What type of insurance company is classified as always for profit and publicly traded?

A stock insurance company is a type of insurer that is organized for profit and is publicly traded. This structure allows the company to raise capital by selling shares to investors, who then have an ownership stake in the company. The profits generated are typically distributed to shareholders in the form of dividends. Because stock insurance companies are ultimately accountable to their shareholders, their primary focus is on profitability and maximizing returns on investment, which distinguishes them from mutual insurance companies that are owned by policyholders and prioritize the policyholders' interests.

In contrast, mutual insurance companies are owned by the policyholders themselves and operate on a non-profit basis, aiming to provide benefits to their members rather than generating profits for external shareholders. Reinsurers provide insurance to insurance companies and do not directly engage with the insured public, thus not fitting into the profit-driven framework of this question. Reciprocal insurers are essentially groups of individuals or organizations that mutually insure one another, also lacking the for-profit, publicly traded nature of stock companies. This distinction is fundamental in understanding the various types of insurance business models and their financial motivations.