SKWD vs HRTG vs ACGL vs RLI

For growth investors, Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.

(SKWD) is the stronger pick with 23. 2% 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 Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. (SKWD) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 4. 4x versus RLI Corp. at 11. 4x. On forward P/E, Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Arch Capital Group Ltd. wins at 0. 35x 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 +201. 4%, compared to +9. 3% for RLI Corp. (RLI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACGL returned +324. 0% versus RLI's +105. 0%. 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), RLI Corp.

(RLI) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 01β versus Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. 's 0. 60β — meaning SKWD is approximately -10202% more volatile than RLI 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), Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.

(SKWD) is pulling ahead at 23. 2% 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, SKWD leads at 30. 5% 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.

Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc.

(HRTG) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 1% net margin versus 12. 0% for Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, 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 15. 3% for SKWD. 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, Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 35x 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 6. 1x forward P/E versus 17. 9x for RLI Corp. — 11. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SKWD: 55. 1% to $70. 60.

In this comparison, RLI (5.

3% yield) pays a dividend. SKWD, HRTG, ACGL do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, RLI Corp.

(RLI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 01), 5. 3% yield, +105. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RLI: +105. 0%, SKWD: +138. 3%), 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: SKWD 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. RLI pays a dividend while SKWD, 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.