Citi Downgrades Brown & Brown to Neutral Amid Modest Growth Outlook
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1d ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Rating Downgrade: Citi has downgraded Brown & Brown (BRO) from Buy to Neutral, citing that the expected growth rebound in 2026 appears more modest than anticipated, indicating a decline in market confidence towards the company.
- Growth Expectations: Analysts noted that while the 2025 growth weakness is viewed as an industry issue, Brown & Brown's retail growth rate of only 2.0-3.0% aligns with the error rate of implied industry growth rates, highlighting ongoing challenges for the company.
- Market Competition: The analyst emphasized the absence of a convincing catalyst to improve the 12-month risk-reward profile, with persistent talent competition risks potentially impacting the company's long-term performance.
- Rating Consistency: Citi's Neutral rating aligns with the SA Quant rating and the average Wall Street rating, both at Hold, contrasting with the average SA Analyst rating of Buy, indicating a divergence in market perspectives on the stock.
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Analyst Views on BRO
Wall Street analysts forecast BRO stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for BRO is 91.45 USD with a low forecast of 80.00 USD and a high forecast of 114.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
12 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
9 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 72.100
Low
80.00
Averages
91.45
High
114.00
Current: 72.100
Low
80.00
Averages
91.45
High
114.00
About BRO
Brown & Brown, Inc. is an insurance brokerage company engaged in delivering risk management solutions. It markets and sells insurance products and services, primarily in the property, casualty and employee benefits areas. Its segments include the Retail segment provides a range of insurance products and services to commercial, public and quasi-public, professional and individual insured customers, and non-insurance services and products through its automobile dealer services F&I businesses; The Programs segment specializes in the development, underwriting and management of insurance program business, often designed for niche, underserved markets, and distributes these coverages to retail agencies, as well as affinity groups, wholesale entities and sold direct to consumers; and The Wholesale Brokerage segment markets and sells excess and surplus commercial and personal lines insurance, primarily through independent agents and brokers, as well as Brown & Brown retail agents.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Brown & Brown, Inc. Q4 2025 Earnings Call Insights
- Strong Financial Performance: Brown & Brown reported Q4 2025 revenues of $1.6 billion, growing 35.7% year-over-year, despite a 2.8% decline in organic revenue primarily due to last year's flood claims, demonstrating resilience amid competitive pressures.
- Acquisition Integration Progress: The company completed its largest acquisition with Accession, adding over 5,000 employees and expecting $30 million to $40 million in EBITDA synergies in 2026, enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Anticipated a $15 million decrease in contingent commissions for Specialty Distribution in 2026 due to one-time adjustments, although management remains optimistic about organic growth, expecting modest improvement in the retail segment.
- Legal Risk Management: The loss of 275 employees resulted in a $23 million revenue loss, prompting the company to take legal action to protect customer relationships, reflecting its commitment to maintaining business integrity in a competitive landscape.

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