** Insurance firm HCI Group's HCI.N shares jump 12.3% to $173.92
** HCI late Thursday reported Q1 profit above Wall Street estimates for the 11th straight quarter, per LSEG
** Co also announced it would pursue a spin-off of its insurance technology unit Exzeo Group by the end of 2025
** William Blair says spin-off could unlock significant value for shareholders and will help clear conflict-of-interest concerns as Exzeo seeks homeowners insurance customers beyond HCI
** 4 of 6 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher and 2 "hold"; median PT $177.50 - data compiled by LSEG
** As of last close, HCI stock up 32.9% YTD
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))