Download PDF

1. Company Snapshot

1.a. Company Description

RLI Corp., an insurance holding company, underwrites property and casualty insurance in the United States and internationally.Its Casualty segment provides commercial and personal coverage products; and general liability products, such as coverage for third-party liability of commercial insureds, including manufacturers, contractors, apartments, and mercantile.It also offers coverages for security guards and in the areas of onshore energy-related businesses and environmental liability for underground storage tanks, contractors and asbestos, and environmental remediation specialists; and professional liability coverages focuses on providing errors and omission coverage to small to medium-sized design, technical, computer, and miscellaneous professionals.


This segment provides commercial automobile liability and physical damage insurance to local, intermediate and long haul truckers, public transportation entities, and other types of specialty commercial automobile risks; incidental and related insurance coverages; inland marine coverages; management liability coverages, such as directors and officers liability insurance, fiduciary liability and coverages, employment practice liability, and for various classes of risks, including public and private businesses; and healthcare liability and home business insurance products.The company's Property segment offers commercial property, cargo, hull, protection and indemnity, marine liability, inland marine, homeowners' and dwelling fire, and other property insurance products.Its Surety segment offers commercial surety bonds for medium to large-sized businesses; small bonds for businesses and individuals; and bonds for small to medium-sized contractors.


The company also underwrites various reinsurance coverages.It markets its products through branch offices, brokers, carrier partners, and underwriting and independent agents.RLI Corp.


was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Show Full description

1.b. Last Insights on RLI

RLI Corp.'s recent performance has been negatively impacted by a combination of factors. The company's Q2 earnings revealed a mixed bag, with operating earnings of $0.84 per share beating estimates, but underwriting income was affected by escalating expenses and poor underwriting income in certain segments. Despite a 7% increase in premiums in Casualty and Surety, the Property segment declined by 10% due to increased competition and rate pressure. Additionally, the company's exposure to catastrophe risks and adverse prior year development have been a concern. RLI's management has noted that they are taking a cautious approach to reserving, particularly in areas with high uncertainty. The company's investment income, however, has been a bright spot, with a 16% increase in Q2. Overall, while RLI has demonstrated solid underwriting performance, its results have been impacted by challenging market conditions and adverse developments.

1.c. Company Highlights

2. RLI Corp.'s Q3 2025 Earnings: Underwriting Discipline Drives Profitability

RLI Corp.'s third-quarter 2025 earnings report showcased the company's strong underwriting discipline, with an 85 combined ratio indicating underwriting profitability across all segments. Operating earnings came in at $0.83 per share, beating estimates of $0.62, and were supported by a solid underwriting performance and a 12% increase in investment income. Net earnings per share were $1.35, up from $1.03 in Q3 2024. The company's book value per share grew 26% year-to-date, inclusive of dividends, and return on equity was over 20%.

Publication Date: Oct -21

📋 Highlights
  • Strong Net Earnings Growth:: Net earnings rose to $1.35 per share in Q3 2025, up from $1.03 per share in Q3 2024, reflecting improved profitability.
  • Underwriting Profitability:: Achieved an 85 combined ratio across all segments, with casualty (98) and surety (85) contributing to disciplined performance.
  • Book Value Expansion:: Book value per share surged 26% year-to-date, inclusive of dividends, driven by consistent underwriting and investment gains.
  • Investment Income Boost:: Operating earnings of $0.83 per share were supported by a 12% increase in investment income, enhancing overall financial results.
  • Segment Diversification:: Surety (modest premium decline) and casualty (8% premium growth with $8M favorable reserves) demonstrated resilience amid market challenges.

Segment Performance

The property segment reported a 60 combined ratio, despite an 11% decline in gross premiums, which was influenced by rate and exposure declines in U.S. Property. However, Hawaii homeowners premium grew 33% in the quarter. The casualty segment achieved a 98 combined ratio, with gross premiums advancing 8%, and benefited from $8 million of favorable prior year's reserve development. The surety segment reported an 85 combined ratio, with premium down modestly for the quarter. As Craig Kliethermes highlighted, the company's strong balance sheet, diversified product and investment portfolios, and consistent profitability led to growth in book value for shareholders.

Valuation and Outlook

Given RLI Corp.'s strong performance, its valuation metrics appear reasonable. The Price-to-Book Ratio stands at 0.91, indicating that the stock is trading slightly below its book value. The Dividend Yield is 4.27%, providing a relatively stable source of return for investors. Analysts estimate next year's revenue growth at 3.9%. With its focus on underwriting discipline, adaptability, and investing in expertise, RLI Corp. is well-positioned to drive long-term success.

Operational Highlights

The company is navigating a complex environment marked by market volatility, political uncertainty, and increased competition. Management remains focused on underwriting discipline and investing in talent, product offerings, and technology to counteract headwinds in various segments. The personal umbrella book has seen changes in attachment points, leading to improved loss trends, and a 17% rate increase in the quarter. The surety business is also adapting to a changing competitive environment, with a focus on service, technology, and people to maintain its competitive advantage.

