KNSL vs HRTG vs ACGL vs RLI vs RNR

For growth investors, Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

(KNSL) is the stronger pick with 18. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 7% for Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG). Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG) offers the better valuation at 3. 5x trailing P/E (4. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(HRTG) is the cheapest at 3. 5x versus Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. at 14. 1x. On forward P/E, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 4. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 06x versus RLI Corp. 's 0. 88x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(HRTG) delivered a total return of +149. 6%, compared to +10. 6% for RLI Corp. (RLI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KNSL returned +1585% versus HRTG's +77. 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), RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.

(RNR) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 05β versus Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 33β — meaning HRTG is approximately -738% more volatile than RNR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, RLI Corp. (RLI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 20% for Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.

(KNSL) is pulling ahead at 18. 0% 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 3. 8% for Arch Capital Group Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RNR leads at 36. 2% 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 21. 0% for RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. — 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 25. 0% for ACGL. 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.

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, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 06x versus RLI Corp. 's 0. 88x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. (HRTG) trades at 4. 9x forward P/E versus 17. 8x for RLI Corp. — 12. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HRTG: 74. 0% to $39. 00.

In this comparison, RLI (5.

3% yield), RNR (0. 6% yield), KNSL (0. 2% yield) pay a dividend. HRTG, ACGL 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. 25), +1585% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KNSL: +1585%, HRTG: +77. 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: KNSL is a small-cap high-growth stock; HRTG is a small-cap deep-value stock; ACGL is a mid-cap deep-value stock; RLI is a small-cap deep-value stock; RNR is a mid-cap deep-value stock. RLI, RNR pay a dividend while KNSL, HRTG, ACGL do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.