Analyst Ratings February 23, 2026

Barclays Starts Coverage on Ethos Technologies at Overweight, Sets $20 Target

Analyst sees room for multiple expansion and estimate upgrades as market reassesses peer group; Baird also begins coverage with an $18 target

By Hana Yamamoto LIFE
Barclays Starts Coverage on Ethos Technologies at Overweight, Sets $20 Target
LIFE

Barclays has initiated coverage of Ethos Technologies (NASDAQ:LIFE) with an overweight rating and a $20.00 price target, implying roughly an 85% upside from the stock's $10.80 level. Independent platform analysis flags the shares as trading below a platform Fair Value estimate. Barclays pointed to a combination of a large addressable market, a technology-driven, asset-light business model, product expansion, and strong Rule of 40 performance as reasons for a constructive view. Separately, Baird also began coverage, assigning an outperform rating and an $18 target.

Key Points

  • Barclays initiated coverage on Ethos Technologies (NASDAQ:LIFE) with an overweight rating and a $20.00 price target, implying about 85% upside from the $10.80 trading level.
  • Barclays cited a large U.S. life insurance addressable market (nearly 10 million annual buyers), a deep technology stack with an asset-light insurance approach, ongoing product expansion, and Rule of 40 outperformance as drivers of its positive stance.
  • Baird also began coverage, assigning an outperform rating with an $18.00 target; a financial platform’s analysis indicates the stock trades below that platform’s Fair Value estimate.

Barclays has opened coverage on Ethos Technologies (NASDAQ:LIFE) with an overweight recommendation and a price target of $20.00. At the time of the firm’s initiation the stock was trading at $10.80, which the analyst noted translates into approximately an 85% upside to the target.

Alongside Barclays’ judgment, analysis from a financial data platform indicates the shares are trading below that platform’s Fair Value estimate, suggesting the stock may be undervalued relative to that benchmark.

In its write-up, Barclays emphasized valuation distinctions. The firm stated Ethos trades at roughly 6x EBITDA, a significant discount to traditional insurance broker peers and more in line with lead-generation peers. By contrast, current market data shows an EV/EBITDA multiple of 13.82 for the company’s $675.6 million market capitalization. Barclays argued the combination of a low reported multiple and the company’s operating characteristics presents potential upside through estimate revisions and multiple expansion if investors begin to value Ethos more like brokerage peers.

Market commentary included a platform tip pointing out the shares have fallen sharply over the past six months, declining 35.9%. That pullback, the tip suggested, may create an entry opportunity for long-term investors if company fundamentals and sentiment recover.


Barclays’ rationale

  • Barclays highlighted Ethos’ total addressable market, noting nearly 10 million people buy life insurance annually in the United States.
  • The firm cited Ethos’ technology stack and its asset-light model from an insurance perspective, emphasizing the company does not take on balance-sheet risk tied to underwriting.
  • Barclays pointed to Ethos’ history of launching new products that broaden revenue streams.
  • The company is operating above the Rule of 40% threshold, a metric Barclays used to underscore operating efficiency and growth balance.

Barclays also suggested investors could purchase shares at multiples comparable to peer-trough lead-generation companies and realize upside if the market shifts its comparative framework back toward brokerages such as Goosehead and similar firms becoming the relevant peer set.

With quarterly results due in two days, investors were told they should expect fresh guidance that could clarify the company’s near-term trajectory.

For investors seeking additional context, the same financial data platform referenced in the report provides five supplemental tips and a suite of financial health metrics for the company.


Other analyst activity

Separately, Baird initiated coverage on Ethos Technologies with an outperform rating and issued an $18.00 price target. Baird’s note highlighted confidence in Ethos’ market position as it incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning into its operations. The firm’s assessment was flagged as potentially influential on investor sentiment and decision-making.

Taken together, the two new initiation reports and the platform’s valuation commentary underscore ongoing analyst interest in Ethos Technologies as market participants weigh its growth profile, technology-enabled model, and comparative valuation among both broker and lead-generation peers.

Risks

  • Near-term volatility around the company’s upcoming earnings report, scheduled in two days, could alter investor expectations - this affects market and financial sectors.
  • Valuation ambiguity - Barclays noted a roughly 6x EBITDA stance while current data lists an EV/EBITDA of 13.82; differing multiples and peer-group placement create uncertainty about appropriate comparables, impacting investor valuation judgments in the insurance and financial services sectors.
  • Recent share price weakness - the stock has fallen 35.9% over the past six months, which may reflect sentiment risks and could continue to pressure market performance in the short term.

More from Analyst Ratings

Mizuho Begins Coverage of Tango Therapeutics, Rates Stock Outperform with $19 Target Feb 23, 2026 Raymond James Lowers Rating on Vertical Aerospace, Flagging Near-Term Funding Risks Feb 23, 2026 Wells Fargo Lifts Alphabet to Overweight as Compute Capacity and Cloud Outlook Improve Feb 23, 2026 Goldman Sachs Starts Coverage on York Space Systems at Neutral, Cites Profitability Hurdles Feb 23, 2026 Goldman Sachs Downgrades Rio Tinto as Cost Pressures Weigh on Results Feb 23, 2026