Essent

Essent Group Ltd receives a 4-star quantitative star rating, reflecting our opinion that this share class offers a somewhat attractive opportunity for investors. The stock currently trades at a minor 2% discount to our quantitative fair value estimate of $62.33 per share; however, some caution is warranted due to this estimate's medium uncertainty rating. We require the price/fair value ratio to move a certain amount before the star rating can change. This stability-enhancing buffer is in effect for this stock.

The firm's profitability bolsters our estimated fair value. Highly profitable companies are often more resilient in recessions and are likely to generate stronger future cash flows for shareholders. For example, the firm's earnings yield of 12.2% falls in the top 20% globally. This suggests that it is generating substantial earnings relative to its share price, which contributes to our view that shares are cheap.

The company's valuation metrics are an additional encouraging factor. A company's valuation metrics provide insights into the market's expectations for its future growth and profitability. The firm's book value yield of 104.6%, a core component of valuation, lies in the top 30% globally. The market price is low relative to the book (accounting) value of the company's equity, which further promotes our favorable price/fair value ratio.

In addition to the aforementioned drivers, our model considers momentum as part of its comprehensive analysis. This share class has outperformed the broader universe over the past year. While we believe the stock is undervalued, this outperformance had a negative impact on our valuation estimate.

With its quantitative economic moat rating of none, we do not expect this company to materially outearn its cost of capital in the long run. However, its financial health score is strong, suggesting that the company should be well positioned to weather tough times.