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	<title>Stock Blog Hub &#187; Accident &amp; Health Insurance</title>
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		<title>(AIZ) Assurant Boosts Share Buyback Program</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/05/16/aiz-assurant-boosts-share-buyback-program/100252</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/05/16/aiz-assurant-boosts-share-buyback-program/100252#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 17:50:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Shawn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assurant Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[W.R. Berkley Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Westar Energy Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WRB]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=100252</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Specialty insurance provider Assurant Inc. (AIZ) has declared an increase in its share buyback authorization program, which comes on the heels of an approval to increase dividend announced last week. The board of directors of Assurant approved the repurchase of up to $600 million of its shares. The new authorization comes on top of $170 million remaining under the existing program as of April 30, 2012. Assurant will use its healthy cash flow from operations to buyback shares. The company ended the first quarter with $600 million in total holding company capital and has a strong balance sheet with a low debt ratio of 18.2% and no debt maturing until 2014.  Assurant has been aggressively buying back shares. In the first four months of 2012, the company has already bought ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/05/16/aiz-assurant-boosts-share-buyback-program/100252/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CNO) CNO Financial Group Reaches Settlement</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/26/cno-cno-financial-group-reaches-settlement/99488</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/26/cno-cno-financial-group-reaches-settlement/99488#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:07:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TMK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Torchmark Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=99488</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Conseco Life Insurance Company (&#8220;Conseco Life&#8221;), a subsidiary of CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO), reached a settlement to pursue with the Nicholas putative class action lawsuit. The litigation comes in the wake of certain changes made last year to certain non-guaranteed elements in some of the universal life policies sold by Conseco Life prior to its takeover. In the hearing a couple of days back, the judge considered Conseco Life’s request for a countrywide status that would act as an approval for the settlement of the claim. The court also complied with Conseco Life’s request for a stay order on any other legal action pertaining to the cost of insurance increase on the Valulife and Valuterm policies in November 2011, that are a part of Nicholas proceedings. Even though if ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/26/cno-cno-financial-group-reaches-settlement/99488/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CNO) CNO Financial Group &#8211; Bear of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/02/08/cno-cno-financial-group-bear-of-the-day-2/91463</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/02/08/cno-cno-financial-group-bear-of-the-day-2/91463#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:05:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=91463</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have downgraded our recommendation on CNO Financial Group (CNO) to Underperform based on the continuous deterioration in the premium revenue of its Bankers Life segment, coupled with the significant underwriting and pricing risks. The company&#8217;s third-quarter earnings results were driven by poor top-line performance in most business segments. The current interest rate environment, which is generating spread compression, will continue to put pressure on the bottom line. We do not expect any significant improvement on that front in the forthcoming quarters as the pricing pressure is expected to persist for awhile. Our six-month target price of $5.75 equates to 7.9x our earnings estimate for 2011. This price target implies an expected negative total return of 10.9% over that period. This is consistent with our Underperform recommendation on the shares. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/02/08/cno-cno-financial-group-bear-of-the-day-2/91463/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CNO) CNO Financial Group &#8211; Bear of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/16/cno-cno-financial-group-bear-of-the-day/90236</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/16/cno-cno-financial-group-bear-of-the-day/90236#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:36:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=90236</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are downgrading our recommendation on CNO Financial Group (CNO) to Underperform based on the continuous deterioration in the premium revenue of its Bankers Life segment, coupled with the significant underwriting and pricing risks. The company&#8217;s third-quarter earnings results were driven by poor top-line performance in most business segments. The current interest rate environment, which is generating spread compression, will continue to put pressure on the bottom line. We do not expect any significant improvement on that front in the forthcoming quarters as the pricing pressure is expected to persist for awhile. Our six-month target price of $5.75 equates to 7.9x our earnings estimate for 2011. This price target implies an expected negative total return of 10.9% over that period. This is consistent with our Underperform recommendation on the shares. