Property & Casualty Insurance

According to KBW, Axis Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE: AXS) PT has been changed to $35 and FY11 EPS estimates have been increased from ($0.55) to ($0.05). Rating of Market Perform has not changed. AXS closed yesterday at $31.23.

According to KBW, ProAssurance (NYSE: PRA), FY11 EPS estimates have been increased from $5.45 to $5.90. PT has been set to $82 and rating of Outperform is reiterated. PRA closed yesterday at $69.29.

According to KBW, Safety Insurance Group (NASDAQ: SAFT), FY11 EPS estimates have been decreased from $1.90 to $1.50. PT of $46 and rating of Market Perform remain unchanged. Safety closed yesterday at $40.40.

According to KBW, American Safety Insurance Holdings (NYSE: ASI), FY11 EPS Estimates have increased from $0.60 to $0.75 for ASI. PT of $25 and rating of Outperform remain unchanged. ASI closed yesterday at $19.

According to KBW, Allied World Assurance Holdings (NYSE: AWH), EPS estimates have changed. KBW reported an increase in EPS estimates for AWH from $3.60 to $4.05 for FY11 and from $7.45 to $7.55 for FY12. PT of $75 and rating of Outperform remain unchanged. AWH closed yesterday at $53.59.

According to KBW, Employers Holdings (NYSE: EIG), EPS estimates have been decreased. KBW announced a decrease in the EPS estimates for EIG from $0.40 to $0.35 for FY11 and from $0.45 to $0.35 for FY12. PT of $17 and rating of Market Perform have both been reiterated. EIG closed yesterday at $14....

InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC) +13.87 on rumors of Samsung buying company's patent portfolio. NxStage Medical (NASDAQ: NXTM) +12.44% on better than expected earnings. MasterCard (NYSE: MA) +12.98 on better than expected earnings. WebMD Health (NASDAQ: WBMD) +12.10 on better than expected earnings...

According to KBW, XL Group (NYSE: XL), estimates have been revised. KBW reported that EPS estimates for FY 11 have increased from $1.25 to $1.50. PT is set to $26 and rating is set to Market Perform. XL Group closed yesterday at $20.02.

According to J.P. Morgan, XL Group (NYSE: XL) reported 2Q EPS of $0.76 versus the estimate of $0.50 and consensus estimate of $0.47, while book value per share increased 6.3% (versus the +3.2% estimate) due to stronger investment gains and, to a lesser extent, higher operating income. J.P. Morgan...

KBW reiterated its Market Perform rating on Investors Title (NASDAQ: ITIC). At the same time, the rating agency raised its price target on the company's stock from $36 to $39. On Tuesday, ITIC added 1.34% to its value to finish the day at $37.70.

This is your Benzinga news summary and traders' outlook for Wednesday, August 3, 2011, covering headlines from overnight and Wednesday's pre-market session. Today in domestic pre-market trading, U.S. equity futures are set to rebound today after moving into negative territory for the year...

Garmin Ltd (NASDAQ: GRMN) dipped 12.56% to $27.57 in the pre-market session. GRMN reported downbeat Q2 profit. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) lost 0.34% to $11.81 in the pre-market session. Ford shares have dropped 8.21% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 index has gained 11.92% in the...

Goldman Sachs has downgraded Allstate (NYSE: ALL) from Neutral to Sell and has lowered the price target from $31 to $28.

Wunderlich Securities reiterated its Buy rating on Axis Capital Holdings (NYSE: AXS). At the same time, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock unchanged at $45. On Tuesday, AXS lost 1.08% of its value to finish the day at $31.26.

Stocks trading at or near 52-week highs and lows provide excellent trading opportunities, as volatility tends to increase at such levels and exit/entry points become more clearly defined. The following stocks hit new 52-week highs in Monday's trading session (listed from highest total volume to...