WRB

WRB

W.
R. Berkley Corporation is a commercial lines property and casualty insurance holding company. It is known for its disciplined underwriting and operates as a decentralized network of specialized underwriting units, allowing it to expertly serve niche markets.

$69.18 +1.18 (+1.74%)

Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST

Analyzed by Rockflow Bobby Quantitative Model āœ“ Updated Daily

Investment Opinion: Should I buy WRB Today?

Of course. Here is a consolidated analysis of WRB.

**Overall Analysis**

WRB presents a compelling case of a fundamentally sound company experiencing a temporary technical downturn. Its sturdy financial health, reasonable valuation, and low volatility profile contrast sharply with its recent significant price decline, suggesting a potential buying opportunity for value-oriented investors.

**Technical Perspective**

The stock is technically oversold after a severe -12.28% three-month decline, lagging the market considerably. Trading 14% below its 52-week high, it sits in the lower half of its annual range. This sharp sell-off appears overdone relative to its typically low volatility, indicating a potential reversal point.

**Fundamental Perspective**

Fundamentally, WRB is robust. It boasts strong profitability with a 13.6% net income margin and exceptional financial health, evidenced by a very low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29 and strong interest coverage. However, operational efficiency is a concern, highlighted by a very high days sales outstanding (DSO) of 170 days, which needs improvement.

**Valuation & Risk**

Valuation is mixed but leans positive. The trailing P/E of 13.56 and a low PEG ratio of 0.54 signal potential undervaluation based on earnings growth. A key caution is the high EV/EBITDA ratio of 45.43, which requires scrutiny. The primary risk is operational, not financial, centered on working capital management.

**Investment Recommendation**

Based on the comprehensive analysis, a buy recommendation is warranted for long-term investors. The combination of a strong balance sheet, apparent undervaluation on an earnings basis, and a technically oversold condition creates a favorable risk-reward profile. Investors should monitor the company's progress in improving its receivables collection (DSO) to unlock further value.

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WRB 12-Month Price Forecast

RockFlow Model Forecast: Three Scenarios for 2026

Of course. Here is a 12-month outlook for WRB based on the provided analysis.

12-Month Outlook for WRB

Catalysts for potential outperformance include a likely technical rebound from severely oversold conditions and the unlocking of value as the market recognizes its strong fundamentals, including a robust balance sheet and attractive earnings-based valuation. Key risks center on persistent operational inefficiencies, particularly the extremely high days sales outstanding, which could continue to weigh on sentiment and cash flow if not addressed. Given the absence of a specific analyst target, a prudent 12-month price target range would be $75-$85, representing a 10-25% appreciation from the current $68 level as the disconnect between price and fundamentals corrects.

Wall Street Consensus

Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about WRB's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $69.18, indicating expected upside potential.

Average Target
$69.18
19 analysts
Implied Upside
+0%
vs. current price
Analyst Count
19
covering this stock
Price Range
$55 - $90
Analyst target range
Buy Buy
4 (21%)
Hold Hold
11 (58%)
Sell Sell
4 (21%)

Bulls vs Bears: WRB Investment Factors

Overall, WRB has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.

Bullish Bullish
  • Strong Operating Performance: Higher premiums and lower claims frequency boost profitability.
  • Share Repurchase Increase: Board authorized repurchase of up to 25 million shares.
  • Solid Financial Position: Strong balance sheet with $43.7B in assets and investment-grade rating.
  • Institutional Investor Confidence: Mitsui Sumitomo purchased shares worth $42.5 million.
  • Effective Capital Deployment: Company maintains sufficient liquidity and strategic capital use.
Bearish Bearish
  • Stock Near 52-Week High: Potential overvaluation concerns as price may reflect peak performance.
  • Institution Reducing Stake: Parnassus Investments decreased its holdings by 3.8%.
  • Valuation Scrutiny: Market questions if current price accurately reflects long-term value.
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WRB Technical Analysis

WRB has demonstrated notable underperformance over the recent period, characterized by significant short-term declines despite its low volatility profile.

The stock has posted losses over both the one-month and three-month horizons, with the three-month decline of -12.28% being particularly severe. This performance has substantially lagged the broader market, as evidenced by a -15.65% relative strength figure, indicating it has fallen considerably more than the market average during this period.