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/01/16/cno-cno-financial-group-bear-of-the-day/90236/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AFL) Aflac Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/30/afl-aflac-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/87736</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/30/afl-aflac-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/87736#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:25:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catalyst Health Solutions Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHSI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=87736</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, we reiterated our recommendation on Aflac Inc. (AFL) at Neutral, based on the current sustainability factor. The company’s third quarter operating earnings per share of $1.66 came in comfortably higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.60 and $1.45 reported in the year-ago quarter. Operating earnings also escalated 13.7% year over year to $778 million. Growth in the third quarter was supported by higher premium income, modest investment yields, favorable dollar/yen exchange rate and improvement in the U.S. operations. However, higher claims and benefits and higher investment losses due to de-risking activities partially dampened the positives. Aflac has been achieving its earnings target for the past 22 years, which is reflected in its consistent dividend increment. The company’s strong brand name and solid business model enabled it to improve ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/30/afl-aflac-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/87736/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Analyst Upgrades Shares</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/12/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-analyst-upgrades-shares/86956</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/12/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-analyst-upgrades-shares/86956#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:48:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Danaos Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MetLife Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[StanCorp Financial Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=86956</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are upgrading the recommendation on StanCorp Financial Group Inc. (SFG) to Neutral from Underperform on the back of strong third quarter results. Overall benefit ratio declined compared with the last two quarters. Earnings per share of 96 cents also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 30 cents. StanCorp reported a benefit ratio of 80.7% in the third quarter, lower than  the past two quarters due to favorable group life claims experience. Benefit ratio in second quarter was 84.8%, while the first quarter saw 84.2%.  Also, Group insurance premiums, in the third quarter, showed a 4.5% year-over-year growth, reflecting strong group insurance sales and customer retention. Furthermore, StanCorp enjoys a strong capital position. At quarter-end, available capital was approximately $200 million, up from $155 million at last quarter end. The ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/12/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-analyst-upgrades-shares/86956/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AFL) Dividend Stocks: How to Beat the QE Blues</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/20/afl-dividend-stocks-how-to-beat-the-qe-blues/83151</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/20/afl-dividend-stocks-how-to-beat-the-qe-blues/83151#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:33:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>InvestmentU</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=83151</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Marc Lichtenfeld, Investment U Senior Analyst Wednesday, September 14, 2011: Issue #1600 You hear that beeping sound? That’s the sound of my truck backing up to load it with dividend stocks. This may well be a historic time for some investors. One in which they’ll look back on fondly. While others were panicking, they created the building blocks of their fortunes. Rates are at historic lows. The 10-year bond is at 1.98 percent. The 30-year is barely above 3.25 percent. And rates, particularly short-term ones, could go even lower in the near future. Next week, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets to decide what to do about the sputtering economy. One of the options being discussed is QE3 – a third round of quantitative easing. Quantitative easing is ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/20/afl-dividend-stocks-how-to-beat-the-qe-blues/83151/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AIZ) Assurant  Suffers High Catastrophe Loss &#8211; Hurts Second Quarter Earnings</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/03/aiz-assurant-suffers-high-catastrophe-loss-hurts-second-quarter-earnings/80108</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/03/aiz-assurant-suffers-high-catastrophe-loss-hurts-second-quarter-earnings/80108#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:53:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assurant Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CAT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Caterpillar Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[L]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loews Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=80108</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Assurant Inc. (AIZ) has reported second quarter 2011 operating earnings of 76 cents per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8 cents and significantly lagging the prior-year quarter’s earnings of $1.35 per share. The quarter’s results were hit by high catastrophe loss (cat loss) incidence and a weak performance at the company’s health unit. Total revenue for the reported quarter stood at $2.1 billion, down 3.6% year over year. Lower earned premiums, along with a decrease in net investment income, primarily accounted for the decline. Net earned premiums fell 4.4% year over year to $1.8 billion owing to a decline in premium across all the business segments. Net investment income inched down 0.8% to $173.8 owing to a drop in yields, while the invested assets remained stable. SegmentPerformance Year ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/03/aiz-assurant-suffers-high-catastrophe-loss-hurts-second-quarter-earnings/80108/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CNO) CNO Financial Group Financial Buys Back Shares</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/05/cno-cno-financial-group-financial-buys-back-shares/78253</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/05/cno-cno-financial-group-financial-buys-back-shares/78253#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:19:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TMK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Torchmark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78253</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[CNO