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Universal Insurance Holdings Inc (UVE)
NYSE:UVE

Universal Insurance Holdings (UVE) AI Stock Analysis

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UVE

Universal Insurance Holdings

(NYSE:UVE)

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Outperform 70 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:70Outperform
Price Target:
$33.00
▲(0.92% Upside)
Action:UpgradedDate:01/07/26
UVE’s score is driven primarily by solid financial positioning and growth alongside attractive valuation (low P/E and dividend). These positives are moderated by weak technical momentum and lingering profitability/cash-flow growth volatility, while the earnings call and recent buyback/dividend actions provide supportive but secondary uplift.
Positive Factors
Low leverage balance sheet
A debt-to-equity around 0.20 indicates low financial leverage, giving the company durable capacity to absorb underwriting losses, maintain reserves, and support capital returns. Low leverage preserves financial flexibility for capital deployment and catastrophe resilience over the medium term.
Improving underwriting profitability
Material improvement in the combined ratio to 96.4% alongside a 30.6% adjusted ROE reflects sustained underwriting and pricing discipline. Better loss experience and reserving strengthen earnings quality and capital generation, supporting longer-term profitability versus prior volatility.
Concrete shareholder-return program
A multi-year $20M buyback authorization (through 2028) and recent special/regular dividends indicate management's willingness to return capital. This durable policy can enhance shareholder value, signal balance-sheet confidence, and provide a mechanism to absorb excess capital while pursuing underwriting growth.
Negative Factors
Inconsistent profitability / negative EBIT
A negative TTM EBIT margin and volatile profitability suggest the company still faces structural cost or underwriting pressures. Persisting negative operating margins can weaken internal capital generation, force reliance on investment income or buybacks, and limit funding for growth and reserves.
Florida exposure and competitive pressure
Concentration in Florida with declining premiums and intensifying competition creates structural revenue and pricing risk. Market entrants and pricing pressure in a core geography can compress margins and slow premium growth, challenging sustainable underwriting returns over the coming months.
Declining free cash flow growth
A drop in free cash flow growth reduces internal funding for reserves, dividends, and share repurchases. Lower FCF growth can constrain capacity to scale profitable underwriting, force higher leverage or capital raises, and weaken resilience to catastrophe-driven claims over time.

Universal Insurance Holdings (UVE) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Universal Insurance Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUniversal Insurance Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated insurance holding company in the United States. The company develops, markets, and underwrites insurance products for personal residential insurance, such as homeowners, renters/tenants, condo unit owners, and dwelling/fire; and offers allied lines, coverage for other structures, and personal property, liability, and personal articles coverages. It also advises on actuarial issues, oversees distribution, administers claims payments, performs policy administration and underwriting, and assists with reinsurance negotiations; places and manages reinsurance programs for the insurance entities; and operates Clovered.com, an online platform in which consumers receive side-by-side quotes from various carriers across multiple states, as well as educational materials about homeowners' insurance policies. It offers its products through a network of independent agents, as well as Universal Direct, a direct-to-consumer online platform, which enables homeowners to directly purchase, pay for, and bind homeowners' policies. The company was formerly known as Universal Heights, Inc. and changed its name to Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. in January 2001. Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
How the Company Makes MoneyUniversal Insurance Holdings generates revenue primarily through the underwriting of insurance policies. The company earns premiums from policyholders, which serve as the main revenue stream. These premiums are collected in exchange for providing coverage against risks such as property damage and liability. Additionally, UVE invests the collected premiums in various financial instruments, generating investment income. The company also benefits from strategic partnerships with independent agents and brokers, which help expand its market reach and drive policy sales. Overall, the combination of premium income and investment returns contributes significantly to UVE's earnings.

