** Shares of property and casualty insurer Kingstone Companies KINS.O jump as much as 22%, hitting their record high
** Stock last up 19% at $21.65
** KINS late Thursday posted Q1 profit well above Wall Street expectations, its sixth consecutive quarter of profitability
** Co reported 23% growth in its core business direct premiums written in Q1
** CEO Meryl Golden says "continuing favorable competitive landscape" is creating "meaningful opportunities" to underwrite profitable new business in downstate New York
** KINS also reiterated its outlook for FY 2025
** Lone analyst covering the stock rates it "strong buy" with a PT of $19 - data compiled by LSEG
** As of last close, KINS stock up 19.7% YTD
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))