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Verisk (VRSK) Q4 Earnings & Revenues Miss Estimates, Rise Y/Y
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Verisk Analytics, Inc.(VRSK - Free Report) reported disappointing fourth-quarter 2020 results, with earnings and revenues lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Adjusted earnings per share of $1.27 missed the consensus mark by 3.1% but rose 12.4% on a year-over-year basis. The year-over-year upside can be attributed to cost discipline in the business, coronavirus-led reduction in travel expenses and lower average share count.
Revenues of $713.3 million missed the consensus estimate by 0.5% but increased 5.4% year over year on a reported basis and 3.5% on an organic constant-currency (cc) basis.
Over the past year, shares of Verisk have gained 10.6% in contrast to 5.9% decline of the industry it belongs to. Meanwhile, the Zacks S&P 500 composite has gained 22.2%.
Segmental Performance
Insurance segment revenues totaled $511.9 million, up 8.5% year over year on a reported basis and 7.4% on an organic cc basis.
Within the segment, underwriting and rating revenues of $355.1 million rose 10.6% on a reported basis and 6.8% on an organic cc basis. The upside was primarily driven by an annual increase in prices derived from continued enhancements of the solutions’ contents within the industry-standard insurance programs, sale of expanded solutions to existing customers in commercial and personal lines, and contributions from catastrophe-modeling services. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in certain transactional revenues.
Claims revenues amounted to $156.8 million, improving 4.2% on a reported basis and 8.8% on an organic cc basis. The top line was positivelyimpacted by repair cost estimating solutions revenues, claims analytics revenues, and workers compensation claims resolution services.
Energy and Specialized Markets segment revenues of $163.3 million increased 3.5% year over year on a reported basis but declined 3.9% on an organic cc basis. The uptick can be attributed tocontributions from the Genscape acquisition, environmental health and safety-service solutions, and core research. These were partially offset by declines in cost-intelligence solutions' implementation projects, which did not reoccur, and consulting revenues in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial Services segment revenues of $38.1 million declined 19.6% year over year on a reported basis and 13% on an organic cc basis. The segment was weighed down bylower levels of project spending from the company’s bank customers, stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operating Results
Adjusted EBITDA of $344 million increased 7.9% on a reported basis and 4.9% on an organic cc basis. Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 48.2% from 47.1% in the prior-year quarter.
Verisk Analytics, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Verisk exited fourth-quarter 2020 with cash and cash equivalents of $218.8 million compared with $309.4 million at the end of the prior quarter. Long-term debt of $2.69 billion remained flat sequentially.
The company generated $248.9 million of cash from operating activities and capex was $65 million. Free cash flow was $176.5 million.
Share Repurchases & Dividend Payout
The company paid out a cash dividend of 27 cents per share on Dec 31. On Feb 17, the company's board of directors approved a dividend hike of 7.4%, thereby increasing the quarterly cash dividend to 29 cents per share. The dividend will be paid out on Mar 31, 2021, to holders of record as of Mar 15, 2021.
During the reported quarter, through the accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) program, the company repurchased almost 260, 000 shares at an average price of $190.19, for a total cost of $50 million. The company has also entered into an additional $50 million ASR agreement, wherein the associated shares will be delivered and settled in March 2021. As of Dec 31, 2020, the company had $279 million available under its share repurchase authorization. On Feb 16, 2021, the company's board of directors approved an additional authorization of $300 million.
Rollins’(ROL - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings of 13 cents per share came ahead of the consensus estimate as well as the year-ago figure by 18.2%. Revenues of $536.3 million beat the consensus mark by 1.7% and improved 6% year over year.
IHS Markit’s fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 adjusted earnings per share of 72 cents beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.5% and increased 11% on a year-over-year basis. Total revenues came in at $1.11 billion, marginally missing the consensus mark and declining 1% from the year-ago quarter on a reported basis.
Automatic Data Processing’s(ADP - Free Report) second-quarter fiscal 2021 adjusted earnings per share of $1.52 beat the consensus mark by 17.8% and were flat year over year. Total revenues of $3.69 billion beat the consensus mark by 3.2% and improved 0.7% year over year.
