Publication date: 20.03.2025
Brown & Brown is a U.S.-based insurance brokerage firm headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is the sixth-largest insurance broker in the country, focusing on middle-market clients. The company provides a wide range of insurance services across three main segments: Retail, Program, and Wholesale, covering property, casualty, and employee benefits. Unlike many of its larger competitors that focus on high-end corporate clients, Brown & Brown has carved out a strong niche by catering to mid-sized businesses, which has contributed to its strong profitability and stable revenue streams.
One of Brown & Brown’s key strengths is its high profit margins. Since middle-market insurance brokerage relies more on commission-based revenue rather than fee-based income (which is common among larger competitors), the company achieves higher earnings efficiency. In Q4 2024, its adjusted EBITDA margin stood at 32.9%, making it one of the most profitable investment-grade insurance brokers. This allows Brown & Brown to generate strong free cash flow (FCF) and quickly reduce debt after making acquisitions. In fact, the company maintains a leverage target of 3.0x gross and 2.5x net, supporting its commitment to maintaining an investment-grade rating.
The company has also been expanding internationally, with its recent $700 million acquisition of Quintes, a Netherlands-based insurance broker. This move increased Brown & Brown’s international revenue share to 16% (up from 14%) and demonstrates its strategy to grow beyond the U.S. The acquisition was partially financed by drawing $250 million on its credit revolver, but the company’s debt metrics remain manageable at 2.2x gross leverage and 1.8x net leverage post-acquisition. Brown & Brown is currently rated Baa3/BBB-, and its bonds could benefit from a potential rating upgrade to Baa2 at Moody’s, as it is already on a positive outlook.
as of 31.12.2024 USD bn
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assets | 17,6 | EBITDA Margin | 38 % | CFO/Debt | 0,3 |
Revenue | 4,8 | Net debt | 3,4 | FCF | 1,1 |
EBITDA | 1,8 | Net Debt/EBITDA | 1,9x | Equity | 6,4 |
Net Profit | 1 | EBITDA/Interest | 9x | Debt/Equity | 0,6x |
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