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W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB)
NYSE:WRB
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W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) AI Stock Analysis

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WRB

W. R. Berkley Corporation

(NYSE:WRB)

Rating:83Outperform
Price Target:
$82.00
▲(13.92% Upside)
W. R. Berkley Corporation's overall stock score is driven by its strong financial performance and positive earnings call, highlighting robust profitability and growth. Technical analysis and valuation provide additional support, although potential overbought conditions and competitive challenges in the property market are noted.
Positive Factors
Cost Efficiency
The expense ratio was 27.8%, below the expected 28.6%, indicating cost efficiency.
Investment Income
Net investment income of $379 million is above the consensus expectation of $356 million.
Strategic Investment
Japanese insurer Mitsui Sumitomo entered into an agreement with WR Berkley to acquire a 15% stake in the company from third parties, which could signal confidence in WRB's operations.
Negative Factors
CAT Loss Ratio
The company saw higher than expected CAT loss ratio of 2.7% vs consensus of 2.4% in the Insurance segment, with a total CAT loss ratio of 3.7% higher than consensus expectations of 3.2%.
Reserve Deficiency
The estimated Other Liability Occurrence reserve deficiency has weakened for WRB, placing it most at risk compared to peers.

W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

W. R. Berkley Corporation Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionW. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) is a leading commercial lines property and casualty insurance holding company based in the United States. Founded in 1967, WRB operates through several subsidiaries, providing a diverse range of insurance products and services, including general liability, workers' compensation, and specialty insurance solutions. The company serves various sectors, including construction, transportation, and healthcare, leveraging its expertise to meet the unique needs of its clients while emphasizing risk management and underwriting excellence.
How the Company Makes MoneyW. R. Berkley Corporation generates revenue primarily through the underwriting of insurance premiums, which are collected from policyholders in exchange for coverage against various risks. Key revenue streams include premiums from commercial lines insurance, where the company assesses risks and sets prices accordingly. Additionally, WRB earns investment income from its portfolio of investments, which includes equities, fixed income securities, and real estate investments. Significant partnerships with brokers and agents enhance its distribution capabilities, while a focus on specialized insurance products allows the company to maximize profitability in niche markets. The company's disciplined underwriting approach and risk management strategies also contribute to its overall financial performance.

W. R. Berkley Corporation Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 21, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 27, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflects a strong overall performance with record financial results and growth in premiums and investment income. However, there are concerns about increased competition in the property market, foreign currency losses, and potential challenges from tariffs and labor costs. The sentiment is balanced with significant achievements and notable challenges.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance
Net income per diluted share increased by 8.7% to $1 per share, and operating earnings reached $420 million, yielding an annualized return on equity of 20%.
Record Premiums and Investment Income
Net premiums written increased to a record $3.4 billion with growth across all lines of business, and record net investment income of $379 million was reported with a 16.5% improvement in income from fixed maturity securities.
Growth in Stockholders' Equity
Stockholders' equity increased by more than $380 million or 4.3% over the first quarter of 2025 to a record $9.3 billion.
Resilient Underwriting Performance
The calendar year combined ratio was 91.6%, resulting in $261 million of underwriting income, with cat losses remaining relatively flat despite an increase in the dollar amount.
Negative Updates
Challenges in Property Market
The property insurance market is becoming more competitive, particularly for larger accounts, driven by a more competitive reinsurance marketplace and increased activity from the MGA market.
Foreign Currency Losses
The company experienced foreign currency losses of $55 million due to the weakening U.S. dollar.
Concerns Over Tariffs and Labor Costs
Potential threats from tariffs and labor market changes could impact future wage inflation and economic conditions.
Underperformance in Casualty Reinsurance Discipline
Disappointment was expressed in the lack of discipline in casualty lines within the reinsurance space, particularly regarding seeding commissions.
Company Guidance
In the second quarter of 2025, W. R. Berkley Corporation reported a strong performance with significant growth across various metrics. Net income per diluted share rose by 8.7% over the previous year to $1, or $401 million, with an annualized return on equity of 19.1%. Operating earnings, now excluding after-tax foreign currency gains and losses, were $420 million, or $1.05 per share, yielding a return on equity of 20%. The company's underwriting activities resulted in a combined ratio of 91.6%, leading to $261 million in underwriting income. Catastrophe losses amounted to $99 million, slightly up from $90 million in the previous year. Net premiums written hit a record $3.4 billion, while net investment income reached $379 million, driven by new money rates on fixed maturity securities. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 23.2%, and stockholders' equity increased by over $380 million to a record $9.3 billion. Despite fluctuations in the property and casualty space, the company remains optimistic about its investment and underwriting strategies, expecting continued earnings growth amid the evolving market dynamics.

