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Radian Group (RDN) on Growth Track: Time to Buy the Stock?

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Radian Group Inc. (RDN - Free Report) saw its shares gain 57.26% in the last one year, significantly outperforming the Multi line industry’s growth of 24.07%. We expect the company to retain its momentum owing to a number of positives.


The multi line insurer’s mortgage insurance portfolio, which comprises a high volume of quality and profitable business written by the company after 2008, is expected to create a strong foundation for future earnings. Radian Group anticipates an increase in insurance in force in 2016 on the back of higher mix of purchase volume relative to refinance.

Further, the company anticipates net insurance written to exceed $48 billion in 2016 due to market growth, the record level of new business written, and a number of new businesses in the pipeline.

Radian Group has been witnessing a decline in claim payments over the last few years and anticipates claims paid for full-year 2016 to be about $375 million. This apart, the company remains committed toward cost control. The multi line insurer projects core operating expenses in fourth-quarter 2016 to decrease by 3–5% from the prior-year level.

In addition, Radian Group’s inorganic growth continues to impress. We expect the company’s inorganic growth initiatives to continue diversifying the company’s revenue stream and expanding its business beyond the boundaries of traditional mortgage insurance.

Also, the Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) multi line insurer’s efforts to solidify the financial position and improve debt maturity profile bode well.

Radian Group carries a VGM score of A. . Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum and the score is a weighted combination of these three scores. In fact, valuation at the current level is attractive as the stock is trading at a forward P/E ratio of 10.2, a 12.1% discount to the industry average of 11.6. Further, Radian Group has a trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) of 12.7%, which is higher than the industry average of 5.2%.

Other Stocks to Consider

Investors interested in stocks from the same space might also consider Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU - Free Report) , The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) , and Kemper Corporation (KMPR - Free Report) . Each of these stocks holds the same Zacks Rank as Radian Group. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.

Prudential Financial offers insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company delivered positive surprise in one of the last four quarters but with an average miss of 10.66%.

The Hartford Financial offers insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the U.S. The company delivered positive surprises in two of the last four quarters but with an average miss of 11.69%.

Kemper Corporation is a diversified insurance holding company that offers property and casualty, as well as life and health insurance to individuals and businesses in the U.S. The company delivered positive surprises in one of the last four quarters but with an average miss of 47.62%.

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