ESNT vs. RLI

Last updated Jun 23, 2026

ESNT (Essent Group Ltd.) and RLI (RLI Corp.) are both stocks. Both are in the Financial Services sector — ESNT in Mortgage Finance, RLI in Insurance - Property & Casualty. Over the past 10 years, ESNT returned 12.75%/yr vs 9.09%/yr for RLI. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

ESNT vs. RLI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Essent Group Ltd. (ESNT) and RLI Corp. (RLI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ESNT achieves a -8.24% return, which is significantly higher than RLI's -13.70% return. Over the past 10 years, ESNT has outperformed RLI with an annualized return of 12.75%, while RLI has yielded a comparatively lower 9.09% annualized return.

ESNT

• 1D: 0.82%
• 1M: -2.45%
• YTD: -8.24%
• 6M: -9.44%
• 1Y: 1.15%
• 3Y*: 12.20%
• 5Y*: 7.25%
• 10Y*: 12.75%

RLI

• 1D: -0.66%
• 1M: 4.78%
• YTD: -13.70%
• 6M: -16.94%
• 1Y: -20.64%
• 3Y*: -2.75%
• 5Y*: 5.04%
• 10Y*: 9.09%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ESNT vs. RLI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
ESNT Essent Group Ltd.	-8.24%	21.95%	5.23%	38.60%	-12.76%	7.06%	-15.53%	53.00%	-21.28%	34.14%
RLI RLI Corp.	-13.70%	-19.13%	27.57%	3.77%	24.80%	10.67%	18.08%	33.22%	16.69%	0.38%

Correlation

The correlation between ESNT and RLI is 0.42, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.42
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.44
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.46
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.44
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 31, 2013	0.43

Fundamentals

Market Cap ESNT : $5.57B RLI : $4.86B
EPS ESNT : $6.98 RLI : $4.28
PE Ratio ESNT : 8.45 RLI : 12.32
PEG Ratio ESNT : 1.95 RLI : 0.55
PS Ratio ESNT : 4.48 RLI : 3.21
PB Ratio ESNT : 0.98 RLI : 0.76
Total Revenue (TTM) ESNT : $1.29B RLI : $1.52B
Gross Profit (TTM) ESNT : $839.13M RLI : $481.56M
EBITDA (TTM) ESNT : $643.27M RLI : $519.11M

Return for Risk

ESNT vs. RLI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

ESNT

ESNT Risk / Return Rank: 41
ESNT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 44
ESNT Sortino Ratio Rank: 36
ESNT Omega Ratio Rank: 37
ESNT Calmar Ratio Rank: 44
ESNT Martin Ratio Rank: 44

RLI

RLI Risk / Return Rank: 11
RLI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7
RLI Sortino Ratio Rank: 9
RLI Omega Ratio Rank: 11
RLI Calmar Ratio Rank: 18
RLI Martin Ratio Rank: 12

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

ESNT vs. RLI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Essent Group Ltd. (ESNT) and RLI Corp. (RLI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	ESNT	RLI	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.05	-0.91	+0.96
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.22	-1.22	+1.45
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.03	0.86	+0.16
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.07	-0.64	+0.71
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	0.15	-1.29	+1.44

ESNT vs. RLI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ESNT Sharpe Ratio is 0.05, which is higher than the RLI Sharpe Ratio of -0.91. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ESNT and RLI, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

ESNT vs. RLI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ESNT drawdown since its inception was -64.72%, which is greater than RLI's maximum drawdown of -43.50%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ESNT and RLI.

Drawdown Indicators

	ESNT	RLI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-64.72%	-43.50%	-21.22%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-15.41%	-32.56%	+17.15%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-18.36%	-43.50%	+25.14%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-28.79%	-43.50%	+14.71%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-64.72%	-43.50%	-21.22%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-10.73%	-34.86%	+24.13%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-13.74%	-9.87%	-3.87%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	7.59%	16.01%	-8.42%

Volatility

ESNT vs. RLI - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Essent Group Ltd. (ESNT) is 6.24%, while RLI Corp. (RLI) has a volatility of 6.87%. This indicates that ESNT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than RLI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ESNT	RLI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.24%	6.87%	-0.63%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	17.65%	17.93%	-0.28%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	22.58%	22.85%	-0.27%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	24.96%	23.18%	+1.78%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	38.71%	26.55%	+12.16%

Dividends

ESNT vs. RLI - Dividend Comparison

ESNT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.24%, less than RLI's 8.84% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ESNT Essent Group Ltd.	2.24%	1.91%	2.06%	1.90%	2.21%	1.54%	1.48%	0.58%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
RLI RLI Corp.	8.84%	4.11%	3.12%	2.31%	6.12%	2.67%	1.87%	2.12%	2.71%	4.25%	4.42%	4.45%

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ESNT and RLI in my portfolio?

ESNT and RLI have a correlation of 0.42, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, ESNT or RLI?

RLI has higher volatility (6.87%) compared to ESNT (6.24%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ESNT dropped -64.72% vs RLI's -43.50%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

ESNT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.05 vs -0.91), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.