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3 Finance Stocks Displaying Relative Strength

It goes without saying that there has been turmoil within the Finance sector, with regional bank fears gripping the market.

However, not all pockets of the sector have been as negative, including stocks such as Unum Group UNM, Arch Capital ACGL, and The Travelers Companies TRV. Below is a chart illustrating the performance of each over the last month, with the S&P 500 blended in as a benchmark.

Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Investment Research


Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

As we can see, all three have provided solid returns, indicating positive momentum. Let’s take a closer look at how each currently stacks up.

Unum Group

Unum Group provides disability insurance, long-term care insurance, life insurance, and employee-paid group benefits and related services. The company has witnessed positive earnings estimate revisions over the last several months, helping land the stock into a favorable Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Investment Research


Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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The company posted solid quarterly results in its latest release, exceeding EPS expectations by 13%. In fact, UNM has been a consistent earnings performer, carrying an average 18.6% trailing four-quarter EPS surprise.

In addition, shares aren’t expensive, with the current 6.5X forward earnings multiple residing near the five-year median and well below the Zacks Finance sector average.

Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Investment Research


Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Travelers Companies

Travelers Companies is engaged in providing a wide variety of property and casualty insurance and surety products and services. The stock presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The company boasts a shareholder-friendly nature, increasing its dividend payout by 4.4% over the last five years. Currently, TRV’s annual dividend yields 2.1%, modestly below the Zacks Finance sector average.

Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Investment Research


Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In addition, it’s hard to ignore TRV’s growth profile, with earnings forecasted to climb 15% in its current fiscal year (FY23) and a further 16% in FY24. The projected earnings growth comes on top of forecasted Y/Y revenue upticks of 10% in FY23 and 8% in FY24.

Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Investment Research


Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Arch Capital

Arch Capital Group writes insurance, reinsurance, and mortgage insurance worldwide. Currently, the company is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Like UNM, Arch Capital posted strong results in its latest release, exceeding the Zacks Consensus EPS Estimate by nearly 15%. Quarterly revenue totaled $3.1 billion, 8% ahead of expectations. Below is a chart illustrating the company’s revenue on a quarterly basis.

Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Investment Research


Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Shares saw buyers step up post-earnings, as we can see in the chart below. In fact, shares have regularly seen a boost following quarterly releases over the last year.

Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Investment Research


Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bottom Line

While concerns around regional banking are more than valid, not all pockets of the Finance sector have been weak, including shares of Unum Group UNM, Arch Capital ACGL, and The Travelers Companies TRV.

All three have provided market-beating returns over the last month, displaying notable relative strength.

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The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Unum Group (UNM) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research