Root, Inc.
ROOTAbout the company
Root, Inc. provides insurance products and services in the United States. The company offers automobile and renters insurance products primarily through websites, mobile applications, and partnership channels. Root, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
Investment snapshot
Positive
6
BUY / PASS
Neutral / negative
2 / 8
NEUTRAL / FAIL
Median fair value
$48.04
+9.5% vs price
Models with upside
3 / 16
Positive margin of safety
Strongest signal
8 of 10 pass — Marks and Sleep object
Key risk
12 of 15 flag ROOT's profitability — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +9 more
Framework analysis
| Verdict | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BUY | Positive purchase signal: the framework's buy requirements are met. |
| PASS | The company clears the framework's checklist or screen, but the framework does not produce a buy signal. For valuation frameworks this often means margin of safety is missing, insufficient, or unavailable; some screen-only frameworks have no intrinsic-value BUY state. |
| NEUTRAL | Neither a positive nor negative conclusion. It does not mean to hold an existing position. |
| FAIL | The company does not clear the framework's requirements. |
| Ranked | Ranked strategies do not use PASS: selected cohort is BUY, outside the cohort is FAIL, and unranked is NEUTRAL. |
Current investor scores use trailing 12-month flows and the latest balance sheet where supported. Multi-year and EPS tests retain annual history; each framework shows its financial basis below. Intrinsic values use annual financials.
| Metric | Graham Defensive Value | Buffett Quality Compounder | Lynch GARP | Piotroski F-Score | Dreman Contrarian Value | Munger Quality Focus | Pabrai Dhandho Framework | Akre Three-Legged Stool | Marks Risk-Aware Value | Ackman Activist Value | Templeton Global Bargain Hunter | Sleep Scale Economies Shared | Asness Systematic Factors | Neff Low-P/E Total Return | Schloss Asset-Value Discipline | O'Shaughnessy Systematic Factor Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | BUY | PASS | PASS | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | BUY | PASS | PASS | NEUTRAL | FAIL | FAIL | NEUTRAL |
| Score | ||||||||||||||||
| Analysis | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… |
| Intrinsic Value (annual) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||
| Margin of Safety | -47.6% | -21.8% | N/A | N/A | N/A | +80.1% | +8.7% | N/A | N/A | +89.9% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Financial Basis | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-02-25 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-02-25 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2026-02-25 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2026-02-25 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-02-25 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-11-04 Score computed: 2026-11-14 |
Where It Passes
- Cash Flow80% pass✓ 10✗ 2▾
8 of 10 pass — Marks and Sleep object
Free Cash Flow Proxy$52.1M✓BuffettPositive and growingFCF Positive and Growing$206.5M✓LynchPositive and growingOperating Cash Flow$206.5M✓PiotroskiCFO > 0(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=12.33%, ROA=2.41%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAPrice / (CFO / Shares)3.6x✓Dreman< 8xP/E or FCF YieldP/E=18.6x, FCF Yield=31.0%✓PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%FCF Positive2/8 years FCF positive✗MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years(OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap27.5%✓Ackman>= 4%Price / FCF per Share3.6x✓Ackman<= 25Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency2/8 years positive✗SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available yearsOperating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures$206.5M✓Neff> $0 (app proxy for a strong fundamental case)(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization+30.98%; #174/4519 (top 3.9%)✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Valuation models60% pass✓ 3✗ 2▾
Models split on ROOT at $43.87 — fair values range $29.71–$432.62
Graham fair value$29.71✗Graham-47.6% margin vs $43.87Buffett fair value$36.01✗Buffett-21.8% margin vs $43.87Munger fair value$219.99✓Munger+80.1% margin vs $43.87Pabrai fair value$48.04✓Pabrai+8.7% margin vs $43.87Ackman fair value$432.62✓Ackman+89.9% margin vs $43.87
Where It Falls Short
- Profitability20% pass✓ 13✗ 19▾
