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RLI Corp (RLI) Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates in Q4
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RLI Corp.’s (RLI - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 56 cents per share outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.1%. The bottom line remained flat with the prior-year quarter.
Including realized loss of 16 cents, net income fell 5.3% year over year to 72 cents.
Full-Year 2016
RLI Corp.’s full-year 2016 operating earnings came in at $2.08 per share compared with $2.53 in 2015.
Full-year revenues of $781.7 million improved 3.6% year over year due to a rise in net premiums earned.
Operational Performance
Operating revenues for the quarter totaled $201 million, up 4.1% year over year. Revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $198 million by 1.5%.
Gross premiums written grew 2.9% year over year to $206.4 million on strong performance by the Casualty segment. However, the upside was partially limited by weakness in the Property and Surety segments.
Total expenses increased 7.8% year over year to $174.3 million due to higher loss and settlement expenses and policy acquisition costs.
Underwriting income of this Property and Casualty (P&C) insurer declined 19.1% year over year to $18.2 million. Underwriting income deteriorated due to weakness at the Property and Surety segments. Combined ratio deteriorated 290 basis points year over year to 90.3%.
RLI Corp.’s net investment income declined 4.6% year over year to $13.2 million. Total return in the investment portfolio was (1.2%), while bond portfolio retuned (2.3%). Equity portfolio returned 3.9%.
Financial Update
RLI Corp. exited the fourth quarter with total investments and cash of $2.02 billion, up 3.6% from year-end 2015.
Book value was $18.74 per share as of Dec 31, 2016, down 0.9% from that as of Dec 31, 2015.
Long-term debt was $148.7 million, up 0.1% from the 2015-end level.
Statutory surplus decreased 0.6% year over year to $859.9 million.
Dividend Payout
As of Dec 23, 2016, the P&C insurer paid a special dividend of $2.00 per share. This dividend payment resulted in a tax benefit of $2.4 million (5 cents per share).
In addition, RLI Corp. paid quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share. The insurer has paid more than $1.2 billion to investors over the last 10 years.
Among the other players from the insurance industry that have reported their fourth-quarter earnings so far, the bottom line at Brown & Brown Inc. (BRO - Free Report) , MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG - Free Report) and The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) beat their respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
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RLI Corp (RLI) Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates in Q4
RLI Corp.’s (RLI - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 56 cents per share outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.1%. The bottom line remained flat with the prior-year quarter.
Including realized loss of 16 cents, net income fell 5.3% year over year to 72 cents.
Full-Year 2016
RLI Corp.’s full-year 2016 operating earnings came in at $2.08 per share compared with $2.53 in 2015.
Full-year revenues of $781.7 million improved 3.6% year over year due to a rise in net premiums earned.
Operational Performance
Operating revenues for the quarter totaled $201 million, up 4.1% year over year. Revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $198 million by 1.5%.
Gross premiums written grew 2.9% year over year to $206.4 million on strong performance by the Casualty segment. However, the upside was partially limited by weakness in the Property and Surety segments.
Total expenses increased 7.8% year over year to $174.3 million due to higher loss and settlement expenses and policy acquisition costs.
Underwriting income of this Property and Casualty (P&C) insurer declined 19.1% year over year to $18.2 million. Underwriting income deteriorated due to weakness at the Property and Surety segments. Combined ratio deteriorated 290 basis points year over year to 90.3%.
RLI Corp.’s net investment income declined 4.6% year over year to $13.2 million. Total return in the investment portfolio was (1.2%), while bond portfolio retuned (2.3%). Equity portfolio returned 3.9%.
Financial Update
RLI Corp. exited the fourth quarter with total investments and cash of $2.02 billion, up 3.6% from year-end 2015.
Book value was $18.74 per share as of Dec 31, 2016, down 0.9% from that as of Dec 31, 2015.
Long-term debt was $148.7 million, up 0.1% from the 2015-end level.
Statutory surplus decreased 0.6% year over year to $859.9 million.
Dividend Payout
As of Dec 23, 2016, the P&C insurer paid a special dividend of $2.00 per share. This dividend payment resulted in a tax benefit of $2.4 million (5 cents per share).
In addition, RLI Corp. paid quarterly dividend of 20 cents per share. The insurer has paid more than $1.2 billion to investors over the last 10 years.
RLI Corp. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
RLI Corp. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | RLI Corp. Quote
Zacks Rank
Currently, RLI Corp. has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Insurers
Among the other players from the insurance industry that have reported their fourth-quarter earnings so far, the bottom line at Brown & Brown Inc. (BRO - Free Report) , MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG - Free Report) and The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) beat their respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
The Best Place to Start Your Stock Search
Today, you are invited to download the full list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buy" stocks – absolutely free of charge. Since 1988, Zacks Rank #1 stocks have nearly tripled the market, with average gains of +26% per year. Plus, you can access the list of portfolio-killing Zacks Rank #5 "Strong Sells" and other private research. See these stocks free >>