Transaction overview
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd., a reported ten-percent owner of W.R. Berkley Corp (NYSE: WRB), executed a series of common stock purchases across three trading days that together amounted to $69,297,689. The buying took place from January 26 through January 28, 2026, with individual trade prices spanning from $65.8618 to $69.0351. The acquisitions were carried out pursuant to a prearranged Rule 10b5-1 purchase plan that the insurer adopted on October 3, 2025.
Daily breakdown of purchases
- January 26, 2026 - Mitsui Sumitomo bought 293,611 shares at prices between $66.45 and $67.40, and an additional 76,389 shares at prices ranging from $67.4004 to $68.19.
- January 27, 2026 - The firm acquired multiple lots totaling 349,000-plus shares: 800 shares at prices between $65.77 and $65.975; 11,987 shares at prices from $66.03 to $66.9994; 325,960 shares at prices from $67.00 to $67.82; 8,582 shares at prices between $68.25 and $68.99; and 2,671 shares at prices ranging from $69.00 to $69.37.
- January 28, 2026 - Mitsui Sumitomo purchased 280,354 shares at prices between $66.87 and $67.80, and 28,577 shares at prices ranging from $67.8011 to $68.015.
Post-transaction holdings and ownership note
Following these transactions, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. directly holds 55,618,435 shares of W.R. Berkley common stock. MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc. may be deemed to beneficially own these securities because of its ownership interest in Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd., though MS&AD disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of its pecuniary interest.
Company quarterly results and analyst reactions
Separately, W.R. Berkley reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.13, matching analysts' expectations on EPS. The company reported revenue of $3.72 billion, surpassing the consensus projection of $3.19 billion, representing a 16.61% revenue surprise.
In the aftermath of the results, several research firms updated their price targets and maintained or adjusted ratings:
- Truist Securities lowered its price target to $80 from $84 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing marginal changes in topline growth and investment income projections.
- Jefferies adjusted its price target to $70 from $75 and maintained a Hold rating, noting the EPS beat their estimate but was in line with consensus expectations.
- BofA Securities reduced its price target to $66 from $69 and kept a Neutral rating, stating that the results were slightly below their forecast but aligned with broader Street consensus.
- Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an Overweight rating with a $76 price target, characterizing the earnings as effectively in line with their expectations.
Contextual summary
The three-day sequence of purchases by Mitsui Sumitomo was executed under an established Rule 10b5-1 plan and raised the insurer’s direct stake in W.R. Berkley to more than 55.6 million shares. At the same time, Berkley’s latest quarterly filing delivered a revenue beat and EPS in line with estimates, prompting a range of analyst responses including lowered price targets alongside maintained Buy, Hold, Neutral, and Overweight stances across different firms.
Key points
- Mitsui Sumitomo purchased $69,297,689 of WRB common stock across Jan. 26-28, 2026 under a Rule 10b5-1 plan adopted Oct. 3, 2025.
- The insurer now directly owns 55,618,435 WRB shares; MS&AD may be deemed to beneficially own these securities but disclaims ownership except for pecuniary interest.
- W.R. Berkley’s Q4 2025 results showed EPS of $1.13 and revenue of $3.72 billion, a 16.61% revenue surprise; analysts adjusted price targets while generally maintaining existing ratings.
Risks and uncertainties
- Analyst price target adjustments reflect differing views on topline growth and investment income projections for WRB - this affects equity valuations and investor expectations in the insurance sector.
- The beneficial ownership status of MS&AD with respect to the shares held by Mitsui Sumitomo is qualified by its disclaimer, leaving a formal uncertainty about consolidated ownership interests.
- While Berkley posted a revenue beat, EPS was only in line with consensus; continued earnings and revenue volatility could influence analyst outlooks and market reactions across insurance and financial markets.