Primerica, Inc. (NYSE:PRI) reported second-quarter 2017 operating income of $1.36 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.35 by nearly 0.7%. Also, the bottom line improved 14.3% year over year.
The quarter witnessed solid performance across Term Life Insurance as well as Investment and Savings Products. Also, the company’s sales force leadership displayed an excellent performance. Share buybacks too offered an additional upside to the bottom line.
Primerica, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Primerica, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Primerica, Inc. Quote
Operational Update
Operating revenues grew 11% year over year to $414 million on higher net premiums, plus commissions and fees. Lower investment income was a partial offset though. Revenues outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $397 million.
While Term Life Insurance revenues increased 13.5%, Investment and Savings Products revenues improved 8.4%. Corporate and Other Distributed Products revenues however, declined 4.5% year over year.
Life Licensed Sales Force had nearly 0.1 million representatives at the end of the second quarter, up 8.1% year over year.
Total benefits and expenses of $317.3 million were up 10.5 % year over year due to higher benefits and claims, amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs, sales commissions, insurance expenses, insurance commissions and other operating expenses.
Adjusted operating income before taxes increased 8.9% year over year on 6.6% higher operating income at Term Life Insurance and 10.0% growth at Investment and Savings Products.
Financial Update
Cash and cash equivalents were $154.5 million as of Jun 30, 2017, down 27.1% from Dec 31, 2016.
Total investments were $2.6 billion, up 10.2% from Dec 31, 2016.
Notes payable were $373 million, almost flat with 2016-end level.
Adjusted stockholders’ equity totaled $1.2 billion, up 3.5% from the level at Dec 31, 2016.
Primerica Life Insurance Company’s statutory risk-based capital (RBC) ratio was about 440% as of Jun 30, 2017.
Return on equity stood at 20.1% in the second quarter.
Share Repurchase Update
Primerica spent $45.2 million to buy back 0.6 million shares in the quarter.
Zacks Rank
Primerica 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 so far, both The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) as well as The Travelers Companies, Inc’s. (NYSE:TRV) bottom lines missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate, while RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) beat the same.
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