HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HCC)

chart looks good

Insurance commpanies without exposure to the under water mortgage paper can do well despite big banks stuck holding a great deal of this paper, not to mention Greek paper.

I am a BetterInvesting member and selected this stock with my SSG (www.betterinvesting.org).

HCC Insurance Holdings grows steadily and maintains a longterm roe of 11%. Historically, these statistics are good enough to justify and average p/bv ratio of 1.7. The stock is a bargain at 1.0 times book value and the company's Stockscouter rating of 9 suggests that now is a good time to buy.

the market falling will require these companies to take investment losses. They have held up good for the last 6 months but I am looking for things to get worse.

Has shown significant revenue and EPS growth over the last 5 years and has been (unfairly?) hit with market reaction to any stocks financial-smelling.

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got a feeling

just a hunch

HCC has a high valuation grade and continues to grow under great management

Good Dividend Stock.

All the nuisance issues are now behind. Few insiders nibbling and the concern about sub-prime exposure is already priced in.

its not up for a year a day or a month theres nothing good about it

I love companies that are not afraid to go where others don't bother going.
Truly versatile insurance company that can weather through bad times in any segment of the business simply because they are present in so many.

HCC was listed as a stock to study in BetterInvesting magazine in May 2007 http://www.better-investing.org/Public/About+Us/Media/News+Releases/030207.htm (the goal with BetterInvesting's stocks to study is doubling the investment in 5 years). The company has a low P/E and like a lot of insurance companies there is lingering fear from catastrophic events like Katrina. However, HCC does not make "big" bets and I believe was even profitable during the quarter in which Katrina occurred. Also, many of their insurance lines are highly specialized , for example insuring "warbirds" (vintage WWII planes owned by collectors). I think it will be hard for other companies to compete against such specialized products.

recent sales and earnings growth rates are impressive

With the exception of a dip in 2000, HCC has outperformed the S&P since 1992. P/B 1.68. P/E 10.35. Div Yld 1.3% 5 yr grwth 53.8% A/L 1.4 (would like to see more cushion) but overall good.

Look for this stock to rebound this month.
Hold Period - One Month.

this little known stock has great growth and tremendous free cash flow