Financial Group Inc. (CNO) had spent $16.2 million to buy back 2.2 million shares in the second quarter of 2011. The shares repurchased were made under the repurchase program announced on May 16, 2011. The buyback equals approximately 0.9% of the total outstanding shares as of March 31, 2011. In May, the board of directors of CNO Financial approved a share repurchase program authorizing the company to buy back shares worth $100 million. Concurrently, the company also made a principal prepayment of $16.2 million, same as that of the share repurchase, as required under the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Agreement. The prepayment will thus lower the amount to be paid on September 30, 2016. Also, the outstanding balance was lowered to $308.8 million. It was $325 million ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/05/cno-cno-financial-group-financial-buys-back-shares/78253/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AFL) Aflac Prices $625 Million in Notes</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/afl-aflac-prices-625-million-in-notes/78038</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/afl-aflac-prices-625-million-in-notes/78038#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:12:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78038</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aflac Incorporated (AFL) has priced its yen-denominated (Samurai) bonds aggregating $625 million (¥50 billion) – $359 million (¥28.7 billion) of 1.47% three year notes, $197 million (¥15.8 billion) of 1.84% five year notes and $69million (¥5.5 billion) of three-month Japanese yen Libor plus 1.15% three year notes. The company intends to utilize the proceeds to pay down debt and for general corporate purposes. Alfac sated that the issuance will help to repay ¥35 billion of Uridashi notes, maturing September 2011. With the new issuance, the debt level of the company will increase and it will have to shell out more interest expenses. The company ended the first quarter with notes payables balance of $3.02 billion and incurred interest expense of $45 million. The new issue will also increase the debt ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/30/afl-aflac-prices-625-million-in-notes/78038/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Upgraded</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-upgraded/77931</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-upgraded/77931#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:36:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MetLife Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[StanCorp Financial Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77931</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are upgrading StanCorp Financial Group Inc. (SFG) to Neutral from Underperform based on its excellent underwriting track record, continued better performance at Asset Management segment as well as active share repurchases supported by a strong capital position. StanCorp’s Asset Management segment is benefiting from an increase in administrative fees on increased cash flows. This coupled with lower operating expenses due to the successful implementation of cost reduction initiatives have helped improve results in the segment. Continued growth is expected, leading to increased contributions to the bottom line. Also, StanCorp enjoys a strong capital position. The company has achieved double digit compounded annual growth rate in book value as well as dividend per share. StanCorp is returning value to shareholders by buying back shares. Recently, the company’s board authorized another ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(SFG) Rating Action on StanCorp Financial Group</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/26/sfg-rating-action-on-stancorp-financial-group/77447</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/26/sfg-rating-action-on-stancorp-financial-group/77447#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:50:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FSR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MetLife Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[StanCorp Financial Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77447</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A.M. Best has affirmed the issuer credit rating (ICR) of  “bbb+” and debt ratings of “bbb+” on $250 million 6.875% senior unsecured notes, due 2012 and “bbb-” on $300 million 6.900% junior subordinated debentures, due 2067 of StanCorp Financial Group (SFG). However, the rating agency has downgraded the outlook to negative from stable. Also, A.M. Best affirmed the ICR of “a+” and financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) of Standard Insurance Company and The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, the insurance subsidiaries of StanCorp. The outlook of ICR was lowered to negative from stable while the outlook of FSR was maintained at stable. The downgraded outlook of the ICR was due to higher claims at long-term disability business experienced by the companies. To add to its woes, ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(AFL) Aflac Incurs Losses on Risky Investments</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/26/afl-aflac-incurs-losses-on-risky-investments/77462</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/26/afl-aflac-incurs-losses-on-risky-investments/77462#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:24:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77462</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, Aflac Inc. (AFL) filed a statement disclosing impairment and investment losses of about $610 million to be incurred in the second quarter of 2011. These losses are associated with the company’s exposure to risky investments in the financial institutions of Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain (PIGS). The company expects to retreat from all of its risky investments in Europe by the end of this year. The PIGS nations have been undergoing severe financial crisis since 2008 and are yet to recover from it completely. Hence, Aflac, who holds over $6.3 billion in long-term debt in these nations, has been quite eager to offload all risky investments there. However, the company’s de-risking actions come at a time when the European governments are insisting the banks and insurance companies to actively ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/26/afl-aflac-incurs-losses-on-risky-investments/77462/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(AIZ) Assurant