Currently trading at $68, WRB's price sits approximately 26% above its 52-week low but is also nearly 14% below its 52-week high, positioning it in the lower-middle portion of its annual range. Given the recent sharp downturn and a moderate one-year max drawdown of -15.1%, the stock appears to be approaching an oversold condition rather than being overbought.

šŸ“Š Beta
0.39
0.39x market volatility
šŸ“‰ Max Drawdown
-15.1%
Largest decline past year
šŸ“ˆ 52-Week Range
$57-$79
Price range past year
šŸ’¹ Annual Return
+15.4%
Cumulative gain past year
Period WRB Return S&P 500
1m -0.2% +1.3%
3m -10.9% +5.7%
6m -0.8% +10.6%
1y +15.4% +16.5%
ytd -0.3% +1.1%

WRB Fundamental Analysis

Of course. Here is a fundamental analysis of WRB based on the provided data.

Revenue & Profitability

WRB demonstrates stable revenue between Q2 and Q3 2025, with a slight increase to $3.77 billion. Profitability is strong, with gross profit margins holding steady around 18.2% and a healthy net income margin of 13.6% in Q3. The company's effective tax rate of approximately 21% indicates efficient tax management, contributing to solid bottom-line performance.

Financial Health

The company exhibits a very conservative capital structure, with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, suggesting minimal reliance on debt financing. This is further supported by a strong interest coverage ratio of 21.0, indicating ample earnings to cover interest obligations. The cash flow to debt ratio of 0.40 shows a moderate ability to cover debt from operating cash flows.

Operational Efficiency

WRB's operational efficiency is mixed. The return on equity (ROE) of 5.2% is relatively modest, which is consistent with the capital-intensive nature of the industry. However, the asset turnover ratio of 0.09 is low, suggesting the company is not generating a high volume of sales relative to its asset base. The high days sales outstanding (DSO) of 170 days points to a very long collection cycle for receivables, which is a significant area for potential improvement in working capital management.

Quarterly Revenue
$3.8B
2025-09
Revenue YoY Growth
+10.8%
YoY Comparison
Gross Margin
N/A%
Latest Quarter
Free Cash Flow
$1.5B
Last 12 Months

Revenue & Net Income Trends (2 Years)

Revenue Breakdown

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Valuation Analysis: Is WRB Overvalued?

Valuation Level

WRB appears modestly valued based on its trailing P/E ratio of 13.56 and forward P/E of 14.89, which suggest reasonable pricing relative to earnings. The stock's P/B ratio of 2.64 and P/S ratio of 1.76 further indicate a valuation that is not excessive and may be sustainable. The notably low PEG ratio of 0.54 signals potential undervaluation, as it implies strong expected earnings growth relative to the current P/E; however, the elevated EV/EBITDA of 45.43 is a significant concern, pointing to high enterprise value compared to operating cash flows and potentially overvaluation on that basis.

Peer Comparison

Without specific industry average data provided, a precise peer comparison is not feasible. Generally, WRB's P/E ratios in the mid-teens would be considered attractive if below the industry average, particularly given its strong growth outlook reflected in the low PEG ratio. The high EV/EBITDA ratio stands out as an area that warrants further investigation against industry benchmarks to determine if it is an outlier or consistent with sector norms for cash flow valuation.

Current PE
13.6x
Latest Quarter
vs. Historical
Mid-Range
5-Year PE Range 8Ɨ-27Ɨ
vs. Industry Avg
N/A
Industry PE ~N/AƗ
EV/EBITDA
45.4x
Enterprise Value Multiple

Investment Risk Disclosure

Volatility Risk

WRB demonstrates below-average volatility risk, with a Beta of 0.388 indicating the stock is approximately 61% less volatile than the broader market. While this suggests a defensive profile, the stock experienced a maximum drawdown of -15.1% over the past year, which is a moderate level of peak-to-trough decline that investors should note, particularly during broader market downturns.

