RLI Corp. Receives A++ Financial Strength Rating Upgrade
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 20 2026
0mins
Should l Buy RLI?
Source: Newsfilter
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best has upgraded RLI Corp.'s financial strength rating to A++ (Superior), reflecting its robust balance sheet and strong operating performance, which enhances market confidence in its stability.
- Long-Term Credit Rating Boost: The long-term issuer credit ratings for RLI's insurance subsidiaries and its parent company have been upgraded to aa+ and a+, respectively, which will help bolster investor trust and attractiveness.
- Stable Outlook Revision: AM Best revised the outlook for these credit ratings from positive to stable, indicating that RLI is expected to maintain consistency in its financial performance and risk management, aiding its competitive edge in the insurance market.
- Sustained Profitability: RLI has paid and increased regular dividends for 50 consecutive years while achieving underwriting profits for 30 years, a stable financial performance that not only boosts investor confidence but also lays a solid foundation for future growth.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy RLI?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on RLI
Wall Street analysts forecast RLI stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 62.320
Low
62.00
Averages
69.67
High
81.00
Current: 62.320
Low
62.00
Averages
69.67
High
81.00
About RLI
RLI Corp. is a specialty insurer serving niche property, casualty, and surety markets. The Company provides underwriting expertise and service to commercial and personal line customers nationwide. The Company's segment includes Casualty, Property, and Surety. The casualty portion of its business consists largely of commercial excess, personal umbrella, general liability, transportation, and management liability coverages, as well as package business and other specialty coverages, such as professional liability and worker’s compensation for office-based professionals. Its Property segment is comprised primarily of commercial fire, hurricane, earthquake, difference in conditions, and marine coverages. Its Surety segment specializes in writing small to medium-sized contract surety coverages, including payment and performance bonds. Its products are offered through its insurance subsidiaries, RLI Insurance Company, Mt. Hawley Insurance Company and Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company.
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.
RLI Corp. Receives A++ Financial Strength Rating Upgrade
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best has upgraded RLI Corp.'s financial strength rating to A++ (Superior), reflecting its robust balance sheet and strong operating performance, which enhances market confidence in its stability.
- Long-Term Credit Rating Boost: The long-term issuer credit ratings for RLI's insurance subsidiaries and its parent company have been upgraded to aa+ and a+, respectively, which will help bolster investor trust and attractiveness.
- Stable Outlook Revision: AM Best revised the outlook for these credit ratings from positive to stable, indicating that RLI is expected to maintain consistency in its financial performance and risk management, aiding its competitive edge in the insurance market.
- Sustained Profitability: RLI has paid and increased regular dividends for 50 consecutive years while achieving underwriting profits for 30 years, a stable financial performance that not only boosts investor confidence but also lays a solid foundation for future growth.
See More
RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating Upgraded to A++
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best has upgraded RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating from A+ to A++, and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings from 'aa' to 'aa+', reflecting its exceptional balance sheet strength and strong operating performance.
- Financial Flexibility: RLI Corp.'s modest financial leverage and very strong fixed-charge coverage support its ratings, demonstrating effective strategies in capital management and risk control.
- Liquidity Advantage: Despite elevated common stock leverage and significant earthquake exposure, RLI's overall liquidity ratios outperform industry benchmarks, with policyholder surplus reaching $1.9 billion as of Q3 2025, showcasing its sustained capital generation capacity.
- Stable Outlook: AM Best expects RLI to maintain strong underwriting and operating profitability, with the rating outlook revised from positive to stable, indicating the company's competitive position and market standing in the insurance industry will continue to strengthen.
See More
RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating Upgraded to A++
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best has upgraded RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating from A+ to A++ and Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings from 'aa' to 'aa+', reflecting the company's exceptional financial stability and operational performance, which is expected to enhance investor confidence and attract more capital inflow.
- Strong Financial Position: RLI's balance sheet is assessed as the strongest, supported by effective capital management strategies and strong underwriting controls, maintaining industry-leading liquidity ratios despite elevated common stock leverage and significant earthquake exposure, showcasing its resilience against risks.
- Stable Profitability: AM Best expects RLI to maintain strong underwriting and operating profitability, with a stable outlook reflecting the company's sustained profitability under diversified investments and rigorous pricing discipline, further solidifying its competitive position in the insurance market.
