Insider Trading January 22, 2026

Progressive Corp CIO Executes Significant Stock Sale Amid Mixed Analyst Assessments

Jonathan S. Bauer liquidates shares, Progressive launches new pet insurance, and analysts revise forecasts

By Maya Rios PGR
Progressive Corp CIO Executes Significant Stock Sale Amid Mixed Analyst Assessments
PGR

Jonathan S. Bauer, Chief Investment Officer of Progressive Corporation, sold over 3,000 shares in January under a pre-arranged trading plan. Concurrently, Progressive Insurance debuted a pet insurance product across 43 states and the District of Columbia. Analyst opinions on Progressive's outlook show divergence, with Barclays upgrading shares based on underwriting growth prospects, while BMO Capital and Wells Fargo cut price targets citing policy performance and growth concerns.

Key Points

  • Jonathan S. Bauer, Progressive's CIO, sold 3,105 shares at $204.35 each under a pre-arranged trading plan, netting over $634,000.
  • Progressive launched a pet insurance product covering emergency care, surgeries, and medications in 43 states plus D.C., with optional wellness coverage.
  • Analyst opinions diverge: Barclays upgrades Progressive to Overweight citing better growth prospects; meanwhile, BMO Capital and Wells Fargo have reduced price targets due to growth challenges and policy-in-force declines.

On January 21, 2026, Jonathan S. Bauer, the Chief Investment Officer of Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR), sold 3,105 shares of the company's common stock. The sale was conducted at a price of $204.35 per share, resulting in a total transaction amount of approximately $634,506. This disposition was made under a pre-established Rule 10b5-1 trading plan implemented on August 21, 2025.

Following this transaction, Bauer retains direct ownership of 26,248.8 shares of Progressive, alongside an indirect holding of 122.557 shares through his 401(k) plan. This insider selling activity adds to the recent strategic maneuvers observed within the company's leadership.

In parallel with this insider movement, Progressive Insurance recently unveiled a new pet insurance product aimed at assisting pet owners in managing veterinary expenses that arise unexpectedly. This offering, now available to customers in 43 states plus the District of Columbia, covers emergency care, surgeries, medications, and optionally includes wellness endorsements to provide comprehensive support for pets' health needs.

From an investment perspective, Barclays has upgraded Progressive's stock to an Overweight rating, highlighting an improved outlook for growth within personal lines insurance underwriting projected for 2026. Conversely, other financial institutions express caution: BMO Capital and Wells Fargo have both reduced their price targets on Progressive stock. BMO Capital lowered its target to $239, citing a shortfall in the number of active policies in force, while Wells Fargo adjusted its price target to $242, referencing concerns over a challenging environment for growth. Despite these price target revisions, BMO Capital retains a Market Perform rating, and Wells Fargo continues to rate the stock as Equal Weight.

These contrasting views from analysts underscore a mixed sentiment surrounding Progressive's near-term growth prospects and valuation, even as the company innovates in new product segments.

Risks

  • Declining policy-in-force numbers may signal challenges in the personal lines insurance segment, impacting revenue and growth potential.
  • A difficult growth environment as noted by some analysts could constrain Progressive's underwriting expansion and profitability.
  • Stock price volatility may arise from contrasting analyst ratings and price target revisions, influencing investor sentiment and market performance.

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