RLI Corp. RLI has been raising investor optimism on the back of rate increases, improved retention, and a solid liquidity position.Growth ProjectionsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2021 earnings per share is pegged at $3.38, indicating year-over-year increase of 30.5%.Estimate RevisionThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2021 and 2022 has moved 7.3% and 3.1% north, respectively in the past 30 days. This should instill investors' confidence in the stock.Earnings Surprise HistoryRLI has a decent earnings surprise history. It beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the average being 155.21%.Zacks Rank & Price PerformanceRLI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). In the past year, the stock has rallied 14%, compared with the industry’s increase of 20.4%.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchReturn on Equity (ROE)The company’s ROE for the trailing 12 months is 12.3%, better than the industry average of 5.7%. This reflects the company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholders’ fund. The company has averaged a 12.2% return on equity over the past 10 years.Business TailwindsProduct diversification has been driving its growth and financial success. Given an expanded distribution base in personal umbrella, rate increases, improved retention, growth of marine product, new production sources, geographic expansion, growth within existing accounts, and writing of bonds with new customers are likely to fuel the performances of the three operating segments, Casualty, Property, and Surety.Banking on robust performance of Casualty, Property, and Surety segments, underwriting income should continue to improve.By virtue of improvements in the current accident year loss ratio and higher level of favorable development in 2021, the loss ratio is likely to improve.RLI has achieved 25 straight years of a combined ratio below 100, and has beaten the industry ratio by an average of 13 points over the last 10 years. This enables it to provide solid shareholder returns.Operating cash flows should benefit from increased premium receipts and lower levels of loss and settlement expense payments. The insurer expects cash available from operations and investments as well as financing activities and other sources to provide sufficient sources of liquidity to meet the financial needs in the long run.Furthermore, its access to a revolving credit facility ensures borrowing capacity of $60 million, which can be increased to $120 million if necessary. Additionally, its membership in the Federal Home Loan Bank system furnishes it with a secured lending facility with an aggregate borrowing capacity of around $30 million.Courtesy of its solid financial strength, the property and casualty insurer engages in capital deployment to enhance shareholder value. In May 2021, RLI approved a 4.2% dividend hike that marked the 46th consecutive increase. Its current dividend yield of 0.9% is higher than the industry average of 0.4%.The insurer has also been paying special dividends to its shareholders for the last few years. With special dividends, the company has returned over $1.1 billion in dividends over the last decade.Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other top-ranked property and casualty insurers include American Financial Group, Inc. AFG, Everest Re Group, Ltd. RE and W.R. Berkley Corporation WRB, each carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.The bottom line of American Financial surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average being 52.82%.Everest Re surpassed estimates in two of the last four quarters and missed in the other two, the average earnings surprise being 20.33%.W.R. Berkley’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average being 16.51%. Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. It’s bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made. The only question is “Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?” Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today it’s free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.Download FREE: How to Profit from Trillions on Spending for Infrastructure >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report RLI Corp. (RLI): Free Stock Analysis Report W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB): Free Stock Analysis Report Everest Re Group, Ltd. (RE): Free Stock Analysis Report American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research