Essent Group stock trades 6.99 percent below its yearly high

Essent Group stock traded at USD 65.45 on the NYSE on September 23, 2026, 6.99 percent below its 52-week high of USD 70.37. The mortgage insurer's second-quarter results show why earnings remain central to the valuation discussion.

Second-quarter earnings strengthen

Essent reported Q2 2026 revenue of USD 362.686 million and net income of USD 189.714 million, according to The Globe and Mail in its Q2 2026 earnings coverage. Diluted EPS reached USD 2.08, compared with USD 1.82 in Q1 2026, a 14.3 percent quarter-over-quarter increase.

The earnings mix matters because Essent combines private mortgage insurance with reinsurance and title insurance services. Its net income represented a 52 percent margin in Q2 2026, while total assets stood at USD 7.592 billion at June 30, 2026.

Analysts see limited upside

MarketBeat reported on September 17, 2026, that eight research firms assigned Essent a consensus Hold rating, with five Hold ratings and three Buy ratings. The average 12-month price target was USD 71.86, versus the September 23 price of USD 65.45.

The target comparison points to a market debate rather than a single directional signal. Essent also declared a quarterly dividend of USD 0.35 per share for Q3 2026, according to MarketBeat.

Stock remains below yearly high

Essent Group stock was trading at USD 65.45 on the NYSE on September 23, 2026, down USD 0.25, or 0.38 percent, from the previous close of USD 65.70. Its market capitalization was USD 6,031,404,687, while the 52-week range extended from USD 55.34 to USD 70.37.