BOW
Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc.
Insurance - Property & Casualty
Market Cap$866M
5Y Perf.-1.6%
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Stock Comparison
BOW vs HRTG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
HRTG
Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.
Insurance - Property & Casualty
Market Cap$861M
5Y Perf.+229.8%
BOW vs HRTG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | BOW | HRTG |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Property & Casualty | Insurance - Property & Casualty |
| Market Cap | $866M | $861M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $584M | $847M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $58M | $196M |
| Gross Margin | 34.4% | 47.2% |
| Operating Margin | 12.6% | 31.7% |
| Forward P/E | 13.7x | 6.1x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $100M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $234M | $559M |
BOW vs HRTG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
BOW
HRTG
| Stock | May 24 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowhead Specialty H… (BOW) | 100 | 98.4 | -1.6% |
| Heritage Insurance … (HRTG) | 100 | 329.8 | +229.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BOW vs HRTG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HRTG leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
BOW
Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc.
The Insurance Pick
BOW is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.43
- Rev growth 29.6%, EPS growth 23.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 43.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.43, current ratio 5110.75x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
HRTG
Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.
The Insurance Pick
HRTG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- 119.4% 10Y total return vs BOW's 10.8%
- Lower P/E (6.1x vs 13.7x)
- Combined ratio 0.7 vs BOW's 0.9 (lower = better underwriting)
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BOW | 29.6% revenue growth vs HRTG's 3.7% |
| Value | HRTG | Lower P/E (6.1x vs 13.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | HRTG | Combined ratio 0.7 vs BOW's 0.9 (lower = better underwriting) |
| Stability / Safety | BOW | Beta 0.43 vs HRTG's 0.50 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | HRTG | +15.3% vs BOW's -31.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HRTG | 8.4% ROA vs BOW's 2.6%, ROIC 15.4% vs 20.5% |
BOW vs HRTG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
BOW vs HRTG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLHRTGLAGGINGBOW
BOWBowhead Specialty Hol…
0leads
HRTGHeritage Insurance Ho…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BOWMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
HRTG4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HRTG5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
HRTG6/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
HRTG6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HRTG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HRTG and BOW operate at a comparable scale, with $847M and $584M in trailing revenue. HRTG is the more profitable business, keeping 23.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BOW's 10.0%. On growth, BOW holds the edge at +26.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BOWBowhead Specialty… | HRTGHeritage Insuranc… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $584M | $847M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $75M | $281M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $58M | $196M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $342M | $177M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +34.4% | +47.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.6% | +31.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.0% | +23.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +58.6% | +20.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +26.1% | +2.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +41.2% | +2.3% |
HRTG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HRTG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 4.4x trailing earnings, HRTG trades at a 73% valuation discount to BOW's 16.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HRTG's 1.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BOW's 9.1x.
| Metric | BOWBowhead Specialty… | HRTGHeritage Insuranc… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $866M | $861M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $632M | $402M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.58x | 4.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 13.70x | 6.07x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.06x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.15x | 1.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.57x | 1.02x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.98x | 1.72x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.66x | 4.94x |
HRTG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HRTG leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HRTG delivers a 47.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $47 in annual profit, vs $13 for BOW. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HRTG scores 7/9 vs BOW's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | BOWBowhead Specialty… | HRTGHeritage Insuranc… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.4% | +47.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.6% | +8.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +20.5% | +15.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.3% | +11.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.20x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$234M | -$459M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $234M | $559M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $100M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 42.59x | 33.88x |
HRTG leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HRTG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HRTG five years ago would be worth $30,138 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,076 for BOW. Over the past 12 months, HRTG leads with a +15.3% total return vs BOW's -31.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HRTG at 89.9% vs BOW's 3.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BOWBowhead Specialty… | HRTGHeritage Insuranc… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -3.9% | +2.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -31.8% | +15.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +10.8% | +585.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +10.8% | +201.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +10.8% | +119.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.5% | +89.9% |
HRTG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BOW and HRTG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BOW is the less volatile stock with a 0.43 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HRTG's 0.50 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HRTG currently trades 87.6% from its 52-week high vs BOW's 64.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BOWBowhead Specialty… | HRTGHeritage Insuranc… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.43x | 0.50x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $40.99 | $31.98 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.23 | $16.83 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +64.3% | +87.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.1 | 55.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 185K | 282K |
Evenly matched — BOW and HRTG each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BOW as "Buy" and HRTG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.1% upside for HRTG (target: $39) vs 18.9% for BOW (target: $31).
| Metric | BOWBowhead Specialty… | HRTGHeritage Insuranc… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $31.33 | $39.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 7 | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.3% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
HRTG leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallHeritage Insurance Holdings… (HRTG)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
BOW vs HRTG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BOW or HRTG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc.
(BOW) is the stronger pick with 29. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 7% for Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG). Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG) offers the better valuation at 4. 4x trailing P/E (6. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. (BOW) a "Buy" — based on 7 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — BOW or HRTG?
On trailing P/E, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.
(HRTG) is the cheapest at 4. 4x versus Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. at 16. 6x. On forward P/E, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BOW or HRTG?
Over the past 5 years, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.
(HRTG) delivered a total return of +201. 4%, compared to +10. 8% for Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. (BOW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HRTG returned +119. 4% versus BOW's +10. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — BOW or HRTG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc.
(BOW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 43β versus Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 50β — meaning HRTG is approximately 16% more volatile than BOW relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — BOW or HRTG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc.
(BOW) is pulling ahead at 29. 6% versus 3. 7% for Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 214. 4% year-over-year, compared to 23. 3% for Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BOW leads at 43. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — BOW or HRTG?
Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.
(HRTG) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 1% net margin versus 9. 8% for Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HRTG leads at 30. 6% versus 12. 2% for BOW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HRTG leads at 63. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is BOW or HRTG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.
(HRTG) trades at 6. 1x forward P/E versus 13. 7x for Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. — 7. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HRTG: 39. 1% to $39. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — BOW or HRTG?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is BOW or HRTG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.
(HRTG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 50), +119. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HRTG: +119. 4%, BOW: +10. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between BOW and HRTG?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: BOW is a small-cap high-growth stock; HRTG is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(BOW: 26.1% · HRTG: 2.4%)Net Margin>
%
(BOW: 10.0% · HRTG: 23.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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