- Capital Generation Capability: RLI has achieved consistent internal capital generation over the past five years, with policyholder surplus reaching $1.9 billion, despite returning substantial capital to RLI Corp., demonstrating its flexibility in capital management and strong financial resilience.
See More
RLI Group's Financial Ratings Upgraded by AM Best
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best upgraded RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating from A+ to A++ and Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings from 'aa' to 'aa+', reflecting its exceptional financial health and operational performance, which is expected to enhance investor confidence and market competitiveness.
- Capital Management Strength: The ratings highlight RLI's robust balance sheet and effective capital management strategies, maintaining industry-leading liquidity ratios despite elevated common stock leverage and significant earthquake exposure, showcasing its excellence in risk management.
- Stable Profitability: RLI's consistent underwriting results are driven by rigorous pricing discipline and diversification, with internal capital generation enabling growth, as evidenced by policyholder surplus reaching $1.9 billion in Q3 2025, further solidifying its market position.
- Stable Outlook: AM Best revised RLI's outlook from positive to stable, indicating the company's expectation to maintain strong underwriting and operating profitability, ensuring its competitive edge and long-term sustainability in the insurance industry.
See More
Supreme Court Ruling on Tariff Legality Could Have Major Implications
- Potential for Tariff Refunds: Should the Supreme Court rule that Trump's International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs are illegal, U.S. companies could receive billions in tariff refunds and insurance payouts, significantly improving their cash flow and financial health.
- Surge in Customs Bonds: As tariffs have risen from 10% to over 25%, importers are now facing customs bond amounts ranging from the regulatory minimum of $50,000 to $450 million, with some clients experiencing increases of up to 550%, putting pressure on their liquidity positions.
- Increased Insurer Profits: Insurers are benefiting from higher premium collections due to the rising customs bond amounts, with the number of insufficiency notices issued to importers quadrupling since 2017, highlighting the volatility and complexity of the current market environment.
- Future Uncertainty: If the Supreme Court rules the IEEPA tariffs illegal, while this may pose revenue challenges for insurers, the potential for freer trade and reduced uncertainty could yield positive economic outcomes, although the refund process may take time.
See More
RLI Upgraded to Hold by Jefferies, Price Target Remains at $52
- Rating Upgrade: Jefferies upgraded RLI from Underperform to Hold, primarily due to valuation compression, while maintaining the price target at $52, indicating cautious optimism in the market.
- Strategic Actions Completed: The company has completed targeted re-underwriting and strategic actions across its portfolio, and while property rate deceleration is expected to continue, analysts do not foresee a materially deeper slowdown, suggesting overall market stability.
- Dividend Yield: RLI's dividend yield is approximately 5%, and its valuation has reset from 4x P/B to 2.8x, limiting downside risk and showcasing the company's potential for capital returns.
- Industry Position: RLI's long history of disciplined underwriting supports a premium to peers, and its enhanced capital return capabilities for 2026/27 indicate a competitive advantage in a challenging market.
See More
RLI Corp. Receives A++ Financial Strength Rating Upgrade
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best has upgraded RLI Corp.'s financial strength rating to A++ (Superior), reflecting its robust balance sheet and strong operating performance, which enhances market confidence in its stability.
- Long-Term Credit Rating Boost: The long-term issuer credit ratings for RLI's insurance subsidiaries and its parent company have been upgraded to aa+ and a+, respectively, which will help bolster investor trust and attractiveness.
- Stable Outlook Revision: AM Best revised the outlook for these credit ratings from positive to stable, indicating that RLI is expected to maintain consistency in its financial performance and risk management, aiding its competitive edge in the insurance market.
- Sustained Profitability: RLI has paid and increased regular dividends for 50 consecutive years while achieving underwriting profits for 30 years, a stable financial performance that not only boosts investor confidence but also lays a solid foundation for future growth.
See More
RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating Upgraded to A++
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best has upgraded RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating from A+ to A++, and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings from 'aa' to 'aa+', reflecting its exceptional balance sheet strength and strong operating performance.
- Financial Flexibility: RLI Corp.'s modest financial leverage and very strong fixed-charge coverage support its ratings, demonstrating effective strategies in capital management and risk control.
