Root CEO says AI agents could shift auto insurance toward risk pricing. Alex Timm says agents could compare coverage and prices using driver details, while JD Power figures show broad AI-tool use but do not count autonomous quote comparisons. Oct 29, 2026, 2:57 PM PDT Root Insurance founder and CEO Alex Timm says AI agents may let drivers compare auto policies using personal details, a shift he argues would make insurers compete more on individualized risk pricing. In an Oct. 28 op-ed for Digital Insurance, Timm said an agent could weigh a driver's location, vehicle and driving record when comparing coverage and prices. He argues that easier comparisons could help drivers shop, while insurers with stronger risk-pricing methods could gain an edge. "AI agents drive pure price shopping," Timm wrote. These are potential effects he describes, not reported results. Discover more Economic news subscription Economic analysis reports Financial market insights JD Power said in a June 2026 release, citing its January AI and Insurance Special Report, that 32% of auto insurance shoppers had used AI tools during their search. It said 33% found the information unhelpful, and AI users were more than 1.3 times as likely as nonusers to switch insurers. The figures cover AI tools broadly; they do not measure autonomous agents gathering quotes across carriers. A separate JD Power digital-experience study found one-third of insurance shoppers had encountered tools comparing prices across brands. Another 27% encountered tools for comparing policy options within one brand, while 28% found no such tools. The study drew on 11,553 evaluations conducted from January through March 2026. Root's 2025 annual report cited the internet's rise as a sales channel in the late 1990s as an earlier technology-driven shift in personal auto insurance. In its second-quarter 2026 shareholder letter, Root, Inc. said competition in direct sales remained challenging as insurers increased marketing spending while lowering prices. The company said it was positioned across direct sales, comparison marketplaces, embedded partnerships, independent agents and AI-enabled customer experiences. Root said it expected to launch a new predictive pricing model in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Root Insurance expands personal auto into Wyoming. October 29, 2026 Root Insurance is offering personal auto insurance in Wyoming, expanding its presence to 38 states. Wyoming coverage includes liability, comprehensive and collision. Drivers can get quotes, select coverage limits and deductibles, and purchase policies online or through Root's mobile app. No test drive is required to purchase a policy in Wyoming. Customers can also access insurance documents, make policy changes and start claims through the app. The expansion follows Root's entry into New Jersey in July. The company said it plans to expand across the contiguous United States by the end of 2027. The coverage is subject to eligibility and availability, and is underwritten by Root Property & Casualty. Root distributes insurance directly to consumers and through independent agents and distribution partners. Agents can apply for appointment through its agent website. Columbus, Ohio-based Root Inc. is the parent company of Root Insurance Co. The company uses technology, data science and driving behavior to price auto insurance. Was this article valuable? Interested in auto? Get automatic alerts for this topic.

Root, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROOT) stock rated "hold" by wall street brokerages. Shares of Root, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROOT - Get Free Report) have received an average rating of "Hold" from the seven brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have issued a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $58.75. Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen downgraded shares of Root from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Thursday, August 20th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Root from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their price target for the company from $78.00 to $58.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued a "cautious" rating on shares of Root in a research report on Monday, October 12th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Root from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on shares of Root from $95.00 to $80.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Root stock performance. Shares of ROOT opened at $53.87 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $51.69 and a 200 day simple moving average of $54.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $834.45 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.22 and a beta of 2.91. Root has a 12 month low of $40.91 and a 12 month high of $91.00. Root (NASDAQ:ROOT - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $1.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.66. The company had revenue of $389.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $395.14 million. Root had a net margin of 3.78% and a return on equity of 19.72%. Root's quarterly revenue was up 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.29 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Root will post 4.46 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional investors weigh in on Root. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in ROOT. CoreCap Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Root during the second quarter worth about $42,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Root in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $219,000. Leonteq Securities AG bought a new stake in Root during the first quarter worth about $332,000. Quantinno Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Root in the 1st quarter worth approximately $920,000. Finally, Zweig DiMenna Associates LLC bought a new position in shares of Root during the first quarter valued at $1,193,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 59.82% of the company's stock. Root company profile. Root, Inc (NASDAQ:ROOT) is an insurance technology company that uses mobile technology and data-driven underwriting to provide personal insurance products. The company is best known for its automobile insurance, which is offered through a digital platform designed to allow customers to obtain quotes, purchase coverage and manage policies through a smartphone. Root's auto insurance model uses information collected through its mobile application, including driving-related data, to evaluate individual driving behavior and help determine eligibility and pricing. Further reading. Receive News & Ratings for Root Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Root and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.