Top US insurance stocks to watch in 2026

U.S. insurance companies collect premiums from businesses and individuals in exchange for covering losses – from crashed cars and damaged homes to corporate liability and large-scale catastrophes. The ten stocks in this list range from names focused primarily on personal and commercial property casualty in the U.S., like Travelers Companies ($TRV) and Allstate ($ALL), to Markel Group ($MKL), which pairs specialty insurance with a portfolio of businesses making everything from precast concrete to ornamental houseplants.

How we built this list: We selected these companies based on their industry and ordered them by market capitalisation. Prices are updated daily, and the list and supporting content are reviewed roughly every quarter. All data is sourced from Stake. This list isn't a recommendation and isn't ordered by suitability.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Source: Stake market data. Figures in US$. Data updated as of 21 September 2026.

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1. Travelers ($TRV)

Travelers (TRV) share price over the last year: started at US$276.11, ended at US$371.13, a change of +34.4%. Range over the period: high US$397.22, low US$261.57. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: US$371.13 · Daily: -0.9% · Market cap: US$77.41B · Sector: Financials · Industry: Insurance

The Travelers Companies ($TRV) underwrites property casualty insurance across three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. Business Insurance covers commercial customers primarily in the U.S., with operations extending to the UK, Republic of Ireland and other markets. Bond & Specialty Insurance handles surety, fidelity, management liability and professional liability, with select business in Canada, the UK, Ireland and Brazil through a joint venture.

Personal Insurance is the consumer-facing arm, writing auto and home policies for individuals across the U.S. CEO Alan Schnitzer leads a workforce of 34,000 people spread across all three lines.

2. Allstate ($ALL)

Allstate (ALL) share price over the last year: started at US$206.46, ended at US$242.86, a change of +17.6%. Range over the period: high US$275.11, low US$190.00. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: US$242.86 · Daily: -2.8% · Market cap: US$61.41B · Sector: Financials · Industry: Insurance

Auto and home insurance are the foundation of Allstate Corporation ($ALL). The company also covers electronic devices and identity theft, with policies available through Allstate agents, independent agents, major retailers and online. CEO Tom Wilson heads a team of 53,000 people across those operations.

$ALL's Protection Services segment reaches beyond traditional coverage into consumer product protection plans, roadside assistance, dealer services and identity protection and restoration. Brands under that arm include Allstate Protection Plans, Allstate Dealer Services and Allstate Roadside, among others.

3. AIG ($AIG)

AIG (AIG) share price over the last year: started at US$76.53, ended at US$74.54, a change of −2.6%. Range over the period: high US$86.59, low US$71.89. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: US$74.54 · Daily: -1.0% · Market cap: US$38.98B · Sector: Financials · Industry: Insurance

American International Group ($AIG) writes insurance for businesses and individuals across more than 200 countries and jurisdictions. Its General Insurance arm divides into three segments: North America Commercial, covering the U.S., Canada and Bermuda; International Commercial, which reaches Japan, the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and China; and a Global Personal segment for accident, health and personal lines.

Products across the commercial books include property, casualty, financial lines and global specialty cover. CEO Eric Andersen oversees a workforce of 22,100 people.

4. Arch Capital Group ($ACGL)

Arch Capital Group (ACGL) share price over the last year: started at US$88.03, ended at US$95.78, a change of +8.8%. Range over the period: high US$106.48, low US$84.72. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: US$95.78 · Daily: -1.1% · Market cap: US$32.68B · Sector: Financials · Industry: Insurance

Arch Capital Group ($ACGL) operates across three distinct business lines: insurance, reinsurance, and mortgage insurance. On the insurance side, $ACGL underwrites specialty lines covering everything from construction risk and marine and aviation to travel, accident and health. The reinsurance arm takes on risk from other insurers, with a focus on property catastrophe, casualty and marine exposures.