3. NewsRoom

Card image cap

This Dividend King Just Raised Its Payout for the 50th Time

Dec -02

Card image cap

First Look: CME outage, Black Friday shifts, AI job impact

Nov -28

Card image cap

Fund Rotates Into Insurance Stock With Big Purchase

Nov -25

Card image cap

AXQ Capital LP Trims Stock Position in RLI Corp. $RLI

Nov -25

Card image cap

RLI Corp. $RLI Shares Sold by Aviva PLC

Nov -14

Card image cap

Todd Bryant, RLI Chief Financial Officer to Retire; Aaron Diefenthaler Named Successor Effective January 1, 2026

Nov -13

Card image cap

RLI Declares Regular & Special Dividends

Nov -13

Card image cap

RLI Transportation Announces Partnership With Netradyne

Nov -11

4. Business Breakdown

4.a. Revenues by Country

4.b. Revenues by Segment

5. Expected revenues mid-term growth (10.52%)

6. Segments

Casualty

Expected Growth: 10%

RLI Corp's 10% growth in Casualty segment is driven by increasing demand for specialty insurance products, expansion into new markets, and strategic partnerships. Additionally, favorable market conditions, improved underwriting discipline, and effective risk management practices contribute to the segment's growth.

Property

Expected Growth: 12%

RLI Corp's 12% growth in Property segment is driven by increasing demand for specialty insurance products, expansion into new markets, and strategic partnerships. Additionally, favorable underwriting results, improved pricing, and a strong capital position contribute to the segment's growth.

Surety

Expected Growth: 9%

RLI Corp's surety segment growth is driven by increasing demand for construction bonds, expansion into new markets, and strategic partnerships. Additionally, the company's strong underwriting discipline, diversified product offerings, and favorable regulatory environment contribute to its 9% growth rate.

7. Detailed Products

Casualty

RLI Corp.'s Casualty segment offers a range of liability insurance products, including general liability, umbrella, and excess liability coverage to protect businesses from unforeseen events.

Property

RLI Corp.'s Property segment provides insurance coverage for commercial and personal property, including buildings, equipment, and inventory, against damage or loss.

Transportation

RLI Corp.'s Transportation segment offers insurance products for the transportation industry, including trucking, public transportation, and logistics companies.

Professional Services

RLI Corp.'s Professional Services segment provides insurance coverage for professionals, including lawyers, doctors, and accountants, against errors and omissions.

Reinsurance

RLI Corp.'s Reinsurance segment offers reinsurance products to other insurance companies, providing additional coverage and risk management solutions.

8. RLI Corp.'s Porter Forces

Forces Ranking

Threat Of Substitutes

RLI Corp. operates in a niche market, providing specialty insurance products. While there are substitutes available, they are not easily accessible, and the company's products are highly specialized, reducing the threat of substitutes.

Bargaining Power Of Customers

RLI Corp.'s customers are primarily businesses and individuals who require specialized insurance products. The company's strong relationships with its customers and the complexity of its products reduce the bargaining power of customers.

Bargaining Power Of Suppliers

RLI Corp. has a diversified supplier base, and the company is not heavily dependent on a single supplier. This reduces the bargaining power of suppliers.

Threat Of New Entrants

The specialty insurance market has high barriers to entry, including regulatory hurdles and the need for specialized expertise. This reduces the threat of new entrants.

Intensity Of Rivalry

RLI Corp. operates in a competitive market, but the company's specialized products and strong relationships with its customers help to mitigate the intensity of rivalry.

9. SWOT Analysis

10. Capital Structure

10.a. Balance Sheet

10.b. Weighted Average Cost of capital

Value
Debt Weight 12.62%
Debt Cost 5.66%
Equity Weight 87.38%
Equity Cost 5.66%
WACC 5.66%
Leverage 14.44%

11. Quality Control: RLI Corp. passed 8 out of 9 key points

12.a Historical Valuation

12.b Price/Earnings Ratio

12.c Margin Valuation

12.d Peers Valuation

Peers Group Analysis

Stock-Card
WR Berkley

A-Score: 7.0/10

Value: 5.3

Growth: 7.9

Quality: 6.5

Yield: 4.0

Momentum: 8.5

Volatility: 10.0

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Mercury General

A-Score: 6.8/10

Value: 7.3

Growth: 6.9

Quality: 6.6

Yield: 6.0

Momentum: 8.0

Volatility: 6.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Hanover Insurance

A-Score: 6.8/10

Value: 7.3

Growth: 4.8

Quality: 6.6

Yield: 4.0

Momentum: 8.5

Volatility: 9.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
RLI

A-Score: 6.5/10

Value: 6.0

Growth: 6.9

Quality: 8.2

Yield: 7.0

Momentum: 1.5

Volatility: 9.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Markel

A-Score: 6.4/10

Value: 7.0

Growth: 7.2

Quality: 7.1

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 8.0

Volatility: 9.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Loews

A-Score: 6.1/10

Value: 6.2

Growth: 6.8

Quality: 5.3

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 8.0

Volatility: 10.0

1-Year Total Return ->

Peers Metrics

12.e Scoring Insights

12.f DCF BETA

Parameters

Short Term Growth

Short term Time

Long-Term Growth

WACC

Target Price

62.9$

Current Price

62.9$

Potential

-0.00%

Expected Cash-Flows