Mercury General Corporation logo

Mercury General Corporation(MCY)

Top Performer Top performer
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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
4-STAR RATING
SELL
SELL for 1 day
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
-20.83% ▼
LAST CLOSE
$84.48
11/05/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
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  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for MCY

11/05/2026: MCY (4-star) is a SELL. SELL for 1 day. Simulated Profits (-20.83%). Updated daily EoD!

Mercury General Corporation is a established U.S. property and casualty insurance company known for its focus on personal automobile and homeowners coverage. The company's primary strength lies in its disciplined, agent-led distribution model and a strong, long-standing franchise in California. Its main growth opportunity involves improving premium adequacy and expanding household bundling within existing markets. However, the company faces significant risks from its geographic concentration in California, potential regulatory constraints on rates, and the high catastrophe impact of events like wildfires. As a stable, dividend-paying stock with a moderate valuation, it may best suit income-oriented investors who should monitor catastrophe outcomes and regional regulatory developments closely.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitMercury is a mature insurer focused on stability rather than rapid, high-growth expansion.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock has shown significant price momentum following strong earnings beats and improving underwriting results.
Value investorStrong fitThe stock often trades at attractive P/E and P/B ratios relative to peers, making it a potential value play.
Dividend investorStrong fitA long track record of consistent quarterly dividend payments makes this suitable for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile established, the company's concentration in California and exposure to catastrophe risks add layers of volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumAs an insurance stock, MCY is subject to market sentiment regarding interest rates and catastrophe loss updates.
Valuation riskLowThe stock frequently trades at moderate multiples, limiting downside valuation risk compared to high-growth sectors.
Competition risk (National Insurance Carriers)HighLarge national insurers with significant scale and advertising capacity pose a constant threat to market share.
Business qualityStrongMercury has a proven, decades-long history of disciplined underwriting and operational stability.
Dividend incomeStrongConsistent payment history provides a reliable income stream for shareholders.
Execution riskMediumSuccess depends on maintaining accurate risk pricing and managing regional regulatory hurdles.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 120.05%
Avg. Invested days 67
Today’s Advisory SELL
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 5.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/05/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
MCY receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid unit economics, solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
MCY has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid earnings growth (+15.6%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 17.2%) are partially offset by moderate revenue growth (+9.4%), soft profitability (net margin 9.0%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
MCY's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $1.0B (17.2% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is MCY's strongest growth driver at +15.6% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). Revenue growth (+9.4%, moderate) and free-cash-flow growth (+3.8%, moderate) are also constructive, though not equally high across every growth measure.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 48.5% and approximately 47.9% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 52.03% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 8.12%
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. 3.91%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 3.22%
Rubric Capital Management LP 2.78%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 2.23%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
MCY generates approximately $339 of gross profit, $111 of operating income, and $172 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Moderate margins, cash conversion, and capital efficiency support the rating.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 18.47%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
MCY has a Value-Oriented profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedSmall / Mid Cap Risk

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 4.93B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 7.28
1Y Target Price 120
Price to earnings Ratio 7.28
1Y Target Price 120
Volume (30-day avg) 321.7K shares
Beta 0.94
52 Weeks Range 80.73 - 112.70
Updated Date 11/05/2026
52 Weeks Range 80.73 - 112.70
Updated Date 11/05/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.43%
Basic EPS (TTM) 11.61

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Personal Auto and Homeowners InsuranceCollecting premiums for risk coverage and investing the resulting premium float.The company makes money by charging more in premiums than it pays out in claims and operating expenses, plus the interest earned on money held in reserve.
Geographic OperationsOperations in 11 states, with a massive concentration in California.Performance is highly dependent on California's regulatory environment and disaster-related claim costs.

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-11-03
When After Market
Estimate 3.35
Actual 3.49

Profitability

Profit Margin 10.48%
Operating Margin (TTM) -0.92%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 5.19%
Return on Equity (TTM) 25.52%

Valuation

Trailing PE 7.28
Forward PE 19.76
Enterprise Value 4.21B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.76
Enterprise Value 4.21B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.76
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.69
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 55.39M
Shares Floating 26.55M
Shares Outstanding 55.39M
Shares Floating 26.55M
Percent Insiders 52.03
Percent Institutions 48.48

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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