Universal Insurance Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 24, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 23, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized strong profitability and improving underwriting metrics (adjusted ROE >46%, adjusted EPS up materially, lower combined and loss ratios), robust capital and reinsurance positioning, and geographic growth outside Florida. Offsetting items include a modest decline in Florida premiums, a slight rise in the expense ratio, and the fact some improvement is aided by favorable prior-year comparables (Hurricane Milton). Management portrayed a favorable competitive position and high retention but acknowledged industry-wide competition and regulatory risks. Overall, positives materially outweigh the negatives.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Very Strong Adjusted Return on Equity
Adjusted return on common equity exceeded 46%, reflecting high profitability for the quarter.
Sharp Increase in Adjusted EPS
Adjusted diluted earnings per common share were $2.17 versus $0.25 in the prior year quarter, driven by a lower net loss ratio, higher net premiums earned, and higher net investment income.
Revenue and Premium Growth
Core revenue was $403.6 million, up 4.4% year-over-year. Direct premiums written were $483.7 million, up 2.7% YoY; direct premiums earned were $538.0 million, up 3.6% YoY; net premiums earned were $363.4 million, up 4.3% YoY.
Significant Improvement in Combined and Loss Ratios
Net combined ratio improved to 87.5%, down 20.4 percentage points YoY. Net loss ratio was 61.3%, down 21.0 points YoY, reflecting better current accident year results and the absence of Hurricane Milton in the current quarter comparison.
Capital Actions and Shareholder Returns
Repurchased ~210,000 shares for $6.9 million during the quarter and announced a new repurchase program of up to $20 million through January 8, 2028. The Board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per common share.
Strengthened Reinsurance and Reserve Position
Management reports the company's reserves are the strongest in its history and a substantial portion of the 2026 first-event catastrophe reinsurance tower is already placed, along with meaningful multiyear capacity secured for 2027.
Geographic Growth Outside Florida
Other states segment saw 18.2% growth in direct premiums written, supporting overall top-line growth and expansion across the multistate footprint.
Improved Retention and Competitive Position
Management reported best-ever retention levels, favorable agency relationships, and selective market openings that have delivered incremental business in newly entered markets.
Negative Updates
Florida Direct Premiums Declined
Direct premiums written in Florida decreased by 3.1% in the quarter, partially offsetting growth in other states.
Slight Increase in Expense Ratio
Net expense ratio increased to 26.2%, up 0.6 percentage points from 25.6% in the prior year quarter, driven primarily by higher other operating costs.
Earnings Comparison Partly Driven by Prior-Year Catastrophe Absence
A notable portion of the improvement in loss metrics reflects the inclusion of Hurricane Milton in the prior year quarter; some improvement is therefore driven by favorable comparables rather than only current-period performance.
Competitive and Regulatory Risks Remain
Management acknowledged broad market price declines and increased competition in the industry; regulators and affordability concerns could pressure rates or prompt calls for profit returns, representing an ongoing risk.
Company Guidance
Management's guidance focused on continued balance-sheet and capital actions and disciplined pricing: they reported that placement of the 2026 reinsurance program is well underway with a substantial portion of the first-event catastrophe tower already placed and meaningful multiyear capacity secured for 2027, will kick off the 2026 actuarial rate study at the end of March, and characterized their capital position as robust with reserves “the strongest in our history.” They also announced a new share repurchase program of up to $20.0 million through January 8, 2028 (after repurchasing ~210,000 shares for $6.9 million in Q4) and a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per common share payable March 13, 2026. Underlying the guidance were strong operating metrics: adjusted ROE >46%, adjusted diluted EPS $2.17 (vs. $0.25 prior year), core revenue $403.6M (+4.4% YoY), direct premiums written $483.7M (+2.7%), direct premiums earned $538.0M (+3.6%), net premiums earned $363.4M (+4.3%), net combined ratio 87.5% (down 20.4 pts), net loss ratio 61.3% (down 21 pts) and net expense ratio 26.2% (up 0.6 pts).

