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(CNO) CNO Financial Group – Bear of the Day

vitalstocks — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:05:56 +0000

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’s third-quarter earnings results were driven by poor top-line performance in most business segments. The current interest rate environment, which [...]

(CNO) CNO Financial Group – Bear of the Day

vitalstocks — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:36:06 +0000

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’s third-quarter earnings results were driven by poor top-line performance in most business segments. The current interest rate environment, which [...]

(CNO) CNO Financial Group – Bear of the Day

(AFL) Aflac Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares

vitalstocks — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:25:18 +0000

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 [...]

(AFL) Aflac Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares

(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Analyst Upgrades Shares

vitalstocks — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:48:27 +0000

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% [...]

(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Analyst Upgrades Shares

(AFL) Dividend Stocks: How to Beat the QE Blues

InvestmentU — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:33:12 +0000

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 [...]

(AFL) Dividend Stocks: How to Beat the QE Blues

(AIZ) Assurant Suffers High Catastrophe Loss – Hurts Second Quarter Earnings

vitalstocks — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:53:12 +0000

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. [...]

(AIZ) Assurant Suffers High Catastrophe Loss – Hurts Second Quarter Earnings

(CNO) CNO Financial Group Financial Buys Back Shares

vitalstocks — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:19:21 +0000

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 [...]

(CNO) CNO Financial Group Financial Buys Back Shares

(AFL) Aflac Prices $625 Million in Notes

vitalstocks — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:12:23 +0000

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 [...]

(AFL) Aflac Prices $625 Million in Notes

(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Upgraded

vitalstocks — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:36:18 +0000

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 [...]

(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Upgraded

(SFG) Rating Action on StanCorp Financial Group

vitalstocks — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:50:47 +0000

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. [...]

(SFG) Rating Action on StanCorp Financial Group

(AFL) Aflac Incurs Losses on Risky Investments

vitalstocks — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:24:05 +0000

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 [...]

(AFL) Aflac Incurs Losses on Risky Investments

(AIZ) Assurant Closes Reinsurance Deal

vitalstocks — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:03:52 +0000

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 [...]

(AIZ) Assurant Closes Reinsurance Deal

(SFG) StanCorp Financial – Bear of the Day

vitalstocks — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:59:24 +0000

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 [...]

(SFG) StanCorp Financial – Bear of the Day

(AFL) Company News for May 31, 2011 – Corporate Summary

vitalstocks — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:59:14 +0000

• 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 [...]

(AFL) Company News for May 31, 2011 – Corporate Summary

(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Beats on Top Line

vitalstocks — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:42:55 +0000

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 [...]

(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group Beats on Top Line

(UNM) Unum Group Analyst Reiterates Shares at Neutral

vitalstocks — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:25:45 +0000

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 [...]

(UNM) Unum Group Analyst Reiterates Shares at Neutral

(AFL) Aflac Analyst Raises Shares to Outperform

vitalstocks — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 04:42:55 +0000

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 [...]

(AFL) Aflac Analyst Raises Shares to Outperform

(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group – Bear of the Day

vitalstocks — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:46:19 +0000

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 [...]

(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group – Bear of the Day

(UNM) Unum Group Announces Share Repurchase

vitalstocks — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:56:42 +0000

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 [...]

(UNM) Unum Group Announces Share Repurchase

(AIZ) Assurant Announces 7% Increase in Common Stock Dividend

vitalstocks — Mon, 17 May 2010 22:34:13 +0000

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. [...]

(AIZ) Assurant Announces 7% Increase in Common Stock Dividend

(AFL) Aflac First Quarter Earnings Beat

vitalstocks — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:18:22 +0000

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 [...]

(AFL) Aflac First Quarter Earnings Beat

(CNO) Conseco Reports Earnings And Misses by a Nickel

vitalstocks — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:20:41 +0000

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 [...]

(CNO) Conseco Reports Earnings And Misses by a Nickel

(UNM) Unum Group’s Debt Rating Upgraded by Fitch Analyst

vitalstocks — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:27:42 +0000

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 “BBB” from “BBB-.” Fitch also moved up the group’s issuer default rating to “BBB+” from “BBB” and raised the insurer financial strength ratings of Unum Group’s domestic operating subsidiaries to “A” [...]

(UNM) Unum Group’s Debt Rating Upgraded by Fitch Analyst

(AIZ) Assurant Earnings Report Falls Below Consensus Estimates

vitalstocks — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:16:10 +0000

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 [...]

(AIZ) Assurant Earnings Report Falls Below Consensus Estimates

(AFL) Aflac Incorporated Surpasses Expectations – Raises Outlook

vitalstocks — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:42:32 +0000

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 [...]

(AFL) Aflac Incorporated Surpasses Expectations – Raises Outlook

(CNO) Conseco Offers Common Stock to Pay Down Debt

vitalstocks — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:41:16 +0000

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 [...]

(CNO) Conseco Offers Common Stock to Pay Down Debt

(CNO) Conseco Offers 2010 Earnings Guidance

vitalstocks — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:08:50 +0000

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 [...]

(CNO) Conseco Offers 2010 Earnings Guidance

(AIZ) Assurant Incorporated Upgraded to Neutral

vitalstocks — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:50:15 +0000

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 [...]

(AIZ) Assurant Incorporated Upgraded to Neutral

(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group a Penny Ahead

vitalstocks — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:44:01 +0000

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 [...]

(SFG) StanCorp Financial Group a Penny Ahead

(AIZ) Assurant, Inc.- Bear of the Day

vitalstocks — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:50:38 +0000

Assurant’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’s leading position in specialty markets, solid balance sheet and conservative investment approachare the clear positives in Assurant s business model. These positives [...]

(AIZ) Assurant, Inc.- Bear of the Day

(AOC) Expect Health Care Costs to Rise

vitalstocks — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:11:15 +0000

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 [...]

(AOC) Expect Health Care Costs to Rise

(CNO) Class Action Suits Against Conseco

vitalstocks — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:27:58 +0000

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 & Rocco LLP, Izard Nobel LLP and Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP charged Conseco [...]

(CNO) Class Action Suits Against Conseco