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Torchmark (TMK) Q2 Earnings & Revenues Top Estimates, Up Y/Y
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Torchmark Corporation’s second-quarter 2018 net operating income of $1.51 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.3%. The bottom line also improved nearly 26.9% year over year on the back of higher premiums from the Life and Health segments. Lower share count on continuous buybacks also drove the upside.
Torchmark Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Including realized gains on investments of 8 cents, net income surged 34.7% year over year to $1.59 per share.
Behind the Headlines
Torchmark reported total premium revenues of $854 million, up 4.6% year over year. This upside was primarily driven by higher premiums from Life and Health Insurance businesses.
Net investment income improved 2.8% year over year to $219 million.
The company’s total revenues of $1.1 billion grew 4.2% from the year-ago quarter. This top-line improvement was driven by growth in Life and Health Insurance premiums along with higher net investment income. Moreover, the top line exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.8%.
Excess investment income, a measure of profitability, declined 2.6% year over year to $59.9 million.
Torchmark’s total insurance underwriting income grew 9.2% year over year to $168.4 million. Improvement in Life and Health Insurance underwriting margins resulted in this uptrend. However, higher administrative expenses partially offset this uptick.
Administrative expenses increased 8% year over year to $55 million.
Total benefits and expenses rose 3.7% year over year to $858 million.
Segment Update
Premium revenues at Torchmark’s Life Insurance operations increased 5% year over year to $602.5 million, banking on higher premiums written by the distribution channels like American Income Agency, Global Life Direct Response and LNL Agency. While American Income Agency grew 9%, Global Life Direct Response and LNL Agency rose 3% and 2%, respectively. Life Insurance underwriting income improved 9.4% year over year to $161.2 million. Net sales at the life insurance segment were 3% higher on a year-over-year basis.
Health Insurance premium revenues rose 3.5% year over year to $251.4 million while underwriting income of $59.5 million increased 7.6% year over year. Net health sales grew 7% year over year.
Annuity underwriting margins remained flat year over year at $2.6 million.
Financial Update
Shareholders’ equity as of Jun 30, 2018 rose 10.3% year over year to $5.6 billion.
Torchmark reported book value per share (excluding net unrealized gains on fixed maturities) of $42.08, up 25.6% year over year.
As of Jun 30, 2018, operating return on equity (excluding net unrealized gains on fixed maturities) was 14.6% compared with 14.3% as of Jun 30, 2017.
Share Repurchase and Dividend Update
In the quarter under review, Torchmark repurchased 1.0 million shares for a total cost of $88 million.
The company announced a dividend of 16 cents per share in the reported quarter, marking a 6.7% hike from the year-ago quarter.
2018 Guidance Revised
Torchmark estimates net operating income between $6.02 and $6.12 per share in place of the earlier guided range of $5.93-$6.07.
Among other players from the insurance industry having reported second-quarter earnings so far, the bottom line of The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) , MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG - Free Report) and RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
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Torchmark (TMK) Q2 Earnings & Revenues Top Estimates, Up Y/Y
Torchmark Corporation’s second-quarter 2018 net operating income of $1.51 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.3%. The bottom line also improved nearly 26.9% year over year on the back of higher premiums from the Life and Health segments. Lower share count on continuous buybacks also drove the upside.
Torchmark Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Torchmark Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Torchmark Corporation Quote
Including realized gains on investments of 8 cents, net income surged 34.7% year over year to $1.59 per share.
Behind the Headlines
Torchmark reported total premium revenues of $854 million, up 4.6% year over year. This upside was primarily driven by higher premiums from Life and Health Insurance businesses.
Net investment income improved 2.8% year over year to $219 million.
The company’s total revenues of $1.1 billion grew 4.2% from the year-ago quarter. This top-line improvement was driven by growth in Life and Health Insurance premiums along with higher net investment income. Moreover, the top line exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.8%.
Excess investment income, a measure of profitability, declined 2.6% year over year to $59.9 million.
Torchmark’s total insurance underwriting income grew 9.2% year over year to $168.4 million. Improvement in Life and Health Insurance underwriting margins resulted in this uptrend. However, higher administrative expenses partially offset this uptick.
Administrative expenses increased 8% year over year to $55 million.
Total benefits and expenses rose 3.7% year over year to $858 million.
Segment Update
Premium revenues at Torchmark’s Life Insurance operations increased 5% year over year to $602.5 million, banking on higher premiums written by the distribution channels like American Income Agency, Global Life Direct Response and LNL Agency. While American Income Agency grew 9%, Global Life Direct Response and LNL Agency rose 3% and 2%, respectively. Life Insurance underwriting income improved 9.4% year over year to $161.2 million. Net sales at the life insurance segment were 3% higher on a year-over-year basis.
Health Insurance premium revenues rose 3.5% year over year to $251.4 million while underwriting income of $59.5 million increased 7.6% year over year. Net health sales grew 7% year over year.
Annuity underwriting margins remained flat year over year at $2.6 million.
Financial Update
Shareholders’ equity as of Jun 30, 2018 rose 10.3% year over year to $5.6 billion.
Torchmark reported book value per share (excluding net unrealized gains on fixed maturities) of $42.08, up 25.6% year over year.
As of Jun 30, 2018, operating return on equity (excluding net unrealized gains on fixed maturities) was 14.6% compared with 14.3% as of Jun 30, 2017.
Share Repurchase and Dividend Update
In the quarter under review, Torchmark repurchased 1.0 million shares for a total cost of $88 million.
The company announced a dividend of 16 cents per share in the reported quarter, marking a 6.7% hike from the year-ago quarter.
2018 Guidance Revised
Torchmark estimates net operating income between $6.02 and $6.12 per share in place of the earlier guided range of $5.93-$6.07.
Zacks Rank
Torchmark 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 having reported second-quarter earnings so far, the bottom line of The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) , MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG - Free Report) and RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>