ESNT
Financial ServicesEssent Group Ltd. · Insurance - Specialty · $6B
What is Essent Group Ltd.?
Essent Group Ltd. is a Bermuda-based holding company that provides private mortgage insurance and reinsurance on U.S. residential mortgages. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, it serves lenders across the American housing finance market.
Essent generates revenue by insuring residential mortgage loans against borrower default, protecting lenders and investors when homebuyers put down less than twenty percent. Its customers include banks, mortgage banks, credit unions, and other loan originators. Beyond insurance, the company offers contract underwriting, underwriting consulting, and technology maintenance services — creating a broader suite of support for the mortgage origination ecosystem.
Essent Group was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.
- Primary private mortgage insurance
- Pool and master policy mortgage insurance
- Reinsurance on residential mortgages
- Contract underwriting and consulting services
Is ESNT a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates ESNT as Good overall, reflecting a balanced profile with notable strengths and one area of caution.
Essent's Quality pillar ranks Strong, pointing to a well-run business with disciplined underwriting. The Risk pillar also rates Good, suggesting the company manages its exposure to housing-market cycles better than many peers. Valuation comes in as Attractive, meaning the stock does not appear richly priced relative to its fundamentals.
The Growth pillar rates Weak, indicating that near-term expansion of earnings or book value may be limited compared to higher-growth financial-sector peers.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does ESNT pay dividends?
Yes — Essent Group Ltd. pays a dividend.
Essent Group pays a regular dividend, which is relatively uncommon among younger specialty insurers. The dividend reflects the company's capital generation capacity and its confidence in sustaining earnings through mortgage cycles. Income-oriented investors may find this cadence appealing alongside the Attractive Valuation rating.
When does ESNT report earnings?
Essent Group reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with U.S.-listed financial companies.
Essent's results tend to track housing market activity, credit quality trends, and insurance-in-force growth. The company's Strong Quality profile suggests it has maintained underwriting discipline across recent reporting periods.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Essent Group's investor relations page directly.
ESNT Price History
+45.7% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Essent Group Ltd.?
Based on Essent Group Ltd.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
ESNT Long-term Outlook
Essent's fundamental outlook is shaped by its Good Risk profile and Weak Growth rating. The business is positioned defensively within private mortgage insurance, but meaningful acceleration in earned premiums depends on mortgage origination volumes recovering. The Attractive Valuation label suggests the market may already be pricing in a cautious growth trajectory, leaving room for upside if housing activity improves.
Growth drivers
- Recovery in U.S. mortgage origination volumes
- Expansion of insurance-in-force as new policies are written
- Ancillary revenue from underwriting and technology services
Key risks
- Prolonged housing market slowdown reducing new insurance written
- Credit deterioration in the insured mortgage portfolio during economic stress
- Regulatory or capital requirement changes affecting private mortgage insurers
ESNT vs Peers
Essent competes in the private mortgage insurance space alongside several established players, each with a distinct market position.
One of the largest and longest-established private mortgage insurers in the U.S., with a broad lender network built over decades.
Backed by a major financial institution, Enact benefits from deep distribution relationships and a strong capital base.
A diversified title insurance and settlement services company that competes at the broader mortgage transaction level rather than pure mortgage insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Essent Group do?
Essent Group provides private mortgage insurance and reinsurance on U.S. residential mortgages. When homebuyers borrow with a low down payment, lenders require this insurance to protect against default risk. Essent also offers contract underwriting and technology services to mortgage originators.
Does ESNT pay dividends?
Yes, Essent Group pays a regular dividend. This is notable for a specialty insurer of its age and reflects the company's ability to generate capital beyond what it needs to support its insurance portfolio. Check Essent's investor relations page for the current dividend amount and schedule.
When does ESNT report earnings?
Essent Group reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for U.S.-listed financial companies. Exact dates vary each quarter. For upcoming reporting dates, refer to Essent Group's investor relations page.
Is ESNT a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates ESNT as Good overall. The Quality and Risk pillars are among the stronger elements of the profile, while Growth rates Weak. Valuation is Attractive. Whether it suits your portfolio depends on your goals — view the full pillar breakdown on UQS Pro for a deeper picture.
Is ESNT overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for ESNT rates as Attractive, suggesting the stock is not considered expensive relative to its fundamentals within the UQS framework. This does not guarantee price appreciation, but it indicates the market is not pricing in an overly optimistic scenario.
How does ESNT compare to its competitors?
Essent competes with MGIC Investment (MTG), Enact Holdings (ACT), and broader financial services firms like First American Financial (FAF). Essent is generally viewed as a disciplined underwriter with a strong quality profile. UQS Pro members can compare pillar-level scores across these peers directly.
What is ESNT's market cap bracket?
Essent Group is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it in a range that typically offers more liquidity than small-cap peers while remaining more nimble than large-cap financial institutions.
Who founded Essent Group?
Essent Group was founded in 2008. Details on the founding team are publicly available through the company's official disclosures and financial filings. The company is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Is ESNT a long-term quality stock?
As a long-term quality indicator, ESNT's Strong Quality and Good Risk pillar ratings suggest the business has been run with discipline. The Weak Growth rating is worth monitoring over time. UQS Pro provides the full composite view to help assess long-term positioning.
What is the main competitive advantage of Essent Group?
Essent's competitive position rests on disciplined underwriting practices and a focused business model within private mortgage insurance. Its Strong Quality pillar rating reflects operational consistency. However, the Moat pillar rates Neutral, indicating the structural advantage is not yet considered wide relative to peers.
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Pro Analysis
ESNT — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 65.3 | 90.0 | 42.0 | 15.5 | 100.0 | 94.4 | +5.3 |
| May 13, 2026 | 60.0 | 90.0 | 42.0 | 15.5 | 64.1 | 95.1 | +0.1 |
| May 12, 2026 | 59.9 | 90.0 | 42.0 | 15.5 | 64.1 | 94.9 | +1.3 |
| May 9, 2026 | 58.6 | 90.0 | 42.0 | 9.9 | 64.1 | 93.2 | -1.1 |
| May 7, 2026 | 59.7 | 90.1 | 42.0 | 15.5 | 63.6 | 93.6 | 0.0 |
| May 3, 2026 | 59.7 | 90.1 | 42.0 | 15.5 | 63.6 | 93.8 | 0.0 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 59.7 | 90.1 | 42.0 | 15.5 | 63.6 | 93.3 | +0.1 |
| Apr 25, 2026 | 59.6 | 90.1 | 42.0 | 15.4 | 63.6 | 93.3 | -0.2 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 59.8 | 90.1 | 42.0 | 15.4 | 63.6 | 94.3 | 0.0 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 59.8 | 90.1 | 42.0 | 15.4 | 63.6 | 94.4 | -0.3 |
ESNT — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 90.0/100 (25%)Essent Group Ltd. demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 15.5/100 (20%)Essent Group Ltd. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 100.0/100 (15%)Essent Group Ltd. carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 94.4/100 (15%)Essent Group Ltd. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 42/100 (25%)Essent Group Ltd. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for ESNT.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the ESNT UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Essent Group Ltd. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Essent Group Ltd.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Essent Group Ltd. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.