HGTY vs KNSL vs ACGL vs PLMR

For growth investors, Palomar Holdings, Inc.

(PLMR) is the stronger pick with 58. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 14. 3% for Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL). Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL) offers the better valuation at 8. 1x trailing P/E (10. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL) a "Buy" — based on 34 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.

On trailing P/E, Arch Capital Group Ltd.

(ACGL) is the cheapest at 8. 1x versus Hagerty, Inc. at 27. 8x. On forward P/E, Arch Capital Group Ltd. is actually cheaper at 10. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Palomar Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 12x versus Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. 's 0. 36x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Arch Capital Group Ltd.

(ACGL) delivered a total return of +144. 0%, compared to +5. 6% for Hagerty, Inc. (HGTY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KNSL returned +1607% versus HGTY's +5. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Arch Capital Group Ltd.

(ACGL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 02β versus Hagerty, Inc. 's 0. 53β — meaning HGTY is approximately 3373% more volatile than ACGL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 31% for Hagerty, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Palomar Holdings, Inc.

(PLMR) is pulling ahead at 58. 2% versus 14. 3% for Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hagerty, Inc. grew EPS 270. 0% year-over-year, compared to 3. 8% for Arch Capital Group Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLMR leads at 38. 9% 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.

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

(KNSL) is the more profitable company, earning 26. 9% net margin versus 3. 4% for Hagerty, Inc. — meaning it keeps 26. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KNSL leads at 33. 8% versus 9. 6% for HGTY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HGTY leads at 80. 4%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 12x versus Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. 's 0. 36x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL) trades at 10. 1x forward P/E versus 100. 9x for Hagerty, Inc. — 90. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KNSL: 40. 2% to $433. 00.

In this comparison, KNSL (0.

2% yield), HGTY (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. ACGL, PLMR do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

(KNSL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 29), +1607% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KNSL: +1607%, HGTY: +5. 6%), 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.

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: HGTY is a small-cap high-growth stock; KNSL is a small-cap high-growth stock; ACGL is a mid-cap deep-value stock; PLMR is a small-cap high-growth 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.