Closes Reinsurance Deal</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/23/aiz-assurant-closes-reinsurance-deal/77294</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/23/aiz-assurant-closes-reinsurance-deal/77294#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:03:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assurant Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CAT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Caterpillar Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[L]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loews Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77294</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, Assurant Specialty, a unit of Assurant Inc. (AIZ) has announced its comprehensive catastrophe (CAT) reinsurance program so as to shield itself from losses in 2011 that looms ahead as an above-average hurricane season. A reinsurance agreement is a kind of reimbursement program for an insurance company. The CAT reinsurance program has been designed in layers with purchases being made in three different parts: The first one being the participation in the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund (FHCF) program is mandatory for insurers writing property insurance in the state of Florida. The FHCF provides reinsurance to about 186 residential property insurers doing business in the state. It reimburses insurers after their hurricane-related residential property insurance losses reach their retention limit. Assurant has chosen a coverage of 90% of losses up to $435 ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/23/aiz-assurant-closes-reinsurance-deal/77294/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(SFG) StanCorp Financial &#8211; Bear of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/12/sfg-stancorp-financial-bear-of-the-day/75962</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/12/sfg-stancorp-financial-bear-of-the-day/75962#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:59:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[StanCorp Financial Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=75962</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When StanCorp Financial (SFG) reported its first-quarter 2011 earnings, the company experienced a higher level of claims incidence in group long-term disability business, resulting in a soft performance. We expect delinquencies on commercial mortgage loans to remain modestly high in the foreseeable future. StanCorp is facing a slowdown in the top-line growth, constrained by economic and competitive forces. Premiums remain pressured due to a group insurance market that continues to reflect a price-competitive sales environment and declines in wage growth and employment levels. Our six-month target price of $37.00 equates to 8.4x our earnings estimate for 2011. Combined with the annual dividend of $0.86 per share, this target price implies a negative return of about 7.0% over that period. This is consistent with our Underperform recommendation on the shares. STANCORP ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/12/sfg-stancorp-financial-bear-of-the-day/75962/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AFL) Company News for May 31, 2011 &#8211; Corporate Summary</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/31/afl-company-news-for-may-31-2011-corporate-summary/75182</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/31/afl-company-news-for-may-31-2011-corporate-summary/75182#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 16:59:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRCM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Broadcom Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deutsche Bank AG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EBAY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eBay Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Entergy Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ETR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FBCM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FBR Capital Markets Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GHM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GOOG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Graham Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marvell Technology Group Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedcoHealth Solutions Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morgan Stanley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MRVL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nasdaq OMX Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NDAQ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nyse Euronext Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wells Fargo & Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weyerhaeuser Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WY]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=75182</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[•    Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:MRVL) reported first quarter fiscal 2012 adjusted earnings per share of 24 cents, 2 cents shy of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 26 cents. Despite the miss, shares increased 8.86% in after-market trade on encouraging second quarter guidance •    Graham Corp. (AMEX:GHM) reported fourth quarter EPS of 27 cents, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 19 cents per share •    Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) was sued by eBay Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:EBAY) PayPal over allegations of stealing mobile payment technology trade secrets •    Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) downgraded AFLAC Inc. (NYSE:AFL) to equal weight •    It was reported that MedcoHealth Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MHS) will lose the Federal Employee Program contract to CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE:CVS), effective January 2012 •    The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) upgraded its rating ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/31/afl-company-news-for-may-31-2011-corporate-summary/75182/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Beats on Top Line</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/27/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-beats-on-top-line/72514</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/27/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-beats-on-top-line/72514#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:42:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MetLife Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[StanCorp