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Aon (AON) Q1 Earnings Meet Estimates & Rise Y/Y, Revenues Up
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Aon plc’s (AON - Free Report) first-quarter 2019 operating earnings of $3.31 came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Moreover, the metric improved 11.4% year over year on the back of solid revenue growth.
Total revenues inched up 2% to $3.1 billion including 6% organic revenue growth. However, the metric’s uptick was partially offset by a 4% unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation.
Adjusted operating margin expanded 190 basis points to 33.7%.
Total operating expenses dipped 1% to $2.3 billion, primarily owing to a favorable impact from foreign currency movement, incremental savings from restructuring and other operational improvement initiatives plus reduction in divestiture costs.
The adjusted effective tax rate on a comparable basis for the first quarter was 16.9% compared with 16.5% in the prior-year quarter. This upside was primarily driven by a net unfavorable impact from discrete items.
Commercial Risk Solutions: Organic revenues rose 6% on the back of strong growth across every major geography, which reflects solid global new business generation in the United States and management of renewal book portfolio along with strong growth in Latin and North America and Asia. The segment witnessed 6% decline in total revenues year over year to $1.1 billion.
Reinsurance Solutions: Organic revenues improved 9%, driven by a constant net new business generation in treaty along with a sturdy uptick across the globe. Moreover, market impact was modestly favorable to first-quarter results. However, total revenues for the segment climbed6% year over year to $788 million.
Retirement Solutions: Organic revenues rose 2% year over year, aided by solid growth in investment consulting and solutions. Total revenues in this segment slipped 1% year over year to $420 million.
Health Solutions: Organic revenues were up 5% year over year, led by solid international growth in health and benefits brokerage, especially boosted by a robust uptrend internationally along with a double-digit rise in China. Total revenues of the segment rose 8% to $486 million.
Data & Analytic Services: Organic revenues at this segment grew 5% year over year owing to prosperity in Affinity business, particularly in the United States and EMEA across both business and consumer solutions. Total revenues of the segment increased 14% to $336 million.
Financial Position
The company’s cash flow from operations plunged 47% year over year to $74 million.
Also, free cash flow slumped 82% year over year.
The company exited the first quarter with total assets worth$29 billion, up 10.3% from the level on Dec 31, 2018.
As of Mar 31, 2018, the company’s long-term debt stands at $5.9 billion, down 1% year over year.
Share Repurchase and Dividend Update
The company bought back Class A Ordinary shares for nearly $100 million in the quarter under review.
The company also announced a 10% hike to its quarterly cash dividend, subsequent to the close of the quarter.
Among other players from the insurance industry having reported first-quarter earnings so far, the bottom-line results of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) , Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF - Free Report) and The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) ) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?
Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.
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Aon (AON) Q1 Earnings Meet Estimates & Rise Y/Y, Revenues Up
Aon plc’s (AON - Free Report) first-quarter 2019 operating earnings of $3.31 came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Moreover, the metric improved 11.4% year over year on the back of solid revenue growth.
Total revenues inched up 2% to $3.1 billion including 6% organic revenue growth. However, the metric’s uptick was partially offset by a 4% unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation.
Adjusted operating margin expanded 190 basis points to 33.7%.
Total operating expenses dipped 1% to $2.3 billion, primarily owing to a favorable impact from foreign currency movement, incremental savings from restructuring and other operational improvement initiatives plus reduction in divestiture costs.
The adjusted effective tax rate on a comparable basis for the first quarter was 16.9% compared with 16.5% in the prior-year quarter. This upside was primarily driven by a net unfavorable impact from discrete items.
Aon plc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Aon plc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Aon plc Quote
Organic Revenue Catalysts
Commercial Risk Solutions: Organic revenues rose 6% on the back of strong growth across every major geography, which reflects solid global new business generation in the United States and management of renewal book portfolio along with strong growth in Latin and North America and Asia. The segment witnessed 6% decline in total revenues year over year to $1.1 billion.
Reinsurance Solutions: Organic revenues improved 9%, driven by a constant net new business generation in treaty along with a sturdy uptick across the globe. Moreover, market impact was modestly favorable to first-quarter results. However, total revenues for the segment climbed6% year over year to $788 million.
Retirement Solutions: Organic revenues rose 2% year over year, aided by solid growth in investment consulting and solutions. Total revenues in this segment slipped 1% year over year to $420 million.
Health Solutions: Organic revenues were up 5% year over year, led by solid international growth in health and benefits brokerage, especially boosted by a robust uptrend internationally along with a double-digit rise in China. Total revenues of the segment rose 8% to $486 million.
Data & Analytic Services: Organic revenues at this segment grew 5% year over year owing to prosperity in Affinity business, particularly in the United States and EMEA across both business and consumer solutions. Total revenues of the segment increased 14% to $336 million.
Financial Position
The company’s cash flow from operations plunged 47% year over year to $74 million.
Also, free cash flow slumped 82% year over year.
The company exited the first quarter with total assets worth$29 billion, up 10.3% from the level on Dec 31, 2018.
As of Mar 31, 2018, the company’s long-term debt stands at $5.9 billion, down 1% year over year.
Share Repurchase and Dividend Update
The company bought back Class A Ordinary shares for nearly $100 million in the quarter under review.
The company also announced a 10% hike to its quarterly cash dividend, subsequent to the close of the quarter.
Zacks Rank
Aon 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 first-quarter earnings so far, the bottom-line results of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) , Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF - Free Report) and The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) ) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?
Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.
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