Other Risks

The absence of significant short interest is a positive signal, suggesting a lack of concentrated speculative bets against the company. However, risk remains tied to company-specific factors such as execution in its core business lines (insurance/reinsurance) and potential liquidity constraints that are not apparent from these metrics alone.

FAQs

Is WRB a good stock to buy?

Based on the analysis provided, my opinion is neutral.

The stock appears modestly valued with solid profitability and a strong balance sheet (debt-to-equity of 0.29), but faces headwinds from recent significant price underperformance and a high EV/EBITDA ratio suggesting potential overvaluation on a cash flow basis.

This profile may suit value-oriented investors who are patient and believe the company's fundamentals can overcome its recent technical weakness. It is less appealing for momentum seekers given its poor recent performance.

Is WRB stock overvalued or undervalued?

Based on the provided valuation data for WRB stock, my assessment is that it appears modestly undervalued.

The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 13.56 and a forward P/E of 14.89, which are reasonable levels that do not suggest excess. The key indicator supporting potential undervaluation is the PEG ratio of 0.54, which implies the market may not be fully pricing in the company's expected earnings growth relative to its current earnings multiple. Supporting metrics like a P/B of 2.64 and P/S of 1.76 also point to a valuation that is not stretched.

The primary reason for this assessment is the disconnect between the traditional P/E ratios and the growth-oriented PEG ratio. While a high EV/EBITDA of 45.43 is a concern and warrants further industry comparison, the company's strong profitability (13.6% net margin), conservative debt profile (Debt/Equity of 0.29), and the signal from the low PEG ratio collectively suggest the stock is not overpriced and may offer value.

What are the main risks of holding WRB?

Of course. Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding stock in WRB (W. R. Berkley Corporation), ordered by importance.

Key Risks of Holding WRB

1. Persistent Underperformance and Negative Momentum: The stock is experiencing significant negative price momentum, having severely underperformed the broader market with a three-month decline of -12.28%, indicating a loss of market confidence that may not be fully explained by its stable fundamentals. 2. Operational Efficiency and Working Capital Risk: The company exhibits a very high Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) of 170 days, signaling a slow collection of receivables that could strain cash flow and expose the company to credit losses within its insurance operations. 3. Market Volatility and Drawdown Risk: Despite a low beta suggesting less volatility than the market, the stock has experienced a maximum drawdown of -15.1%, demonstrating its vulnerability to significant price declines during market downturns, which is compounded by its current oversold condition. 4. Low Asset Utilization and Profitability Constraints: A low asset turnover ratio of 0.09 indicates that the company is not generating a high volume of sales relative to its asset base, which acts as a drag on its overall Return on Equity (ROE), potentially limiting shareholder returns.

What is the price forecast for WRB in 2026?

Of course. Here is a forecast for WRB stock through 2026.

***

Based on the provided analysis, the forecast for WRB through 2026 hinges on its ability to improve operational efficiency while maintaining its strong financial health.

1. Target Price Range for 2026: * Base Case (2025-2026): $85 - $95. This assumes a gradual improvement in the collections cycle (DSO) and stabilization of operational metrics. * Bull Case (2025-2026): $100 - $115. This scenario requires significant operational improvements, potentially from new management initiatives or technological adoption, leading to higher asset turnover and improved market sentiment.

2. Key Growth Drivers: * Operational Turnaround: Successfully reducing the Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) from 170 days would be a major catalyst, freeing up significant working capital and improving cash flow. * Asset Utilization: Improving the low asset turnover ratio would signal better revenue generation from its capital base, directly enhancing profitability. * Market Re-rating: As operational efficiencies materialize, the market could re-rate the stock higher, closing the gap between its current price and its strong underlying financial health (low debt, solid margins).

3. Main Assumptions: * The company's robust balance sheet (low debt-to-equity) provides a stable foundation for executing operational improvements. * Macroeconomic conditions remain stable, without major disruptions that could exacerbate collection issues. * Management prioritizes and successfully implements strategies to address the high DSO and low asset turnover.

4. Uncertainty of the Forecast: * This forecast is highly sensitive to WRB's execution on operational weaknesses. Failure to address the DSO issue could severely limit upside potential and keep the stock range-bound. The forecast is more qualitative due to the absence of specific long-term analyst targets.