INDB

Moody Aldrich Partners' Exit: Moody Aldrich Partners LLC has fully liquidated its position in Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, selling 135,635 shares for an estimated $7.84 million, reducing its stake from 1.5% to 0% of its assets under management (AUM).

Stock Performance: As of late October 2025, Skyward's shares are priced at $46.64, down 7.7% year-to-date, significantly trailing the S&P 500 by 22.2 percentage points, indicating a challenging year for the stock.

Market Context: The decision to sell appears to be a tactical move by Moody Aldrich, reallocating funds to sectors with better short-term momentum, rather than a reflection of concerns about Skyward's fundamentals.

Insurance Sector Challenges: Despite Skyward's strong niche in high-risk insurance and disciplined underwriting, the broader insurance market is facing pressure from competitive pricing and rising loss costs, impacting profit margins.

Moody Aldrich Partners' Sale: Moody Aldrich Partners LLC sold its entire stake of 53,211 shares in Palomar Holdings for approximately $8.21 million, fully exiting its position which previously represented 1.6% of its assets under management (AUM).

Performance Context: The sale occurred during a year when Palomar's stock rose about 9% year-to-date, but this growth lagged behind the S&P 500's performance, suggesting the sale may be a tactical portfolio rebalancing rather than a loss of confidence in the company.

Palomar Holdings' Niche: Palomar specializes in insuring properties in catastrophe-exposed markets, which can yield high profits in stable years but also increases vulnerability to natural disasters and reinsurance costs.

Investment Insights: Despite the exit by Moody Aldrich, Palomar remains an intriguing investment opportunity due to its unique market position and smart underwriting, balancing risk and potential rewards for investors.

Earnings Performance: Independent Bank reported a Q3 Non-GAAP EPS of $1.55, beating estimates by $0.02, while GAAP EPS of $0.69 exceeded expectations by $0.84.

Financial Metrics: The bank's revenue reached $243.73 million, a 39.1% year-over-year increase, but fell short of projections by $1.04 million.

Asset and Equity Returns: The company achieved a return on average assets of 1.23% and a return on average common equity of 8.63%, improving from the previous quarter's figures.

Deposit Growth and Book Value: Deposit balances rose to $20.3 billion, a 27.7% increase from the prior quarter, while book value per share decreased by 1.2% to $71.24.