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A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
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Verisk (VRSK) Q4 Earnings & Revenues Miss Estimates, Rise Y/Y
Verisk Analytics, Inc.(VRSK - Free Report) reported disappointing fourth-quarter 2020 results, with earnings and revenues lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Adjusted earnings per share of $1.27 missed the consensus mark by 3.1% but rose 12.4% on a year-over-year basis. The year-over-year upside can be attributed to cost discipline in the business, coronavirus-led reduction in travel expenses and lower average share count.
Revenues of $713.3 million missed the consensus estimate by 0.5% but increased 5.4% year over year on a reported basis and 3.5% on an organic constant-currency (cc) basis.
Over the past year, shares of Verisk have gained 10.6% in contrast to 5.9% decline of the industry it belongs to. Meanwhile, the Zacks S&P 500 composite has gained 22.2%.
Segmental Performance
Insurance segment revenues totaled $511.9 million, up 8.5% year over year on a reported basis and 7.4% on an organic cc basis.
Within the segment, underwriting and rating revenues of $355.1 million rose 10.6% on a reported basis and 6.8% on an organic cc basis. The upside was primarily driven by an annual increase in prices derived from continued enhancements of the solutions’ contents within the industry-standard insurance programs, sale of expanded solutions to existing customers in commercial and personal lines, and contributions from catastrophe-modeling services. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in certain transactional revenues.
Claims revenues amounted to $156.8 million, improving 4.2% on a reported basis and 8.8% on an organic cc basis. The top line was positivelyimpacted by repair cost estimating solutions revenues, claims analytics revenues, and workers compensation claims resolution services.
Energy and Specialized Markets segment revenues of $163.3 million increased 3.5% year over year on a reported basis but declined 3.9% on an organic cc basis. The uptick can be attributed tocontributions from the Genscape acquisition, environmental health and safety-service solutions, and core research. These were partially offset by declines in cost-intelligence solutions' implementation projects, which did not reoccur, and consulting revenues in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial Services segment revenues of $38.1 million declined 19.6% year over year on a reported basis and 13% on an organic cc basis. The segment was weighed down bylower levels of project spending from the company’s bank customers, stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operating Results
Adjusted EBITDA of $344 million increased 7.9% on a reported basis and 4.9% on an organic cc basis. Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 48.2% from 47.1% in the prior-year quarter.
Verisk Analytics, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Verisk Analytics, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Verisk Analytics, Inc. Quote
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Verisk exited fourth-quarter 2020 with cash and cash equivalents of $218.8 million compared with $309.4 million at the end of the prior quarter. Long-term debt of $2.69 billion remained flat sequentially.
The company generated $248.9 million of cash from operating activities and capex was $65 million. Free cash flow was $176.5 million.
Share Repurchases & Dividend Payout
The company paid out a cash dividend of 27 cents per share on Dec 31. On Feb 17, the company's board of directors approved a dividend hike of 7.4%, thereby increasing the quarterly cash dividend to 29 cents per share. The dividend will be paid out on Mar 31, 2021, to holders of record as of Mar 15, 2021.
During the reported quarter, through the accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) program, the company repurchased almost 260, 000 shares at an average price of $190.19, for a total cost of $50 million. The company has also entered into an additional $50 million ASR agreement, wherein the associated shares will be delivered and settled in March 2021. As of Dec 31, 2020, the company had $279 million available under its share repurchase authorization. On Feb 16, 2021, the company's board of directors approved an additional authorization of $300 million.
Currently, Verisk 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 Business Services Companies
Rollins’(ROL - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings of 13 cents per share came ahead of the consensus estimate as well as the year-ago figure by 18.2%. Revenues of $536.3 million beat the consensus mark by 1.7% and improved 6% year over year.
IHS Markit’s fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 adjusted earnings per share of 72 cents beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.5% and increased 11% on a year-over-year basis. Total revenues came in at $1.11 billion, marginally missing the consensus mark and declining 1% from the year-ago quarter on a reported basis.
Automatic Data Processing’s(ADP - Free Report) second-quarter fiscal 2021 adjusted earnings per share of $1.52 beat the consensus mark by 17.8% and were flat year over year. Total revenues of $3.69 billion beat the consensus mark by 3.2% and improved 0.7% year over year.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>