AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (NYSE:AXS) reported second-quarter 2017 earnings of $1.31 per share that surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by nearly 4%. Also, earnings skyrocketed 157% from the year-ago quarter
Including net realized investment losses of 5 cents, foreign exchange losses of 43 cents, and bargain purchase gain of 18 cents, net income came in at $1.01per share, down about 22% year over year.
Axis Capital Holdings Limited Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Axis Capital Holdings Limited Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Axis Capital Holdings Limited Quote
Operational Update
Operating revenues of about $1.09 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.05 million. Revenues increased 5% year over year.
Gross premiums written increased 3% year over year to about $1.4 billion. The improvement was driven by 6% higher premiums written in the Reinsurance segment and 2% higher premiums written in the Insurance segment.
Net investment income increased 16% year over year to $106 million driven bychange in fair value of alternative investments.
Total expense in the quarter increased 9% year over year to $1 billion due to higher acquisition costs and administrative expenses.
AXIS Capital’s underwriting income increased nearly six folds year over year to $57 million. Combined ratio improved 460 basis points (bps) to 97.6%. Catastrophe and weather-related pre-tax net losses were $41 million compared with $49 million in the year-ago quarter.
Segment Results
Insurance: Gross premiums written increased 2% year over year to $796 million owing to the acquisition of the aviation business of Aviael and a better performing liability line of business.
Net premiums earned increased 3% year over year to $493 million on premium growth in accident, health and property lines.
Underwriting loss of $0.5 million narrowed from the year-ago loss of $11.4 million. Combined ratio improved 30 bps to 100.2%.
Reinsurance: Gross premiums written in the quarter increased 6% year over year to $566 million, largely due to a higher level of premiums in the motor, catastrophe and property lines partially offset by a decline in the agriculture line.
Net premiums earned decreased 4% year over year to $487.6 million on premium growth in the agriculture line.
Underwriting income of $57.4 million increased from $21.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Combined ratio improved 710 bps year over year to 97.6%.
Financial Update
AXIS Capital exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $728 million, down 30% from the 2016-end level.
Cash flow from operation was $185 million compared with $77 million in the year-ago quarter.
As of Jun 30, 2017, diluted book value per share was $60.45, up 5% year over year.
Operating return on equity was 8.6% compared with 3.6% in year-ago quarter.
Share Repurchase and Dividend Update
The company repurchased 2 million shares for $131 million. AXIS Capital has $739 million remaining authorization under the common shares’ repurchase program up to Dec 31, 2017. But it has been suspended due to the acquisition of Novae.
The company declared a dividend of 38 cents per common share.
Zacks Rank
Arch Capital Group presently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Insurers
Among other players from the insurance industry that have reported their second-quarter earnings, the bottom line at Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) and Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE:FNF) beat their respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) missed the same.
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