
GSHD
GooseHead Insurance
54.20
-66.33
-55.03%
ACGL
Arch Capital Group
100.15
7.17
7.71%
HIG
Hartford Insurance
140.83
22.53
19.04%
ORI
Old Republic International
42.87
7.36
20.72%
IGIC
International General Insurance Holdings
25.20
0.80
3.28%
FIHL
Fidelis Insurance Holdings Ltd.
19.06
3.70
24.09%

GooseHead Insurance Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesStock BuybackFinancial DisclosuresProduct-Related Announcements
Goosehead Expands Buyback Authorization and Updates 2026 Outlook
Positive
Feb 17, 2026

Goosehead Insurance reported fourth‑quarter 2025 revenue of $105.3 million, up 12% year on year, with core revenue rising 15% and written premiums up 13%, even as quarterly net income slipped to $20.8 million from $23.8 million and margins narrowed. For full‑year 2025, net income declined to $44.5 million from $49.1 million, though adjusted EBITDA climbed 14% to $113.6 million, underscoring solid underlying growth as the firm invested heavily in technology, corporate producers, and service capacity.

The company highlighted the rollout of its Digital Agent 2.0 platform, now live in Texas, which it describes as the first end‑to‑end comparative digital buying experience for U.S. personal lines insurance, supported by AI‑driven service tools aimed at boosting efficiency and reinforcing its competitive moat. Goosehead also stepped up shareholder returns in 2025, repurchasing $81.7 million of stock at an average price of $80.60 and, on February 17, 2026, expanding its buyback authorization by a further $180 million through May 1, 2027, while guiding for 2026 organic revenue growth of 10%–19% and premium growth of 12%–20%.

In governance moves effective February 18, 2026, the board elected veteran corporate lawyer Louis Goldberg as an independent director and member of the Nominating and Governance Committee, bringing more than 28 years of board advisory experience at Davis Polk and a strong corporate governance track record. On the same date, director Thomas McConnon chose to leave the board ahead of his term’s scheduled expiry in May 2026, with the company noting that his departure did not stem from any disagreement over operations, policies, or practices.

The most recent analyst rating on (GSHD) stock is a Hold with a $63.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on GooseHead Insurance stock, see the GSHD 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 20, 2026