Contrasting Kingstone Companies (NASDAQ:KINS) and Progressive (NASDAQ:PGR) – Riverton Roll

Kingstone Companies (NASDAQ:KINS) and Progressive (NYSE:PGR) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk and profitability.

Dividends

Kingstone Companies pays an annual dividend of $0.25 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. Progressive pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Kingstone Companies pays out 53.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Progressive pays out 9.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

Volatility & Risk

Kingstone Companies has a beta of 0.64, meaning that its share price is 36% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Progressive has a beta of 0.65, meaning that its share price is 35% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Kingstone Companies and Progressives revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Progressive has higher revenue and earnings than Kingstone Companies. Kingstone Companies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Progressive, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Kingstone Companies and Progressives net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Kingstone Companies and Progressive, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Kingstone Companies currently has a consensus price target of $13.00, indicating a potential upside of 70.38%. Progressive has a consensus price target of $82.36, indicating a potential upside of 12.75%. Given Kingstone Companies stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Kingstone Companies is more favorable than Progressive.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

43.5% of Kingstone Companies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 78.4% of Progressive shares are held by institutional investors. 8.9% of Kingstone Companies shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.4% of Progressive shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Progressive beats Kingstone Companies on 12 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Kingstone Companies

Kingstone Companies, Inc., through its subsidiary, Kingstone Insurance Company, underwrites property and casualty insurance products to small businesses and individuals in New York. The company offers personal lines insurance products, including homeowners and dwelling fire multi-peril, cooperative/condominiums, renters, and personal umbrella policies. It also provides commercial liability policies, such as business owner's policies comprising primarily of small business retail, service, and office risks; artisan's liability policies for small independent contractors; multi-peril policies for larger and specialized risks, and business owner's risks; and commercial umbrella policies. In addition, the company offers for-hire vehicle physical damage only policies for livery and car service vehicles and taxicabs; and canine legal liability policies, as well as reinsurance products. It sells its products through retail and wholesale agents and brokers. The company was formerly known as DCAP Group, Inc. and changed its name to Kingstone Companies, Inc. in July 2009. Kingstone Companies, Inc. was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Kingston, New York.

About Progressive

The Progressive Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides personal and commercial auto insurance, residential property insurance, and other specialty property-casualty insurance and related services primarily in the United States. Its Personal Lines segment writes insurance for personal autos, and recreational and other vehicles. This segment's products include personal auto insurance; and special lines products, including insurance for motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, watercrafts, and snowmobiles. The company's Commercial Lines segment provides primary liability, physical damage, and other auto-related insurance for autos, vans, pick-up trucks, and dump trucks used by small businesses; tractors, trailers, and straight trucks primarily used by regional general freight and expeditor-type businesses, and non-fleet long-haul operators; dump trucks, log trucks, and garbage trucks used by dirt, sand and gravel, logging, and coal-type businesses; tow trucks and wreckers used in towing services and gas/service station businesses; and non-fleet taxis, black-car services, and airport taxis. Its Property segment provides residential property insurance for homes, condos, manufactured homes, and renters, as well as offers personal umbrella insurance, and primary and excess flood insurance. The company also offers policy issuance and claims adjusting services; home, condominium, renters, and other insurance; and general liability and business owner's policies, and workers' compensation insurance. In addition, it offers reinsurance services. The Progressive Corporation sells its products and services through independent insurance agencies, as well as directly on Internet, and mobile devices, and over the phone. The company was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Mayfield Village, Ohio.

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Contrasting Kingstone Companies (NASDAQ:KINS) and Progressive (NASDAQ:PGR) - Riverton Roll