12 of 15 flag ROOT's profitability — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +9 more
Positive EPS (10 years)2/9 years positive✗GrahamPositive EPS every year for 10 yearsEPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)N/A (negative base EPS)✗Graham>= 33% growthNet Income Positive (10+ years)2/9 years positive✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ yearsROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)-52.8%✗Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)Operating Margin (10-yr trend)4.1% (latest)✓BuffettStable or rising over 10 yearsFree Cash Flow Proxy$52.1M✓BuffettPositive and growingEarnings Variance (10-yr CoV)N/A (negative mean EPS)✗BuffettCoV < 0.3Retained Earnings Effectiveness✗Buffett$1 retained -> > $1 market value createdBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)P/E 18.6x (growth N/A)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passROE24.8%✓Lynch> 15%Net Income / Total Assets2.41%✓PiotroskiROA > 0ROA Change YoY2.07% -> 2.41% (delta: +0.34%)✓PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=12.33%, ROA=2.41%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAPre-Tax Income / Revenue5.2%✗Dreman>= 8%Net Income / Shareholders' Equity24.8%✓Dreman> 12%Margin of SafetyP/E=18.6x, P/B=2.6x✗PabraiP/B < 1.5 or P/E < 15Return on Equity-19.9% (3-yr avg)✗AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)Discount to Intrinsic ValueN/A (negative normalized EPS)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePositive Net Income Frequency2/8 years positive✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 yearsOperating Income / Revenue6.7%✗Ackman>= 15%Net Income / Shareholders Equity24.8%✓Ackman>= 15%5-Year EPS CAGR✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Operating Margin Trend-22.3% (2023) -> 4.1% (2025)✓TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 yearsRevenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendrevenue up, operating margin -22.3% -> 4.1%✓SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holdingNet income / market capitalization+12.15%; #496/6340 (top 7.8%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionGross profit / total assets✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNet income / positive book equity+24.77%; #601/5226 (top 11.5%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNegative 5-year standard deviation of ROA-0.1589; #3991/5884 (top 67.8%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR✗Neff7%-20% annualizedPositive Diluted-EPS Years2/8 years positive✗Schloss>= 70% positive over 5-10 observed years (app rule) - Valuation25% pass✓ 9✗ 17▾
9 of 12 flag ROOT's valuation — Graham, Lynch, Dreman +6 more
Price / 3-yr avg EPS✗Graham<= 15xPrice-to-Book Ratio2.6x✗Graham<= 1.5xP/E x P/B✗Graham<= 22.5Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)P/E 18.6x (growth N/A)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)Price / EPS18.6x✗Dreman< 12x✗Templeton< 12x (fixed ceiling; proxy for the market's cheapest 40%)Price / (CFO / Shares)3.6x✓Dreman< 8xPrice / Book Value per Share2.6x✗Dreman< 1.2x✗Templeton< 1.5x✗SchlossP/B <= 0.80x (app cutoff)Valuation ReasonablenessP/E=18.6x, OE Yield=6.9%✓MungerP/E < 25 or Owner Earnings Yield > 5%P/E or FCF YieldP/E=18.6x, FCF Yield=31.0%✓PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%P/B or P/E vs. Historical AverageP/E=18.6x, P/B=2.6x✗MarksP/E < 15 or P/B < 2.0Discount to Intrinsic ValueN/A (negative normalized EPS)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePrice / FCF per Share3.6x✓Ackman<= 25Price vs. Trailing Low100% of trailing low ($43.87)✓Templeton<= 120% of trailing low (certified split-adjusted live window)Net income / market capitalization+12.15%; #496/6340 (top 7.8%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionPositive book equity / market capitalization+0.4906; #2922/6449 (top 45.3%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionPrice / Diluted EPS18.6x✗NeffP/E <= 15x (app proxy for a P/E 40%-60% below the market)(EPS CAGR % + Dividend Yield %) / P/E✗Neff> 0.7 (Neff's published traditional edge)Price / Tangible Book Value per Share4.75x✗SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)Book Value per Share Change+21.7%✓SchlossLatest BVPS >= earliest BVPS over >= 3 years (app rule)Revenue / market capitalization+2.3421; #967/5247 (top 18.4%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization+30.98%; #174/4519 (top 3.9%)✓OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionTrailing six-month price return through the evaluation date-0.30%; #2808/6202 (top 45.3%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Growth25% pass✓ 5✗ 7▾
