ICC (NASDAQ:ICCH) and Skyward Specialty Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SKWD) Critical Contrast

ICC (NASDAQ:ICCH) and Skyward Specialty Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SKWD) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, dividends, earnings and risk.

Profitability

This table compares ICC and Skyward Specialty Insurance Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
ICC	7.13%	9.58%	3.01%
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group	12.24%	16.39%	3.57%

Volatility & Risk

ICC has a beta of 0.32, indicating that its share price is 68% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Skyward Specialty Insurance Group has a beta of 0.89, indicating that its share price is 11% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for ICC and Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
ICC	0	0	0	0	0.00
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group	0	3	7	1	2.82

Skyward Specialty Insurance Group has a consensus target price of $47.78, suggesting a potential upside of 5.24%. Given Skyward Specialty Insurance Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Skyward Specialty Insurance Group is more favorable than ICC.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

46.5% of ICC shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 94.8% of Skyward Specialty Insurance Group shares are held by institutional investors. 25.8% of ICC shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 8.0% of Skyward Specialty Insurance Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares ICC and Skyward Specialty Insurance Group”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
ICC	$92.54 million	0.79	$4.26 million	$2.22	10.55
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group	$1.09 billion	1.67	$85.98 million	$3.28	13.84

Skyward Specialty Insurance Group has higher revenue and earnings than ICC. ICC is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Skyward Specialty Insurance Group beats ICC on 14 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About ICC

ICC Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides property and casualty insurance products to the food and beverage industry in the United States. It offers commercial multi-peril, liquor liability, workers' compensation, and umbrella liability insurance products. The company markets its products through independent agents in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wisconsin. ICC Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Rock Island, Illinois.

About Skyward Specialty Insurance Group

Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc., an insurance holding company, underwrites commercial property and casualty insurance products in the United States. It offers general liability, excess liability, professional liability, commercial auto, group accident and health, property, surety, and workers' compensation insurance products. Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.