The third leg is U.S. mortgage insurance, which covers lenders against borrower default and includes exposure to U.S. credit-risk transfer programmes. Based in Bermuda and employing around 8,000 people, $ACGL is led by chief executive Nicolas Papadopoulo.

5. Cincinnati Financial ($CINF)

Cincinnati Financial (CINF) share price over the last year: started at US$154.69, ended at US$166.85, a change of +7.9%. Range over the period: high US$192.03, low US$151.39. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: US$166.85 · Daily: -1.3% · Market cap: US$25.61B · Sector: Financials · Industry: Insurance

Cincinnati Financial Corporation ($CINF) covers a broad range of insurance needs through The Cincinnati Insurance Company and its affiliated property casualty companies. On the commercial side, $CINF writes everything from workers' compensation to commercial auto and property. Personal lines cover home and auto, while a separate excess and surplus lines segment handles commercial risks that fall outside the standard market.

The life insurance arm adds term, whole life and universal life products to the mix. A dedicated investments segment puts the cash generated from premiums to work across fixed-income, equity and short-term investments. CEO Steve Spray leads a workforce of 5,705 people.

6. W. R. Berkley ($WRB)

W. R. Berkley (WRB) share price over the last year: started at US$71.81, ended at US$68.79, a change of −4.2%. Range over the period: high US$76.75, low US$63.07. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: US$68.79 · Daily: -1.7% · Market cap: US$25.54B · Sector: Financials · Industry: Insurance

W. R. Berkley Corporation ($WRB) is a property casualty insurance holding company with two main businesses: an Insurance segment and a Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment. The Insurance side covers commercial lines, including excess and surplus lines, admitted lines and specialty personal lines, across the U.S. and markets in Asia, Australia, Canada, Continental Europe, Mexico, Scandinavia, South America and the United Kingdom. Business units within that segment include Acadia Insurance, Admiral Insurance, Berkley Agribusiness and Berkley Accident and Health, the last of which focuses on accident, health and reinsurance products.

The Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment writes facultative and treaty reinsurance across the Asia Pacific region, Australia, Continental Europe, South Africa and the United Kingdom. With around 8,804 employees and CEO Rob Berkley at the helm, $WRB runs a broad commercial operation across a wide stretch of geographies and specialty lines.

7. Markel Group ($MKL)

Markel Group (MKL) share price over the last year: started at US$1,923.06, ended at US$1,774.64, a change of −7.7%. Range over the period: high US$2,191.90, low US$1,751.37. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: US$1,774.64 · Daily: -0.10% · Market cap: US$21.99B · Sector: Financials · Industry: Insurance

Markel Group ($MKL) is built around specialty insurance, but the business extends well beyond underwriting. Under CEO Tom Gayner, the company also owns a sprawling collection of industrial and consumer businesses – outfits that manufacture precast concrete, car hauler equipment and food processing machinery, alongside companies that grow ornamental houseplants, build homes and design leather handbags.

That mix is intentional. The insurance core generates float – premiums held before claims are paid – which the company deploys into its non-insurance subsidiaries and investments. Across all of it, $MKL employs roughly 22,900 people.

8. Assurant ($AIZ)

Assurant (AIZ) share price over the last year: started at US$211.19, ended at US$277.38, a change of +31.3%. Range over the period: high US$301.57, low US$207.70. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: US$277.38 · Daily: -1.7% · Market cap: US$13.68B · Sector: Financials · Industry: Insurance

Assurant ($AIZ) sits in a corner of insurance most people don't think about until something breaks. The company partners with brands to protect connected devices, vehicles and homes – handling the service contracts, lender-placed insurance and renters products that sit behind the consumer experience rather than in front of it.