Financial Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=72514</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[StanCorp Financial Group (SFG) reported first-quarter 2011 earnings of 76 cents per share from continuing operations, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings also fell behind the year-ago result of $1.13. Net income from continuing operations for the quarter was $35.2 million, down 35% from $54.1 million reported in first-quarter 2010. StanCorp incurred an after-tax net capital loss of $1.5 million or 3 cents per share in the quarter under review. Including the one-time loss, StanCorp reported a net income of $33.7 million or 73 cents per share compared with $49.7 million or $1.04 in the first quarter of 2010. The prior year quarter included after-tax capital losses of $4.4 million or 9 cents per share. The quarter experienced higher level of claims incidence in group long term disability ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/27/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-beats-on-top-line/72514/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNM) Unum Group Analyst Reiterates Shares at Neutral</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/14/unm-unum-group-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-neutral/71573</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/14/unm-unum-group-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-neutral/71573#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:25:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=71573</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Owing to unemployment and sluggish economic recovery that are expected to delay new business accrual and exert pressure on premium growth coupled with low interest rates that are expected to impact investment income and reserving practices, we reiterate out Neutral recommendation on Unum Group (UNM). Unum’s fourth quarter earnings lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate due to soft performance at Unum UK and Colonial Life. Unum&#8217;s U.S. segment, which accounts for a major portion of the company’s premium income, recession unfavorably affected premium growth in 2009. During the most recent quarter premium income witnessed a decline though modest. Due to the slow economic recovery and continued pricing discipline, we expect only a slight increase in enrollments which will restrict the premium growth. Also, at Colonial Life, we expect a moderate premium ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/14/unm-unum-group-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-neutral/71573/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AFL) Aflac Analyst Raises Shares to Outperform</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/25/afl-aflac-analyst-raises-shares-to-outperform/59986</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/25/afl-aflac-analyst-raises-shares-to-outperform/59986#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Nov 2010 04:42:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catalyst Health Solutions Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHSI]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=59986</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Thursday, we upgraded our recommendation on the shares of Aflac Inc. (AFL) to Outperform from Neutral based on its recent dividend hike coupled with the resumption of its stock buyback program, reflecting a fair liquidity and retaining investors’ confidence. Besides, Aflac’s third quarter per share of $1.45 came in modestly ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.39 and also compared favorably with earnings of $1.25 in the year-ago quarter. Earnings for the reported quarter benefited from a top-line growth of 19% year over year and a stronger yen/dollar exchange rate that helped increase operating earnings per share by 7 cents. Aflac has been achieving its earnings target for the last 20 years, which is reflected in its consistent dividend increment. Maintaining this trend, in August 2010, Aflac hiked ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/25/afl-aflac-analyst-raises-shares-to-outperform/59986/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group &#8211; Bear of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/12/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-bear-of-the-day/47734</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/12/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-bear-of-the-day/47734#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:46:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[StanCorp Financial Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=47734</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are downgrading StanCorp Financial (SFG) to Underperform from Neutral as we suspect organic growth will remain restricted in the near term, given the sluggish economic environment and challenging labor market conditions. Additionally, delinquencies on commercial mortgage loans are expected to remain modestly high in the foreseeable future. Shares of StanCorp currently trade at 8.5x our earnings estimate for 2010, a 30% discount to the industry average of 12.2x. On a price-to-book basis, the shares trade at 1.0x, representing a 43% premium to the industry average of 0.7x. The valuation on a price-to-book basis looks fair, given a trailing 12-month ROE that is only 58% ahead of the industry average. Our six-month target price of $36.00 equates to 7.8x our earnings estimate for 2010. Combined with the annual dividend of ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNM) Unum Group Announces Share Repurchase</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/24/unm-unum-group-announces-share-repurchase/38235</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/24/unm-unum-group-announces-share-repurchase/38235#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2010 03:56:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=38235</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a part of its incessant effort to enhance value for it shareholders, the board of directors of Unum Group (UNM) announced a share repurchase authorization and an increase in the quarterly dividend on May 20, 2010. According to the new authorization, Unum will repurchase up to $500 million of its outstanding shares of common stock over the next 12 months in either