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PGR vs. KNSL: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option?

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Investors looking for stocks in the Insurance - Property and Casualty sector might want to consider either Progressive (PGR - Free Report) or Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.

The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight stocks with specific traits.

Right now, Progressive is sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). This means that PGR's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. However, value investors will care about much more than just this.

Value investors also tend to look at a number of traditional, tried-and-true figures to help them find stocks that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

PGR currently has a forward P/E ratio of 13.82, while KNSL has a forward P/E of 24.54. We also note that PGR has a PEG ratio of 1.45. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. KNSL currently has a PEG ratio of 1.65.

Another notable valuation metric for PGR is its P/B ratio of 4.34. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, KNSL has a P/B of 6.03.

These are just a few of the metrics contributing to PGR's Value grade of B and KNSL's Value grade of D.

PGR is currently sporting an improving earnings outlook, which makes it stick out in our Zacks Rank model. And, based on the above valuation metrics, we feel that PGR is likely the superior value option right now.


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The Progressive Corporation (PGR) - free report >>

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (KNSL) - free report >>

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