- Liquidity Advantage: Despite elevated common stock leverage and significant earthquake exposure, RLI's overall liquidity ratios outperform industry benchmarks, with policyholder surplus reaching $1.9 billion as of Q3 2025, showcasing its sustained capital generation capacity.
- Stable Outlook: AM Best expects RLI to maintain strong underwriting and operating profitability, with the rating outlook revised from positive to stable, indicating the company's competitive position and market standing in the insurance industry will continue to strengthen.
See More
RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating Upgraded to A++
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best has upgraded RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating from A+ to A++ and Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings from 'aa' to 'aa+', reflecting the company's exceptional financial stability and operational performance, which is expected to enhance investor confidence and attract more capital inflow.
- Strong Financial Position: RLI's balance sheet is assessed as the strongest, supported by effective capital management strategies and strong underwriting controls, maintaining industry-leading liquidity ratios despite elevated common stock leverage and significant earthquake exposure, showcasing its resilience against risks.
- Stable Profitability: AM Best expects RLI to maintain strong underwriting and operating profitability, with a stable outlook reflecting the company's sustained profitability under diversified investments and rigorous pricing discipline, further solidifying its competitive position in the insurance market.
- Capital Generation Capability: RLI has achieved consistent internal capital generation over the past five years, with policyholder surplus reaching $1.9 billion, despite returning substantial capital to RLI Corp., demonstrating its flexibility in capital management and strong financial resilience.
See More
RLI Group's Financial Ratings Upgraded by AM Best
- Rating Upgrade: AM Best upgraded RLI Group's Financial Strength Rating from A+ to A++ and Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings from 'aa' to 'aa+', reflecting its exceptional financial health and operational performance, which is expected to enhance investor confidence and market competitiveness.
- Capital Management Strength: The ratings highlight RLI's robust balance sheet and effective capital management strategies, maintaining industry-leading liquidity ratios despite elevated common stock leverage and significant earthquake exposure, showcasing its excellence in risk management.
- Stable Profitability: RLI's consistent underwriting results are driven by rigorous pricing discipline and diversification, with internal capital generation enabling growth, as evidenced by policyholder surplus reaching $1.9 billion in Q3 2025, further solidifying its market position.
- Stable Outlook: AM Best revised RLI's outlook from positive to stable, indicating the company's expectation to maintain strong underwriting and operating profitability, ensuring its competitive edge and long-term sustainability in the insurance industry.
See More
Supreme Court Ruling on Tariff Legality Could Have Major Implications
- Potential for Tariff Refunds: Should the Supreme Court rule that Trump's International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs are illegal, U.S. companies could receive billions in tariff refunds and insurance payouts, significantly improving their cash flow and financial health.
- Surge in Customs Bonds: As tariffs have risen from 10% to over 25%, importers are now facing customs bond amounts ranging from the regulatory minimum of $50,000 to $450 million, with some clients experiencing increases of up to 550%, putting pressure on their liquidity positions.
- Increased Insurer Profits: Insurers are benefiting from higher premium collections due to the rising customs bond amounts, with the number of insufficiency notices issued to importers quadrupling since 2017, highlighting the volatility and complexity of the current market environment.
- Future Uncertainty: If the Supreme Court rules the IEEPA tariffs illegal, while this may pose revenue challenges for insurers, the potential for freer trade and reduced uncertainty could yield positive economic outcomes, although the refund process may take time.
See More
RLI Upgraded to Hold by Jefferies, Price Target Remains at $52
- Rating Upgrade: Jefferies upgraded RLI from Underperform to Hold, primarily due to valuation compression, while maintaining the price target at $52, indicating cautious optimism in the market.
- Strategic Actions Completed: The company has completed targeted re-underwriting and strategic actions across its portfolio, and while property rate deceleration is expected to continue, analysts do not foresee a materially deeper slowdown, suggesting overall market stability.
- Dividend Yield: RLI's dividend yield is approximately 5%, and its valuation has reset from 4x P/B to 2.8x, limiting downside risk and showcasing the company's potential for capital returns.
- Industry Position: RLI's long history of disciplined underwriting supports a premium to peers, and its enhanced capital return capabilities for 2026/27 indicate a competitive advantage in a challenging market.
See More