open market or privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions and regulatory considerations. Unum had bought back common stock worth $700 million in 2008. Furthermore, the board also announced a 12.1% increase in its quarterly common stock dividend. Unum will now pay a quarterly dividend of 9.25 cents per share, up from 8.25 cents paid on February 19, 2010. The increased dividend is expected to be paid ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AIZ) Assurant Announces 7% Increase in Common Stock Dividend</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/17/aiz-assurant-announces-7-increase-in-common-stock-dividend/37428</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/17/aiz-assurant-announces-7-increase-in-common-stock-dividend/37428#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 May 2010 22:34:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assurant Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=37428</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As part of its concerted effort to enhance value for its shareholders, Assurant Inc. (AIZ) announced a 7% increase in its quarterly common stock dividend on May 14, 2010. The board of directors of Assurant will now pay a quarterly dividend of 16 cents per share, up from 15 cents paid on March 8, 2010. The increased dividend will be paid on June 8 to shareholders of record as of May 24. Assurant has had a consistent track record of paying quarterly dividends, and the current dividend is not an exception, representing the company’s sixth straight year of a dividend increase. The industry’s statutory capital levels have fallen sharply during the last few years as a result of market turmoil, and consequently some companies are still facing liquidity challenges. In ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AFL) Aflac First Quarter Earnings Beat</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/29/afl-aflac-first-quarter-earnings-beat/35431</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/29/afl-aflac-first-quarter-earnings-beat/35431#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:18:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=35431</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aflac Inc.’s (AFL) first quarter earnings per share of $1.41 were ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.32. This compared favorably with earnings of $1.22 in the year-ago quarter. Earnings in the reported quarter excluded after-tax realized investment losses of $30 million or 6 cents per share, compared to losses of $10 million or $0.02 per share that were totally offset by a gain of $10 million or $0.02 per share from the extinguishment of debt in the prior-year quarter. Earnings for the reported quarter benefited from top-line growth and a stronger yen/dollar exchange rate that helped increase earnings per share by 5 cents. Including one-time investment losses, GAAP net income for the reported quarter came in at $636 million or $1.35 per share, compared to $569 million or ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/29/afl-aflac-first-quarter-earnings-beat/35431/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CNO) Conseco Reports Earnings And Misses by a Nickel</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/28/cno-conseco-reports-earnings-and-misses-by-a-nickel/29145</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/28/cno-conseco-reports-earnings-and-misses-by-a-nickel/29145#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:20:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=29145</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Conseco, Inc’s (CNO) fourth-quarter operating earnings of 15 cents per share were a nickel short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 20 cents. The results were also down 16.7% from the operating earnings of 18 cents in the year-ago quarter. Though results for the quarter were significantly impacted by charges related to accruals for regulatory settlements and the extinguishment of debt, overall sales were up by 18% over the prior-year quarter due to the strong performance of Conseco’s Bankers Life business. Collected premiums showed a year-over-year decline, especially at Bankers Life and Conseco Insurance Group segments. However, Colonial Penn segment’s results improved slightly. Net operating income came in at $32.0 million, down 4.2% from $33.4 million in the prior-year quarter. The decrease primarily resulted from a 9.1% decrease in EBIT ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/28/cno-conseco-reports-earnings-and-misses-by-a-nickel/29145/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNM) Unum Group&#8217;s Debt Rating Upgraded by Fitch Analyst</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/17/unm-unum-groups-debt-rating-upgraded-by-fitch-analyst/28215</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/17/unm-unum-groups-debt-rating-upgraded-by-fitch-analyst/28215#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:27:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=28215</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Following favorable fourth quarter earnings, the rating agency Fitch upgraded the employee benefits and disability insurance provider Unum Group’s (UNM) senior debt rating to &#8220;BBB&#8221; from &#8220;BBB-.&#8221; Fitch also moved up the group’s issuer default rating to &#8220;BBB+&#8221; from &#8220;BBB&#8221; and raised the insurer financial strength ratings of Unum Group&#8217;s domestic operating subsidiaries to &#8220;A&#8221; from &#8220;A-.&#8221; All the ratings carry a stable outlook. The rating agency acknowledges Unum’s favorable operating performance despite the difficult economic environment. For the fourth quarter of 2009, Unum Group reported earnings of 66 cents per share, up from 63 cents in the prior-year quarter. The operating earnings of its core operations increased 10%, driven in large part by an 11% increase in operating results in Unum U.S., backed by a solid performance by Unum ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/17/unm-unum-groups-debt-rating-upgraded-by-fitch-analyst/28215/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AIZ) Assurant Earnings Report Falls Below Consensus Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/05/aiz-assurant-earnings-report-falls-below-consensus-estimates/27208</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/05/aiz-assurant-earnings-report-falls-below-consensus-estimates/27208#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:16:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assurant Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=27208</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Assurant Inc. (AIZ) fourth quarter earnings of 86 cents per share lagged behind the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.01. Results also compared unfavorably with earnings of $1.30 in the year-ago quarter. Earnings were strained by restructuring charges of $12.3 million and a net operating loss of $29.7 million at Assurant Health. With all of Assurant’s businesses experiencing modest downturns in the current recessionary environment, net earned premiums declined 4% year-over-year to $1.9 billion. Net investment income decreased to $172.5 million from $183.