Skyward Specialty Insurance launched an innovative well decommissioning solution, EndWell Protection, enhancing surety bond accessibility for oil and gas companies.
Quiver AI Summary
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. has launched Skyward Specialty EndWell Protection, an innovative well decommissioning solution that utilizes an escrow-secured bond model. This new approach addresses challenges in the energy sector where traditional surety solutions have become less viable due to increased collateral demands and market constraints. Designed to facilitate easier qualification for surety credit, EndWell Protection offers a fast and efficient mechanism for oil and gas companies to secure bonds. The initiative is part of Skyward Specialty's "Rule Our Niche" strategy, aiming to provide specialized insurance solutions that meet market needs. Skyward Specialty is rapidly expanding in the specialty insurance market, operating through various divisions and subsidiaries with strong ratings from A.M. Best Company.
Potential Positives
- Skyward Specialty launched "EndWell Protection," an industry-first well decommissioning solution, demonstrating its commitment to innovation in the specialty property and casualty market.
- The escrow-secured bond model addresses critical gaps in traditional surety solutions, providing a more transparent and reliable approach for oil and gas companies.
- This new solution simplifies qualification for surety credit, potentially increasing market accessibility for clients in the energy sector.
- Skyward Specialty's proactive response to industry challenges reinforces its strategic focus on identifying and addressing underserved market needs, aligning with its 'Rule Our Niche' strategy.
Potential Negatives
- Introduction of a new product in response to recent disruptions in the energy sector could indicate a reactionary stance rather than a proactive one, potentially signaling vulnerability to market changes.
- The launch of the EndWell Protection solution suggests that traditional surety solutions were insufficient, which could detract from the company's perceived reliability in the existing market.
- There may be a limited market for the new well decommissioning solution if demand does not meet expectations, leading to potential financial challenges if the product does not generate significant uptake.
FAQ
What is Skyward Specialty EndWell Protection?
Skyward Specialty EndWell Protection is a unique well decommissioning solution using an escrow-secured bond model for the energy sector.
How does EndWell Protection improve decommissioning bonds?
This solution simplifies qualification for surety credit and provides a fast, efficient way for oil and gas companies to secure bonds.
Who designed the EndWell Protection model?
Chris Gagnon and his team developed the EndWell Protection model in response to market needs for a reliable surety solution.
What challenges does EndWell Protection address in the energy sector?
It addresses tightened collateral requirements and reduced market capacity by offering a more transparent approach to decommissioning bonds.
What is Skyward Specialty's business focus?
Skyward Specialty focuses on specialty property and casualty insurance, providing innovative solutions to underserved markets across various sectors.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$SKWD Insider Trading Activity
$SKWD insiders have traded $SKWD stock on the open market 7 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 0 have been purchases and 7 have been sales.
Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $SKWD stock by insiders over the last 6 months:
- MARK W HAUSHILL (EVP & CFO) has made 0 purchases and 3 sales selling 66,761 shares for an estimated $3,927,864.
- ANDREW S ROBINSON (CHAIRMAN & CEO) has made 0 purchases and 3 sales selling 50,057 shares for an estimated $3,088,944.
- KIRBY HILL (Chairman, Captives & Programs) sold 8,249 shares for an estimated $502,134
To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard.
$SKWD Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 118 institutional investors add shares of $SKWD stock to their portfolio, and 130 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- INVESCO LTD. added 566,902 shares (+46.3%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $32,761,266
- VICTORY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC removed 462,373 shares (-80.6%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $26,720,535
- CHAMPLAIN INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC removed 425,318 shares (-27.0%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $24,579,127
- ROCKEFELLER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P. removed 410,637 shares (-94.6%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $23,730,712
- ABERDEEN GROUP PLC added 334,288 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $19,318,503
- AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL INC added 301,288 shares (+46.7%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $17,411,433
- WHIPPLEWOOD ADVISORS, LLC removed 261,663 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $15,121,504
To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.
$SKWD Analyst Ratings
Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $SKWD in the last several months. We have seen 5 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 0 firms issue sell ratings.
Here are some recent analyst ratings:
- Piper Sandler issued a "Overweight" rating on 08/01/2025
- Keefe, Bruyette & Woods issued a "Outperform" rating on 05/29/2025
- Truist Securities issued a "Buy" rating on 05/05/2025
- JMP Securities issued a "Market Outperform" rating on 05/02/2025
- Barclays issued a "Overweight" rating on 04/11/2025
To track analyst ratings and price targets for $SKWD, check out Quiver Quantitative's $SKWD forecast page.
$SKWD Price Targets
Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $SKWD recently. We have seen 8 analysts offer price targets for $SKWD in the last 6 months, with a median target of $64.5.
Here are some recent targets:
- Michael Zaremski from BMO Capital set a target price of $55.0 on 09/08/2025
- Matthew J. Carletti from JMP Securities set a target price of $70.0 on 09/04/2025
- Paul Newsome from Piper Sandler set a target price of $59.0 on 08/01/2025
- Meyer Shields from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods set a target price of $72.0 on 05/29/2025
- Mark Hughes from Truist Securities set a target price of $70.0 on 05/05/2025
- Andrew Andersen from Jefferies set a target price of $59.0 on 04/11/2025
- Alex Scott from Barclays set a target price of $64.0 on 04/11/2025
Full Release
HOUSTON, Oct. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.™ (Nasdaq: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or “the Company”), a leader in the specialty property and casualty (P&C) market, announced the launch of Skyward Specialty EndWell Protection, an industry-first well decommissioning solution built on an escrow-secured bond model.
Recent disruptions in the energy sector have highlighted gaps in traditional surety solutions, leading to tightened collateral requirements and reduced market capacity. With many surety providers now limiting support to only investment-grade accounts, Skyward Specialty recognized a critical need for a more transparent and reliable approach to decommissioning bonds.
“EndWell Protection’s escrow model uses an innovative collateral strategy that simplifies qualification for surety credit and affords oil and gas companies a fast, efficient way to secure their bonds,” said Chris Gagnon, senior vice president, head of commercial Surety. “After a year of working with other industry experts on this model, we believe it is the future surety solution for this segment of the energy sector.”
“Skyward Specialty EndWell Protection is a unique, first-of-its-kind solution. Chris and his team strategically designed it to meet the market’s call for capacity while offering peace of mind to regulators and reinsurers,” said Matt Semeraro, president of Surety. “It’s also another example of us executing on our ‘Rule Our Niche’ strategy, which enables us to identify niche places in underserved markets and develop high-quality, specialized solutions to meet the unmet needs of our customers.”
About Skyward Specialty
Skyward Specialty is a rapidly growing and innovative specialty insurance company, delivering commercial property and casualty products and solutions on a non-admitted and admitted basis. The Company operates through nine underwriting divisions — Accident & Health, Agriculture and Credit (Re)insurance, Captives, Construction & Energy Solutions, Global Property, Professional Lines, Specialty Programs, Surety and Transactional E&S.
Skyward Specialty’s subsidiary insurance companies consist of Great Midwest Insurance Company, Houston Specialty Insurance Company, Imperium Insurance Company, and Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Company. These insurance companies are rated A (Excellent) with a stable outlook by A.M. Best Company. For more information about Skyward Specialty, its people, and its products, please visit skywardinsurance.com.
Media Contact
Jennifer Mendez
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group
726-245-8384
[email protected]
Investor Contact
Natalie Schoolcraft
Skyward Specialty Insurance Group
614-494-4988
[email protected]
