Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF): Today's Featured Insurance Laggard

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF) pushed the Insurance industry lower today making it today's featured Insurance laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.5%. By the end of trading, Cincinnati Financial Corporation fell 43 cents (-1.1%) to $38.71 on average volume. Throughout the day, 888,590 shares of Cincinnati Financial Corporation exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 941,700 shares. The stock ranged in price between $38.66-$39.19 after having opened the day at $39.15 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $39.14. Other companies within the Insurance industry that declined today were: National Security Group (NSEC), down 3.5%, Investors Title Company (ITIC), down 2.8%, and Alleghany Corp DEL (Y), down 1.9%.

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Cincinnati Financial Corporation engages in the property casualty insurance business in the United States. Its Commercial Lines Property Casualty Insurance segment provides coverage for commercial casualty, commercial property, commercial auto, and workers' compensation. Cincinnati Financial Corporation has a market cap of $6.29 billion and is part of the financial sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 23.2, equal to the average insurance industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 27.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there is one analyst that rates Cincinnati Financial Corporation a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and five rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Cincinnati Financial Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, reasonable valuation levels, good cash flow from operations and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat disappointing return on equity.

• You can view the full Cincinnati Financial Ratings Report.

On the positive front, MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG), up 11.8%, Radian Group (RDN), up 7.2%, CNinsure (CISG), up 6.1%, and ING Groep N.V (ING), up 5.5%, were all gainers within the insurance industry with Genworth Financial (GNW) being today's featured insurance industry leader.

• Use our insurance section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the insurance industry could consider KBW Insurance ETF (KIE) while those bearish on the insurance industry could consider Proshares Short Financials (SEF).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

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For more information on Cincinnati Financial Corporation click any of the following:

• Cincinnati Financial Corporation Stock Price

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• Cincinnati Financial Corporation Key Stats & Profile

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• Cincinnati Financial Corporation Growth Rates

• Cincinnati Financial Corporation Balance Sheet

• Cincinnati Financial Corporation Cash Flow

• Cincinnati Financial Corporation Income Statement