Essent Group (ESNT) vs RLI (RLI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Essent Group (ESNT) has outperformed RLI (RLI) over the past year, gaining 6.7% versus a loss of 13.8%. Over five years, ESNT leads with a +29.5% price change compared with +9.0% for RLI. Essent Group is the larger company by market cap ($5.62 billion vs $5.12 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while RLI is growing revenue faster (+6.3% vs +1.5%).
On valuation, Essent Group trades at a lower forward P/E (7.9x vs 20.7x for RLI). Essent Group offers the higher dividend yield (2.11% vs 1.18%). Essent Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 54.7% versus 21.4%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ESNT | RLI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $62.57 | $55.84 |
| Market cap | $5.62B | $5.12B |
| 1-day change | -1.61% | -0.82% |
| YTD return | -2.18% | -12.00% |
| 1-year return | +6.68% | -13.85% |
| 5-year return | +29.48% | +8.96% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 8.73 | 11.73 |
| Forward P/E | 7.86 | 20.71 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.17 | $4.76 |
| Dividend yield | 2.11% | 1.18% |
| Annual dividend | $1.32 | $0.66 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.26B | $1.88B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +1.45% | +6.33% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $689.97M | $403.34M |
| Net margin | 54.72% | 21.43% |
| 52-week high | $70.37 | $67.12 |
| 52-week low | $55.34 | $47.26 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.09% | -16.81% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +19.65% | +5.66% |
| Average volume | 670.35K | 752.61K |
| Shares outstanding | 89.88M | 91.77M |
| Employees | 518 | 1,193 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Property-Casualty Insurers | Property-Casualty Insurers |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- ESNT has outperformed RLI by 20.5 percentage points over the past year.
- RLI trades at a higher earnings multiple (11.7x vs 8.7x trailing P/E).
- Essent Group is more profitable, keeping 54.7 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 21.4 cents for RLI.
About Essent Group
ESNT stock →Essent Group Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides private mortgage insurance and reinsurance, and title insurance and settlement services to mortgage lenders, borrowers, and investors in the United States. It operates through two segments, Mortgage Insurance and Reinsurance.
Finance · Property-Casualty Insurers · 518 employees
About RLI
RLI stock →RLI Corp., an insurance holding company, provides property, casualty, and surety insurance products. Its Casualty segment provides commercial excess, personal umbrella, general liability, transportation, and management liability coverages; professional liability and workers' compensation for office-based professional coverages; commercial automobile liability and physical damage insurance to local, intermediate and long haul truckers, public transportation entities, and other specialty commercial automobile risks; incidental related insurance coverages; inland marine coverages; directors and officers liability insurance, fiduciary liability and coverages, employment practice liability, public and private businesses risk, and home business insurance products.
Finance · Property-Casualty Insurers · 1,193 employees
ESNT vs RLI FAQ
Which is bigger, Essent Group or RLI?
Essent Group (ESNT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.62B compared with $5.12B for RLI (RLI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ESNT or RLI?
ESNT returned +6.68% over the past 12 months, compared with -13.85% for RLI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ESNT or RLI?
ESNT has the lower trailing P/E at 8.7, versus 11.7 for RLI. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Essent Group or RLI?
Essent Group has the higher yield at 2.11%, compared with 1.18% for RLI.
Are Essent Group and RLI in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Property-Casualty Insurers industry within the Finance sector.