Best Insurance

Best Insurance Stocks today - Cigna insurance stocks performance 2013 : Health insurer Cigna Corp said that it expects 2013 earnings growth of 4 to 9 percent, below its average long-term forecasts as it confronts U.S. unemployment in the high-single digits, limited wage growth and a gradual rise in the use of medical services.

Cigna's outlook followed up on comments earlier this month from its executives about the "headwinds" expected in the coming year, as the company prepares for more aspects of U.S. healthcare reform to take hold.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, includes a variety of changes and regulations that affect insurers, many of which will kick in by 2014.

Cigna President David Cordani said he does not expect the adoption of health exchanges among individuals and small companies in the next two years to hurt Cigna because it does not have a lot of those groups among its customers.

Chief Financial Officer Ralph Nicoletti told investors and analysts at a meeting on Friday that it expects total revenue will likely rise to a range of $31.5 billion to $32.5 billion next year. That is above analyst expectations of $29.3 billion revenue in 2013.

Revenue will grow across the company and its international business, which includes operations in Turkey and India, would increase the most at more than 20 percent.

Earnings per share will rise to a range of $5.80 to $6.25, excluding items, he said. Analysts were forecasting earnings of $6.32 per share ahead of the meeting. It was not immediately clear if those two figures were on the same basis.

 Cigna is in a strong position to see growth in its international and commercial healthcare coverage, according to BMO Capital, a financial services company that provides clients from businesses and government’s access to a wide variety of services and products. BMO believes that some of the most important parts of the health insurance providers business are also strengthening.

Furthermore, the company’s stock prices are also projected to increase, as analyst Dave Shove increased his 12-month anticipation for the price of the company’s stock from USD $60 to $65.

Earlier this month at its annual investor day presentation, Cigna Corp released their projections for 2013, with adjusted earnings of about USD $5.80 to $6.25 per share. These figures are lower and more conservative than average expectations from other analysts, which set expectations at about USD $6.33 on average, according to FactSet, a multinational financial data and software company.

Many reasons for the optimistic outlooks relate to Cigna’s strong portfolio of product offerings when compared to competitors. The company has a strong presence in the United States, which Shove says will remain a core aspect of the company’s focus. However, their overseas business is also growing through the sales of individual insurance and expatriate policies that offer coverage to people who live outside their home countries.

In addition to the company’s overseas potential, operating expenses overseas are also decreasing, making it easier for Cigna to continue expanding internationally.

Goldman Sachs analyst Matthew Borsch wrote in a research note that the company was conservative in its estimates for 2013. He also decreased his projection for a 12-month price target by USD $2 to $56 and Cigna’s forecast was also below Leerink Swann analyst, Jason Gurda’s estimate of $6.30 per share.

“We came away (from Friday’s presentation) increasingly confident in the company’s diversified growth drivers and ability to successfully navigate the industry changes that are scheduled to occur over the next couple years,” he wrote.

Positive results for Cigna then, 2013 will hopefully go as expected and offer promise to its policyholders in the new year.

 : * Says sees 2013 adjusted EPS $5.80 to $6.25

* Says sees 2013 revs $31.5 billion to $32.5 billion

* Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S FY 2013 earnings per share view $6.32, revenue view $29.28 billion.

Best insurance stocks today - Zurich Insurance stock performance 2013 ; Zurich Insurance Group AG (ZURN), Switzerland’s biggest insurer, said it is making “good progress” to achieving targets for 2013 and expects to pay an “attractive” dividend.

The company, which is holding an investor day in Zurich, has cut costs by $200 million as it targets expense reductions in “mature markets” of $500 million by the end of next year, the insurer said today in an e-mailed statement.

Chief Executive Officer Martin Senn said he’s confident that Zurich Insurance’s cash flows and capital position will allow an “attractive and sustainable dividend.” The insurer may raise the dividend for 2012 to 17.50 francs ($18.85), according to data compiled by Bloomberg, after leaving the 2011 payout unchanged at an 11-year high of 17 francs a share.

The statement “should provide the market with reassurance on the high dividend paying capacity,” said Stefan Schuermann, a Zurich-based analyst with Vontobel Holding AG who has a hold rating on the stock.

The stock rose 1.8 percent to 234.90 francs as of 9:45 a.m. in Zurich trading, giving the company a market value of 34.8 billion francs. Zurich Insurance has increased 11 percent this year, lagging behind the Bloomberg Europe 500 Insurance Index (BEINSUR)’s 28 percent gain.

While the insurer is targeting a business operating profit after tax return on equity of 16 percent in the long term, Zurich Insurance reiterated today that in the current environment, a goal of 2 percentage points below that is more realistic.

Zurich Insurance reported a 62 percent decline in third- quarter profit earlier this month following a $550 million write-off at its German general insurance business.

Best Insurance Stocks to Buy today : This week, nine Insurance stocks are improving their overall ratings on Portfolio Grader. Each of these stocks is rated an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

Universal Insurance Holdings (AMEX:UVE) is making headway this week, with the company’s rating improving to an A (“strong buy”) from a B (“buy”) last week. Universal Insurance is an insurance company that offers homeowners, property and casualty insurance products. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategories of Earnings Growth, Earnings Momentum, Earnings Revisions, Cash Flow, and Sales Growth, UVE also gets A’s. The stock’s trailing PE Ratio is 7.50.

Kansas City Life Insurance (NASDAQ:KCLI) is making progress this week as its rating of C (“hold”) from last week increases to a B (“buy”) rating this week. Kansas City Life Insurance offers a variety of individual life insurance and annuity policies, as well as group life insurance distributed primarily through numerous general agencies.

Horace Mann Educator (NYSE:HMN). The company’s rating climbs to A from the previous week’s B. Horace Mann Educators markets and underwrites personal lines of property and casualty insurance, retirement annuities, and life insurance. The stock currently has a trailing PE Ratio of 7.50.

Alleghany (NYSE:Y) improves from a C to a B rating this week. Alleghany engages in the property and casualty, and surety insurance business in the United States. The stock’s trailing PE Ratio is 4.80.


The rating of Selective Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SIGI) moves up this week, rising from a C to a B. Selective Insurance Group offers property and casualty insurance products and services the eastern and midwestern regions of the United States.

Fortegra Financial (NYSE:FRF) improves from a B to a A rating this week. Fortegra Financial offers insurance products and services to insurance companies, agents and brokers.

 Maiden Holdings (NASDAQ:MHLD). The company’s rating climbs to B from the previous week’s C. Maiden Holdings focuses on providing non-catastrophic, customized reinsurance products and services. The stock has a trailing PE Ratio of 8.80.

Global Indemnity (NASDAQ:GBLI) earns a B this week, jumping up from last week’s grade of C.

Safety Insurance Group (NASDAQ:SAFT) is seeing ratings go up from a C last week to a B this week. Safety Insurance Group is a provider of private passenger automobile insurance in Massachusetts. At present, the stock has a dividend yield of 2.4%

Universal Insurance Holdings stock rating strong buy : Universal Insurance Holdings (AMEX:UVE) is making headway this week, with the company’s rating improving to an A (“strong buy”) from a B (“buy”) last week. 

Universal Insurance is an insurance company that offers homeowners, property and casualty insurance products. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategories of Earnings Growth, Earnings Momentum, Earnings Revisions, Cash Flow, and Sales Growth, UVE also gets A’s. The stock’s trailing PE Ratio is 7.50.