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Stock Analysis & ValuationWüstenrot & Württembergische AG (WUW.SW)

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CHF20.75
Sector Valuation Confidence Level
High
Valuation methodValue, CHFUpside, %
Artificial intelligence (AI)n/an/a
Intrinsic value (DCF)n/a
Graham-Dodd Method41.3099
Graham Formula1.00-95

Strategic Investment Analysis

Company Overview

Wüstenrot & Württembergische AG (WUW) is a leading German financial services provider specializing in insurance and housing finance solutions. Headquartered in Stuttgart, the company operates through four key segments: Housing, Life and Health Insurance, Property/Casualty Insurance, and All Other (including asset management and property development). With a history dating back to 1828, WUW serves retail and corporate customers in Germany, the Czech Republic, and internationally. The company offers a diversified product portfolio, including home loan savings contracts, mortgage loans, life and health insurance, and property/casualty insurance. WUW distributes its products through a multi-channel approach, leveraging brokers, partners, mobile sales forces, and digital platforms. As a mid-cap player in the European insurance sector, WUW combines traditional financial stability with modern distribution strategies, positioning itself as a regional powerhouse in Germany's competitive insurance market.

Investment Summary

Wüstenrot & Württembergische presents a mixed investment case. The company benefits from its diversified business model across insurance and housing finance, providing revenue stability. With a market cap of €1.94 billion and €6.15 billion in revenue, it maintains a solid position in the German market. The stock's beta of 0.797 suggests lower volatility than the broader market, potentially appealing to conservative investors. However, challenges include thin net margins (€34 million net income on €6.15 billion revenue), significant debt (€5.09 billion), and modest EPS (€0.36). The dividend yield appears sustainable at €0.6373 per share. Investors should weigh the company's established market position against the competitive pressures in Germany's crowded insurance sector and the impact of low interest rates on its banking and insurance operations.

Competitive Analysis

Wüstenrot & Württembergische competes in Germany's highly fragmented insurance and financial services market. Its competitive advantage lies in its dual specialization in insurance and housing finance, creating cross-selling opportunities uncommon among pure-play insurers. The company's 195-year history provides brand recognition and trust in its core German market. WUW's multi-channel distribution strategy, combining traditional broker networks with digital platforms, offers flexibility in customer acquisition. However, the company faces scale disadvantages compared to global insurers and lacks the digital-first approach of newer fintech competitors. In property/casualty insurance, WUW competes on service quality rather than price leadership. The housing finance segment benefits from specialized knowledge of the German real estate market but contends with intense competition from Sparkassen and larger commercial banks. WUW's regional focus limits geographic diversification but allows for deep market penetration in its home territories. The company's moderate size enables agility but may constrain investment in technology and innovation compared to larger rivals.

Major Competitors

  • Allianz SE (ALV.DE): Allianz dominates the German insurance market with global scale and diversified operations. Strengths include strong brand recognition, international presence, and robust capital position. Weaknesses include complexity from its massive size and exposure to volatile financial markets. Compared to WUW, Allianz has superior resources but less focus on the German housing finance niche.
  • Münchener Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG (MUV2.DE): Munich Re is the world's largest reinsurer with strong technical expertise. Strengths include global reinsurance leadership and sophisticated risk management. Weaknesses include exposure to catastrophic events and reinsurance cycle volatility. Unlike WUW, Munich Re operates primarily in wholesale insurance markets rather than direct retail financial services.
  • Hannover Rück SE (HNR1.DE): Hannover Re is a major global reinsurer with specialty in alternative capital solutions. Strengths include innovative insurance-linked securities platform and strong underwriting discipline. Weaknesses include concentration in reinsurance and dependence on third-party capital. Compared to WUW, Hannover Re lacks retail banking operations and has minimal direct consumer presence.
  • Talanx AG (TUI1.DE): Talanx is the holding company for HDI insurance group with strong industrial lines focus. Strengths include specialty commercial insurance expertise and international industrial client base. Weaknesses include lower retail market penetration and exposure to large industrial claims. Unlike WUW, Talanx has minimal presence in housing finance.
  • ING Groep N.V. (INGA.AS): ING is a pan-European banking group with significant German operations. Strengths include strong digital banking platform and European retail network. Weaknesses include restructuring costs and negative interest rate pressure. Compared to WUW, ING has broader banking services but less specialized insurance expertise in the German market.
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