Accident & Health Insurance
(AFL) Aflac’s Credibility Affirmed by Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings affirmed its credit and insurance strength ratings on Aflac Inc. (AFL) and its subsidiaries, reflecting its confidence in the fundamental growth of the company. Accordingly, Aflac and its subsidiaries continue...18Apr2013 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(AIZ) Assurant Reiterated at Neutral
We are reiterating our Neutral recommendation on Assurant Inc. (AIZ) following the fourth quarter earnings release. The company reported earnings ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate and threw a positive earnings surprise of 122.6%....25Feb2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(UNM) A.M. Best Reiterates Unum Ratings
A.M. Best Co. reiterated the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” of Unum Group (UNM) and its present debt securities. Alongside the rating agency reiterated the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A” (Excellent) and ICR of...17Feb2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(CNO) CNO Financial – Bull of the Day
We are upgrading our recommendation on CNO Financial (CNO) to Outperform based on the hike in its buyback program and prospects of significant capital deployment in 2013. The latest recapitalization plan has also improved the capital structure...18Jan2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(CNO) CNO Financial Group Reveals Fourth Quarter Share Buyback
On Monday, CNO Financial Group Inc. (CNO) announced that it repurchased approximately 8.64 million shares for $9.34 per share in the fourth quarter of 2012. The repurchased shares represented 3.8% of the 230 million shares outstanding...5Jan2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(AIZ) Assurant Stays Neutral
We are reiterating our Neutral recommendation on the shares of Assurant Inc. (AIZ). While we expect long term out performance from the company, results in the near term will continue to be affected by micro as well as macro economic...1Jan2013 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(AIZ) Assurant’s Fourth Quarter Report to be Impacted by Hurriacane Sandy
After witnessing benign catastrophe loss during the first nine months of 2012, property and casualty insurer Assurant Inc. (AIZ) is set to incur pre-tax cat losses in the range of $200–$220 million in the fourth quarter of 2012....21Dec2012 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(CNO) CNO Financial Group – Bull of the Day
CNO Financial Group’s (CNO) third quarter earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-ago numbers on the back of continued favorable trends in annuity spreads, annuity persistence and improving benefit ratios,...3Nov2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(CNO) CNO Financial Group Recapitalization and Third Quarter Buyback
On Friday, CNO Financial Group Inc. (CNO) announced the completion of various financial transactions that were a part of a recapitalization plan commenced in the beginning of September. Additionally, the company publicized the buyback...9Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(AFL) Aflac Raises $450M from Notes
Recently, Aflac Inc. (AFL) announced the sale of long-term subordinated notes worth $450 million, thereby inflating it from the initial plan to issue notes worth $250 million. Additionally, a green shoe provision gives the company...9Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(CNO) CNO Financial Group – Bull of the Day
CNO Financial Group’s (CNO) second quarter earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate driven by modest revenue growth. Most segments showed improvement in operating earnings, while repayment of senior notes improved debt-to-total...8Oct2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Sees Rating Action
A.M. Best Co. lowered the issuer credit rating (“ICR”) to “bbb” from “bbb+” of StanCorp Financial Group Inc. (SFG), besides downgrading the debt ratings. The outlook, however, was upgraded to stable from negative. Concurrently,...14Aug2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(UNM) Unum Group Analyst Remains Neutral on Shares
We retain our Neutral recommendation on Unum Group (UNM) given the low interest rate environment, weak results at Unum U.K. and disappointing sales at Colonial Life. Also, the current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the second quarter...11Jul2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(AIZ) Assurant Boosts Share Buyback Program
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...16May2012 | Shawn | Comments Off | Continued
(CNO) CNO Financial Group Reaches Settlement
Conseco Life Insurance Company (“Conseco Life”), 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...26Apr2012 | vitalstocks | Comments Off | Continued
(CNO) CNO Financial Group – Bear of the Day
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....8Feb2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(CNO) CNO Financial Group – Bear of the Day
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....16Jan2012 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(AFL) Aflac Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares
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...30Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Analyst Upgrades Shares
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...12Nov2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(AFL) Dividend Stocks: How to Beat the QE Blues
by Marc Lichtenfeld, Investment U Senior Analyst Wednesday, September 14, 2011: Issue #1600 You hear that beeping sound? That’s the sound...20Sep2011 | InvestmentU | 0 comments | Continued
(AIZ) Assurant Suffers High Catastrophe Loss – Hurts Second Quarter Earnings
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...3Aug2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(CNO) CNO Financial Group Financial Buys Back Shares
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...5Jul2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(AFL) Aflac Prices $625 Million in Notes
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...30Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Upgraded
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...29Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(SFG) Rating Action on StanCorp Financial Group
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)....26Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(AFL) Aflac Incurs Losses on Risky Investments
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...26Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(AIZ) Assurant Closes Reinsurance Deal
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...23Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(SFG) StanCorp Financial – Bear of the Day
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...12Jun2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(AFL) Company News for May 31, 2011 – Corporate Summary
• 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...31May2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued
(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Beats on Top Line
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...27Apr2011 | vitalstocks | 0 comments | Continued