W. R. Berkley Corporation Financial Statement Overview

Summary
W. R. Berkley Corporation demonstrates strong financial performance with high profitability and growth metrics. The income statement shows excellent margins and revenue growth, while the balance sheet is robust with a debt-free position. Cash flow is strong, although there is a minor weakness in free cash flow growth.
Income Statement
92
Very Positive
W. R. Berkley Corporation exhibits strong income statement metrics with a remarkable gross profit margin of 86.40% in TTM, indicating efficient cost management. The net profit margin remains healthy at 12.39%. Revenue growth is robust with a TTM increase of 2.51% over the previous year and a notable 47.22% increase from 2021 to 2022. The company's EBIT and EBITDA margins for TTM are solid at 33.96% and 12.36%, respectively, highlighting operational efficiency. The income statement demonstrates excellent profitability and growth, with minimal weaknesses observed.
Balance Sheet
85
Very Positive
The balance sheet of W. R. Berkley Corporation is strong, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.00 in TTM, indicating a debt-free position, which is rare and advantageous for stability. The return on equity (ROE) is commendable at 18.63% for TTM, reflecting effective use of equity capital. The equity ratio improved to 22.48% in TTM, showing a solid equity base. While the balance sheet is robust, the absence of debt may limit leverage opportunities for expansion.
Cash Flow
88
Very Positive
The cash flow statement reveals a strong performance, with an operating cash flow to net income ratio of 1.66 in TTM, indicating effective cash generation relative to net income. Free cash flow shows a slight decline in growth with a reduction of 21.23% in TTM compared to the previous year, but remains positive at $2.82 billion. The free cash flow to net income ratio stands at 1.63 in TTM, showcasing strong cash conversion. Overall, cash flow metrics are robust, with minor weaknesses in free cash flow growth.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue13.93B13.64B12.14B11.17B9.46B8.10B
Gross Profit3.13B3.12B2.72B2.44B2.02B1.35B
EBITDA2.26B2.22B1.86B1.91B1.56B990.40M
Net Income1.73B1.76B1.38B1.38B1.02B530.67M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets41.35B40.57B32.91B33.88B32.10B34.93B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments25.30B24.33B21.49B18.99B18.17B16.53B
Total Debt2.84B2.84B2.84B2.84B3.27B2.73B
Total Liabilities32.42B32.16B25.44B27.11B25.43B28.61B
Stockholders Equity8.91B8.40B7.46B6.75B6.65B6.31B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow3.61B3.57B2.88B2.52B2.12B1.58B
Operating Cash Flow3.68B3.68B2.93B2.57B2.18B1.62B
Investing Cash Flow-2.20B-2.18B-1.96B-1.89B-2.99B119.70M
Financing Cash Flow-904.19M-852.49M-1.06B-771.99M5.83M-397.84M

W. R. Berkley Corporation Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price71.98
Price Trends
50DMA
70.46
Positive
100DMA
70.95
Positive
200DMA
65.91
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.46
Negative
RSI
57.22
Neutral
STOCH
44.66
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WRB, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 71.98 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 71.16, above the 50-day MA of 70.46, and above the 200-day MA of 65.91, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.46 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 57.22 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 44.66 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for WRB.

W. R. Berkley Corporation Risk Analysis

W. R. Berkley Corporation disclosed 29 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. W. R. Berkley Corporation 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

W. R. Berkley Corporation Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
83
Outperform
$27.19B16.3820.63%2.20%11.41%15.32%
78
Outperform
$10.66B23.8829.98%0.14%21.51%20.03%
78
Outperform
$24.02B13.2713.44%2.20%9.64%-15.08%
73
Outperform
$11.33B14.9117.17%6.72%3.35%-14.16%
73
Outperform
$24.79B11.6813.23%1.66%8.51%
68
Neutral
$17.95B11.5410.27%3.74%9.64%1.17%
68
Neutral
$13.41B15.228.54%7.80%6.12%-31.43%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WRB
W. R. Berkley Corporation
71.98
12.88
21.79%
AFG
American Financial Group
136.87
12.15
9.74%
CINF
Cincinnati Financial
152.95
17.97
13.31%
CNA
CNA Financial
48.98
1.00
2.08%
MKL
Markel
1,948.01
377.56
24.04%
KNSL
Kinsale Capital Group
455.30
-18.47
-3.90%

W. R. Berkley Corporation Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and Strategy
W. R. Berkley Holds Annual Stockholders Meeting Decisions
Neutral
Jun 13, 2025

On June 11, 2025, W. R. Berkley Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, where several key decisions were made. These included the election of four directors with staggered terms, approval of an amendment to increase authorized common stock shares, a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation, ratification of KPMG LLP as the independent auditor for 2025, and a stockholder proposal on director election resignation governance policy. The outcomes of these decisions reflect the company’s strategic direction and governance priorities, impacting its operational and financial structure.

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: Aug 19, 2025