Its two segments, Global Lifestyle and Global Housing, cover distinct ground. Global Lifestyle wraps around mobile devices, consumer electronics and automobiles. Global Housing handles homeowners, manufactured housing and renters insurance, including policies placed by lenders when borrowers let their own coverage lapse. CEO Keith Demmings leads a workforce of 14,800 people across operations in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

9. CNA Financial ($CNA)

CNA Financial (CNA) share price over the last year: started at US$44.16, ended at US$47.79, a change of +8.2%. Range over the period: high US$55.31, low US$41.90. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: US$47.79 · Daily: -0.5% · Market cap: US$12.93B · Sector: Financials · Industry: Insurance

CNA Financial ($CNA) is an insurance holding company built around property and casualty coverage, with a distinct specialty arm that writes management and professional liability products. That specialty business sells through brokers, independent agencies and managing general underwriters rather than direct to customers.

The commercial side covers everything from small businesses and construction firms to mid-sized companies, again relying on a broker and independent-agent network. Internationally, $CNA underwrites property and casualty coverage through a Canadian branch, insurance companies based in the UK and Luxembourg, and Hardy – its Lloyd's of London syndicate.

One segment sits apart from the rest: the Life & Group division, which holds a long-term care book that's in run-off, meaning $CNA is no longer writing new policies there and is managing existing obligations down over time. CEO Doug Worman leads a company of around 6,600 employees across these operations.

10. American Financial Group ($AFG)

American Financial Group (AFG) share price over the last year: started at US$138.67, ended at US$141.24, a change of +1.9%. Range over the period: high US$146.73, low US$124.18. Source: Stake market data. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Price: US$141.24 · Daily: -0.8% · Market cap: US$11.71B · Sector: Financials · Industry: Insurance

American Financial Group ($AFG) operates through its Great American Insurance Group subsidiary, writing property and casualty insurance focused on specialised commercial products for businesses. The coverage falls across several niches: physical damage and liability for bus and truck fleets, inland and ocean marine, agricultural products, and broader commercial property lines. $AFG also writes excess and surplus lines, executive and professional liability, umbrella coverage, and general liability for businesses that fall outside standard insurance markets.

A further specialty covers financial risk products – insurance programs for lending and leasing institutions, fidelity and surety bonds, and trade credit insurance. Carl Lindner serves as chief executive, and the company employs around 8,500 people.

Common questions

How do I invest in US insurance stocks in New Zealand?

All ten stocks in this list trade on U.S. exchanges, so you'd buy them through a share trading platform that offers U.S. market access. Orders are placed in USD, which means the NZD/USD exchange rate affects both the cost of buying and what any sale proceeds are worth when converted back to New Zealand dollars.

What are the key risks of US insurance stocks?

Some of the key risks include catastrophe exposure – a severe hurricane, earthquake or wildfire season can push claims far above what premiums were priced to cover. These companies also hold large investment portfolios to meet future claim obligations, so interest rate movements affect the income those assets generate. Regulatory changes across the states and countries where they operate can alter pricing flexibility and capital requirements. For companies with material international operations, currency movements between the USD and the currencies of those markets add a further layer of exposure.

What types of insurers make up this list?

The ten companies cover more ground than "insurance" alone might suggest. Most write property and casualty business – personal auto, home and commercial policies – but several focus on specialty and excess and surplus lines, which handle risks too complex or unusual for standard markets. Arch Capital Group also writes reinsurance and mortgage insurance, while Markel Group runs substantial industrial and other non-insurance businesses alongside its specialty insurance core. Assurant takes a different approach again, partnering with consumer brands to protect connected devices, vehicles and homes rather than writing traditional policies.

Disclaimer

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. When you invest, your capital is at risk. You should consider your own investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs before making an investment decision. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may receive back less than your original investment. As always, do your own research and consider seeking appropriate financial advice before investing.

This is not personal financial advice nor a recommendation to invest in the securities listed. Any advice provided by Stake is of general nature only and does not take into account your specific circumstances. Trading and volume data from the Stake investing platform is for reference purposes only, the investment choices of others may not be appropriate for your needs and is not a reliable indicator of performance.

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