6 of 8 flag ROOT's growth — Graham, Lynch, Dreman +3 more
EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)N/A (negative base EPS)✗Graham>= 33% growthBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)P/E 18.6x (growth N/A)✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR✗Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passEPS Growth Direction$-2.73 (2018) -> $2.36 (2025)✓DremanPositive over recent yearsEPS CAGR✗Dreman> 5% annualizedPositive Net Income Frequency2/8 years positive✗MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years3yr Median Revenue Growth46.4%✓Ackman>= 5%Positive EPS Growth Frequency4/5 years with positive EPS growth✓AckmanPositive EPS growth in >= 3 of last 5 years5-Year EPS CAGR✗Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendrevenue up, operating margin -22.3% -> 4.1%✓SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding5-year Revenue CAGR34.3%✓SleepCAGR > 7%3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR✗Neff7%-20% annualized - Debt & Leverage36% pass✓ 6✗ 7▾
7 of 11 flag ROOT's debt & leverage — Buffett, Lynch, Munger +4 more
Debt/Equity & Interest CoverageD/E: 0.60, IC: 5.9x✗BuffettD/E < 0.5 AND Interest Coverage > 5xTotal Debt / Equity0.60✗Lynch< 0.33Cash - Long-term Debt$398.8M✓LynchPositive preferredLT Debt / Total Assets Change13.38% -> 11.96%✓PiotroskiDecreased YoYTotal Debt / Shareholders' Equity0.60✓Dreman< 0.8✓Templeton< 1.0 (fixed cap; proxy for below-sector-median leverage)✓SchlossD/E < 1.00xDebt Levels0.60✗MungerDebt/Equity < 0.5✗AkreDebt/Equity < 0.3Interest Coverage & Debt/EBITDAIC=3.0x, D/EBITDA=2.7x✗MarksInterest Coverage > 3x; Debt/EBITDA < 4xTotal Debt / Shareholders Equity0.60✓Ackman<= 1.0Negative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)-0.6040; #2673/4210 (top 63.5%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities✗SchlossCurrent ratio >= 1.50x (app cutoff) - Verdicts43% pass✓ 6✗ 8▾
Split decision: 8 FAIL · 4 PASS · 2 BUY · 2 NEUTRAL
Overall verdict✗GrahamFAIL (1/7)✗BuffettFAIL (2/7)✗LynchFAIL (3/6)✓PiotroskiBUY (F-Score 6)✓DremanPASS (4/10)✓MungerPASS (2/4)✗PabraiFAIL (1/3)✗AkreFAIL (2/6)✗MarksFAIL (0/5)✓AckmanBUY (7/9)✓TempletonPASS (4/8)✓SleepPASS (3/6)•AsnessNEUTRAL (Not ranked)✗NeffFAIL (2/6)✗SchlossFAIL (2/7)•OshaughnessyNEUTRAL (Not ranked) - Efficiency50% pass✓ 3✗ 2▾
2 of 4 pass — Akre and Sleep object
Revenue / Total Assets Change YoY0.79x -> 0.91x✓PiotroskiImproved YoYReturn on Invested Capital15.7%✓Munger> 15%ROIC (high and growing)FY2023: ROIC=-17.2%; FY2024: ROIC=15.4%; FY2025: ROIC=10.1%✗AkreLatest 3 consecutive FYs: ROIC > 15% in eachReinvestment Rate x ROIC10.1% (RR=100% x ROIC=10.1%)✓AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%ROIC (5-year)1/5 years above 12% (latest 10.1%)✗SleepROIC > 12% in a majority of years
Business & financials
Financial snapshot: annual FY 2025. Current investor scores may use newer quarterly data.
Company Profile
Financial Snapshot
Insurers file unclassified balance sheets with no inventory or current accounts, so those criteria are omitted rather than failed for missing data. Return-on-invested-capital tests are omitted too: float funds the balance sheet but never appears in invested capital, and the portfolio it is invested in would be subtracted as spare cash. Debt tests are kept — an insurer’s borrowings are real leverage on top of underwriting.
Shareholder Return
Fiscal 2025
Issued 1.2% of shares last year, 18.8% issued over two.
- Buybacks
- —
- Dividends
- —
What drove EPS
A buyback raises earnings per share without the company earning more. This splits each year's change into the two.
Share count is the denominator the filer used for diluted EPS, recovered as net income ÷ EPS — not the balance-sheet count, which is a point-in-time figure and would put the timing difference into this split. Years with a loss are omitted: a smaller share count makes a loss per share larger, so the decomposition inverts.
Company Financials
Latest TTM and quarters alongside annual years
TTM sums four consecutive quarters and uses the latest quarter-end balances. Quarter columns show three-month results; annual columns show full-year totals. Growth compares the same period a year earlier. EPS is not added for TTM; full-year ratios are blank for quarters.
The latest annual period end is unavailable. Showing the latest fiscal cycle’s quarters; quarter and annual columns may overlap. Quarterly shows the full quarter history.
