BUZZ-Insurer Root soars after posting Q4 profit

Online car insurance firm Root's ROOT.O shares jump as much as 38.3%, last up 29.9% at $128.23

Company on Wednesday posted Q4 profit of $1.30/shr vs loss of $1.64/shr a year earlier

Analysts had expected ROOT to post a loss of 44 cents/shr - LSEG

Root's Q4 net premiums earned jumped 70.3% to $299.7 million, driven by strong growth in is partnerships channel

2024 was the first profitable year in the company's history

Net combined ratio improved to 91.5% in Q4 from 111.9% a year earlier

A ratio below 100% means the insurer earned more in premiums than it paid out in claims

Brokerage TD Cowen says ROOT appears poised to maintain net combined ratio below 100% while pursuing growth through state expansion, direct channel marketing, and expanding its partnerships platform

As of last close, ROOT stock up 36% YTD