Universal Insurance Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong revenue growth and a solid, low-leverage balance sheet (debt-to-equity ~0.20) support the score, but profitability is inconsistent with weak/negative EBIT margin in the TTM period and free cash flow growth has recently declined.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Universal Insurance Holdings shows a mixed performance in its income statement. The company has experienced significant revenue growth, particularly in the TTM period with a 72.7% increase, indicating strong top-line expansion. However, profitability metrics such as the EBIT margin and net profit margin are relatively low, with the TTM EBIT margin being negative. This suggests challenges in managing operational costs effectively. The gross profit margin remains healthy, but the volatility in net income and EBIT margins could pose risks to sustained profitability.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet of Universal Insurance Holdings reflects a stable financial position with a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20 in the TTM period, indicating low leverage. The return on equity has improved significantly to 27.99%, showcasing effective utilization of shareholder funds. However, the equity ratio is moderate, suggesting a balanced approach between debt and equity financing. Overall, the company maintains a solid balance sheet with potential for further strengthening.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals a decline in free cash flow growth in the TTM period, which could impact liquidity. Despite this, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is robust, indicating strong cash generation relative to net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is also high, suggesting efficient conversion of earnings into cash. While the cash flow position is generally positive, the recent decline in free cash flow growth warrants attention.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.58B1.52B1.39B1.22B1.12B1.07B
Gross Profit281.62M199.73M190.94M70.00M116.48M114.86M
EBITDA167.69M96.50M101.48M-14.04M35.91M29.43M
Net Income122.38M58.93M66.82M-22.26M20.41M19.11M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.09B2.84B2.32B2.89B2.06B1.76B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments571.50M419.43M1.46B388.71M250.51M987.02M
Total Debt100.67M101.24M116.60M102.77M130.44M67.86M
Total Liabilities2.59B2.47B1.98B2.60B1.63B1.31B
Stockholders Equity495.04M373.25M341.30M287.90M429.70M449.26M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow249.82M129.99M66.95M319.62M227.15M12.13M
Operating Cash Flow254.07M137.36M70.97M324.51M234.38M29.35M
Investing Cash Flow-130.07M-228.09M-15.25M-148.86M-229.40M22.04M
Financing Cash Flow-52.10M-47.13M-47.12M-37.46M68.30M-56.26M

Universal Insurance Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price32.70
Price Trends
50DMA
31.54
Positive
100DMA
31.40
Positive
200DMA
28.25
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.20
Negative
RSI
59.03
Neutral
STOCH
50.22
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For UVE, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 32.7 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 31.24, above the 50-day MA of 31.54, and above the 200-day MA of 28.25, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.20 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 59.03 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 50.22 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for UVE.

Universal Insurance Holdings Risk Analysis

Universal Insurance Holdings disclosed 30 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Universal Insurance 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

Universal Insurance 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
73
Outperform
$401.07M14.524.01%5.01%-0.04%-33.45%
72
Outperform
$855.01M5.6541.64%5.92%93.02%
71
Outperform
$962.40M8.4213.72%1.73%12.22%120.73%
70
Outperform
$895.04M5.0527.34%2.18%4.61%73.40%
69
Neutral
$629.33M7.9713.38%3.51%0.93%224.95%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
65
Neutral
$538.86M5.2529.35%16.34%-1.26%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
UVE
Universal Insurance Holdings
32.70
10.94
50.28%
DGICA
Donegal Group
17.69
1.36
8.33%
GBLI
Global Indemnity
27.75
-4.82
-14.80%
UFCS
United Fire Group
38.23
12.26
47.21%
ACIC
American Coastal Insurance
11.27
-0.76
-6.32%
HRTG
Heritage Insurance Holdings
27.26
15.59
133.59%

Universal Insurance Holdings Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
Universal Insurance Launches $20 Million Share Repurchase Program
Positive
Jan 7, 2026

On January 7, 2026, Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a new share repurchase program allowing the company to buy back up to $20 million of its outstanding common stock through January 8, 2028, via open-market transactions conducted in accordance with securities regulations and its insider trading policy. The move signals management’s confidence in Universal’s financial position and may support earnings per share and shareholder returns over time, potentially strengthening the insurer’s capital management profile and positioning in the property and casualty insurance sector, particularly in its core Florida homeowners market.

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

Dividends
Universal Insurance Announces Special and Regular Dividends
Positive
Nov 6, 2025

On November 6, 2025, Universal Insurance Holdings announced a cash dividend of $0.29 per share, comprising a regular quarterly dividend of $0.16 and a special dividend of $0.13. This announcement brings the total dividends declared in 2025 to $0.77 per share, reflecting the company’s commitment to returning value to its shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (UVE) stock is a Buy with a $35.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Universal Insurance Holdings stock, see the UVE 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: Jan 07, 2026