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Segment Results Net operating income at Assurant Solutions improved considerably to $30.2 million from $11.9 million in the prior-year period due to favorable domestic service contract loss experience. Net earned premiums declined 4.0% year-over-year due to the impact of a previously ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/05/aiz-assurant-earnings-report-falls-below-consensus-estimates/27208/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(AFL) Aflac Incorporated Surpasses Expectations &#8211; Raises Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/04/afl-aflac-incorporated-surpasses-expectations-raises-outlook/26887</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/04/afl-aflac-incorporated-surpasses-expectations-raises-outlook/26887#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:42:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=26887</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aflac Incorporated’s (AFL) fourth quarter earnings of $1.18 cents per share were ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.16. This compared favorably with earnings of 98 cents in the year-ago quarter. Earnings in the reported quarter excluded after-tax realized investment losses of $307 million or 65 cents per share, compared to losses of $262 million or 56 cents in the prior-year quarter. Earnings for the reported quarter benefited from a decline in its operating tax rate following the completion of an examination by the Internal Revenue Service, which benefited operating earnings by $24 million or 5 cents per share. Also, the stronger yen/dollar exchange rate helped increase earnings per share by 3 cents. Including one-time investment losses, net income for the reported quarter came in at $251 million or 53 ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/04/afl-aflac-incorporated-surpasses-expectations-raises-outlook/26887/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(CNO) Conseco Offers Common Stock to Pay Down Debt</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/16/cno-conseco-offers-common-stock-to-pay-down-debt/23000</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/16/cno-conseco-offers-common-stock-to-pay-down-debt/23000#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:41:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Suisse Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FBCM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FBR Capital Markets Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morgan Stanley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MS]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=23000</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Conseco Inc. (CNO) said on Monday that it has commenced an offering of 45 million shares of common stock primarily to help pay down debt. The company plans to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to buy up to an additional 4.5 million shares. Conseco intends to use $150 million plus 50% of the net proceeds of more than $200 million to repay debt under its senior credit agreement. The balance will be used for general corporate purposes. Morgan Stanley &#38; Co. Inc., a division of Morgan Stanley (MS), is acting as book-running manager. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, a division of Credit Suisse Group (CS), FBR Capital Markets (FBCM) and Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. are acting as co-managers. We remain concerned with the continued weakness in Conseco’s net results ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/16/cno-conseco-offers-common-stock-to-pay-down-debt/23000/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(CNO) Conseco Offers 2010 Earnings Guidance</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/09/cno-conseco-offers-2010-earnings-guidance/22359</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/09/cno-conseco-offers-2010-earnings-guidance/22359#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:08:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=22359</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Conseco Inc. (CNO) offered its earnings guidance for full year 2010 on Tuesday. The company expects net operating income in the range of 55 to 65 cents a share in 2010. The estimated earnings per share are based on operating income between $145 million and $170 million. The pre-tax operating income (loss) is projected to be in the range of $200 &#8211; $225 million for the company&#8217;s Bankers Life segment, $110 &#8211; $125 million for Insurance Group, $24 &#8211; $30 million for Colonial Penn and $(43) &#8211; $(47) million for Corporate segment. The expenses of about $6 million related to the previously announced merger of three of Conseco&#8217;s insurance subsidiaries are included in the Corporate segment projection. Incorporated in 1979, Indianapolis-based Conseco is the top-tier holding company for a group ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/09/cno-conseco-offers-2010-earnings-guidance/22359/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(AIZ) Assurant Incorporated Upgraded to Neutral</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/29/aiz-assurant-incorporated-upgraded-to-neutral/21458</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/29/aiz-assurant-incorporated-upgraded-to-neutral/21458#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:50:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assurant Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=21458</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are upgrading Assurant Inc. (AIZ) to Neutral from Underperform, as we believe a low debt-to-capital ratio, adequate capitalization and sound liquidity with no debts to repay will shield the company from the ongoing economic challenges. Third quarter 2009 results were particularly impressive, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate due to strong earnings from its solutions and specialty business along with reduced expenses and improved loss ratio and a benign hurricane season. During Nov 2009, rating agency A.M. Best affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSRs) and issuer credit ratings (ICRs) of the property and casualty (P&#38;C) and life and health insurance subsidiaries of the company. Additionally, A.M. Best has affirmed the ICR of “bbb&#8221; of Assurant. The rating agency has also upgraded the FSR of four of its operating subsidiaries to ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/29/aiz-assurant-incorporated-upgraded-to-neutral/21458/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group a Penny Ahead</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/26/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-a-penny-ahead/18790</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/26/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-a-penny-ahead/18790#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:44:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[StanCorp Financial Group Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=18790</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[StanCorp Financial Group Inc.’s (SFG) third quarter earnings of $1.21 per share were just a penny ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.20 per share. The company had earned $1.46 per share in the year-ago quarter. High unemployment rate and rising joblessness continue to impact the company’s earnings. Quarterly results reflect higher-than-expected claims activity and reduced premiums in the group insurance business. However, the company benefited from the expense reduction initiatives. Insurance Services segment reported income before income taxes of $84.3 million compared to $103.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was driven by unfavorable claims experience and a drop in premiums in the group insurance business, partially offset by comparatively favorable claims experience in the individual disability insurance business. Results for this segment were also hurt by ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/26/sfg-stancorp-financial-group-a-penny-ahead/18790/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AIZ) Assurant, Inc.- Bear of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/09/10/aiz-assurant-inc-bear-of-the-day/14818</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/09/10/aiz-assurant-inc-bear-of-the-day/14818#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:50:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assurant Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=14818</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Assurant&#8217;s (AIZ) second-quarter earnings were worse than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, reflecting weak performance of all its business segments, a trend that is expected to remain in place for some time. The company&#8217;s leading position in specialty markets, solid balance sheet and conservative investment approachare the clear positives in Assurant s business model. These positives are more than offset, however, by thesignificant downside risks including the loss of a major distribution or client relationship, higher-than-normalcatastrophe losses, greater healthcare competition, irrational pricing, and deterioration in the manufactured housing industry. Since the negatives outweigh the positives, we have downgraded the shares to Underperform from Neutral. Zacks Investment Research View original at: Zacks.com News Feed]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/09/10/aiz-assurant-inc-bear-of-the-day/14818/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AOC) Expect Health Care Costs to Rise</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/26/aoc-expect-health-care-costs-to-rise/13445</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/26/aoc-expect-health-care-costs-to-rise/13445#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:11:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AOC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aon Corp.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=13445</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Cost to employers for health care plans is expected to rise 10.5% within the next 12 months primarily as a result of rising costs Incorporatedreasing demand for services and an aging population. Aon Consulting, the global human capital consulting organization of Aon Corporation (AOC), surveyed about 60 health insurers around the country. The study found that average health care costs are expected to increase 10.5% in the next year, down slightly from last year’s increase forecast of 10.6%. Costs of prescription drugs are expected to increase 9.3%, slightly lower than the 9.4% trend rate in the prior year. The specialty pharmacy trend rate is 13.2%, up from 12.4% in the prior year. For retirees over the age of 65 years, health care rate increases are projected to be 6.6% for ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/26/aoc-expect-health-care-costs-to-rise/13445/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CNO) Class Action Suits Against Conseco</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/10/cno-class-action-suits-against-conseco/12232</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/10/cno-class-action-suits-against-conseco/12232#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:27:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=12232</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Class Action Suits Against Conseco A number of law firms have filed a class action lawsuit against Conseco Inc. (CNO) on behalf of purchasers of its common stock between August 4, 2005 and March 17, 2008. Shalov Stone Bonner &#38; Rocco LLP, Izard Nobel LLP and Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman &#38; Robbins LLP charged Conseco and certain of its officers and directors with violations of the federal securities laws. The lawsuits are a consequence of a disclosure by Conseco on March 17, 2008 that it did not maintain effective controls over the accounting and disclosure of insurance policy benefits and the liabilities for insurance products, and that it would therefore restate its financial results for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2006, along with affected Selected Consolidated Financial Data ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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	</channel>
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