| Metric | TTM · 2026-09-30 2025-10-01 – 2026-09-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: revenue, net income, operating income, ebit, pre tax income, interest expense, operating cash flow, capex, buybacks. | Q3 FY 2026 2026-07-01 – 2026-09-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, buybacks. | Q2 FY 2026 2026-04-01 – 2026-06-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow. | Q1 FY 2026 2026-01-01 – 2026-03-31 Sources | FY 2025Sources
| FY 2024Sources
| FY 2023Sources
| FY 2022Sources
| FY 2021Sources
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $666.5Mcurrent | -- | -- | -- | $1.1Best. | $1.6Best. | $116.6Mest. | $82.9Mest. | $9.0Best. |
| Revenue | $1.6B↑8% | $381.3M↓2% | $389.2M↑2% | $393.5M↑13% | $1.5B↑29% | $1.2B↑159% | $455.0M↑46% | $310.8M↓10% | $345.4M |
| Operating Income | $104.3M↑21% | $18.3M↑6000% | $34.6M↑27% | $40.9M↑73% | $61.8M↓21% | $78.5M↑177% | -$101.3M↑61% | -$263.1M↑46% | -$485.2M |
| Net Income | $81.0M↑42% | $14.4M↑367% | $25.4M↑15% | $35.9M↑95% | $40.3M↑30% | $30.9M↑121% | -$147.4M↑50% | -$297.7M↑43% | -$521.1M |
| EPS (Diluted) | -- | $0.86↑346% | $1.49↑16% | $2.09↑95% | $2.36↑29% | $1.83↑118% | $-10.24↑51% | $-21.11↓910% | $-2.09 |
| Gross Margin | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Operating Margin | 6.7%↑12% | 4.8%↑6104% | 8.9%↑25% | 10.4%↑53% | 4.1%↓39% | 6.7%↑130% | -22.3%↑74% | -84.7%↑40% | -140.5% |
| ROE | 24.8%↑15% | — | — | — | 14.2%↓7% | 15.2%↑117% | -89.0%↑17% | -107.4%↓11% | -97.1% |
| Total Debt | $197.5M↓1% | $197.5M↓1% | $197.8M↓1% | $200.3M | $200.3M | $200.1M↓33% | $299.0M↑1% | $295.4M | $0 |
| Shareholders' Equity | $327.0M↑23% | $327.0M↑23% | $327.9M↑34% | $325.9M↑43% | $284.3M↑40% | $203.7M↑23% | $165.7M↓40% | $277.1M↓48% | $536.4M |
| Current Ratio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Debt / Equity | 0.60↓20% | 0.60↓20% | 0.60↓26% | 0.61↓30% | 0.70↓28% | 0.98↓46% | 1.80↑69% | 1.07 | 0.00 |
| Operating Cash Flow | $184.2M↓10% | $47.3M↓18% | $57.5M↑11% | $9.3M↓65% | $206.5M↑6% | $195.7M↑682% | -$33.6M↑84% | -$210.6M↑48% | -$403.4M |
| Free Cash Flow | -- | -- | -- | -- | $206.5M↑6% | $195.3M↑678% | -$33.8M↑84% | -$210.6M↑48% | -$408.0M |
Score history
Historical Score Timeline
Industry peers
Industry Peers
Similar companies in Insurance
ROOT vs Peers — Financial Grading
| Company | Market Cap | Price | Revenue | Net Income | ROE | D/E | Op. Margin | Curr. Ratio | Graham | Buffett | Lynch | Piotroski | Dreman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCUNH | $365.1B | $407.46 | $447.6B | $12.1B | 12.0% | 0.78 | 4.2% | 0.79 | 3/7 | 4/7 | 2/6 | F-Score 6 | 3/10 |
| PROGRESSIVE CORP/OH/PGR | $136.6B | $235.78 | $87.7B | $11.3B | 37.3% | 0.23 | — | — | 2/7 | 2/7 | 4/6 | F-Score 6 | 8/10 |
| MARSH & MCLENNAN COMPANIES, INC.MRSH | $98.8B | $207.78 | $27.0B | $4.2B | 27.2% | 1.28 | 23.1% | 1.10 | 3/7 | 3/7 | 2/6 | F-Score 6 | 5/10 |
| CHINA LIFE INSURANCE CO LTDCILJF | $85.1B | $3.01 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5/7 | 1/7 | 3/6 | F-Score 5 | 5/10 |
| Aon plcAON | $71.8B | $338.31 | $17.2B | $3.7B | 39.5% | 1.63 | 25.3% | 1.11 | 2/7 | 4/7 | 3/6 | F-Score 6 | 3/10 |
| HUMANA INCHUM | $54.0B | $450.00 | $129.7B | $1.2B | 6.7% | 0.70 | 2.1% | 2.00 | 3/7 | 2/7 | 1/6 | F-Score 4 | 4/10 |
| SUN LIFE FINANCIAL INCSLF | $40.5B | $72.93 | $30.6B | $2.6B | 14.5% | 0.33 | — | — | 3/7 | 3/7 | 2/6 | F-Score 6 | 6/10 |
| HARTFORD INSURANCE GROUP, INC.HIG | $36.8B | $137.48 | $28.4B | $3.8B | 20.2% | 0.23 | — | — | 3/7 | 3/7 | 4/6 | F-Score 7 | 8/10 |