Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS) Shares Gap Down – Time to Sell?

Shares of Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS) gapped down prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $119.27, but opened at $97.94. Axis Capital shares last traded at $107.1590, with a volume of 233,864 shares traded.

Axis Capital News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Axis Capital this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AXIS Capital reported second-quarter net income available to common shareholders of $251 million, or $3.38 per diluted share, up from $216 million, or $2.72 per share, a year earlier. Revenue increased 7.4% year over year to $1.75 billion. AXIS Capital second-quarter results
• Positive Sentiment: Underlying insurance performance was solid: gross premiums written rose 6% to $2.7 billion, the combined ratio was a profitable 93.1%, and underwriting income reached $143 million. Insurance premiums grew 15%, while book value per diluted share rose 4.5% from year-end 2025 and 14.7% from a year earlier. AXIS Capital net income and premium results
• Neutral Sentiment: AXIS Capital is attracting attention in Russell 1000-related coverage, while its valuation remains relatively modest at about 8.1 times earnings. However, investors are also assessing changing insurance-market conditions and risks linked to the Middle East conflict. Why AXIS Capital is trending in Russell 1000
• Negative Sentiment: Operating income was $211 million, or $2.84 per share, below analysts’ estimates of roughly $3.23-$3.25 and down from $3.29 a year earlier. The earnings shortfall is the main reason the stock may face pressure despite higher revenue and net income. Reinsurance gross premiums written also declined 25%, partially offsetting insurance growth. AXIS Capital misses second-quarter earnings estimates

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on shares of Axis Capital from $126.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Bank of America cut their target price on Axis Capital from $115.00 to $106.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 14th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Axis Capital from $119.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Mizuho increased their price target on Axis Capital from $137.00 to $142.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Axis Capital from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b+)” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $124.45.

Axis Capital Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $7.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.49. The company’s 50-day moving average is $105.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $103.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25.

Axis Capital (NYSE:AXS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 27th. The insurance provider reported $2.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.25 by ($0.41). The company had revenue of $1.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.74 billion. Axis Capital had a return on equity of 18.12% and a net margin of 16.00%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.29 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Axis Capital Holdings Limited will post 13.23 EPS for the current year.

Axis Capital Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 30th were given a dividend of $0.44 per share. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 30th. Axis Capital’s dividend payout ratio is currently 13.11%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Henry B. Smith sold 2,542 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.69, for a total transaction of $250,869.98. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 46,347 shares in the company, valued at $4,573,985.43. This trade represents a 5.20% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Axis Capital

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its stake in Axis Capital by 11.3% in the second quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 26,700 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $2,869,000 after purchasing an additional 2,700 shares during the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC increased its position in Axis Capital by 1.2% in the first quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 1,710,902 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $173,504,000 after buying an additional 21,001 shares during the last quarter. Bull Harbor Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Axis Capital in the first quarter worth $910,000. Amundi raised its stake in shares of Axis Capital by 88.5% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 11,647 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $1,181,000 after buying an additional 5,469 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Axis Capital by 7.5% in the first quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,289 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $435,000 after buying an additional 301 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 93.44% of the company’s stock.

Axis Capital Company Profile

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides various specialty insurance and reinsurance products in Bermuda, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Insurance segment offers professional insurance products that cover directors' and officers' liability, errors and omissions, employment practices, fiduciary, crime, professional indemnity, medical malpractice, and other financial insurance related coverages for commercial enterprises, financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and other professional service providers; and property insurance products for commercial buildings, residential premises, construction projects, property in transit, onshore renewable energy installations, and physical damage and business interruption following an act of terrorism.