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Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights: FGL Holdings, Health Insurance Innovations and China Life Insurance
Read MoreHide Full Article
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 19, 2018 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Industry: Insurance, Part 2, including FGL Holdings (FG - Free Report) , Health Insurance Innovations, Inc. and China Life Insurance Company Limited .
The rate environment has been favoring life insurers since the Fed started tightening its monetary policy a couple of years back, given the high sensitivity of their business models to interest rates. But neither the pace nor the magnitude of rate hikes has been enough for a measurable benefit so far.
However, the number of rate hikes might change the fate of life insurers by steadily boosting their investment income. The Federal Reserve’s rate hike in March 2018 marks the sixth increase since December 2015. The Central Bank has announced intentions of two more hikes this year, with another three in 2019 and a couple of in 2020.
Actually, for any gain, a rate-hike-driven improvement in investment income will have to more than offset the decline in yield on assets invested in. And the rate hikes so far have not been enough to fetch any significant benefit.
However, the likely change in the frequency of rate hikes should position carriers better in terms of generating investment income and maintaining minimum surplus requirements.
In addition to a likely escalation in investment income based on an improved rate scenario, there are reasons to be optimistic about the industry’s growth.
Key Drivers Beyond Rate Hikes
High hedging costs, which have been marring profitability, are likely to decline with rising interest rates. This will, in turn, alleviate the pressure on investment yields.
Moreover, better control over underwriting expenses and continued increase in premiums should help life insurers enhance their income in the quarters ahead. The individual life insurance premiums, which showed decent growth since the last recession, will likely continue the trend with rising demand driven by a strong job market and the aging population (for retirement savings).
In the low-rate era, life insurers managed to stay afloat by going beyond their conservative approach and through capital flexibility. In order to keep their commitments to policyholders, they increasingly resorted to riskier asset classes such as equities. While increased dependence on this strategy has made them vulnerable to faltering on claim payments as there is no guarantee of steady returns from riskier assets, no major setback is likely in the near term. In fact, this arrangement should make variable annuity portfolios and other fee-driven businesses contribute a little more to profits, as the equity market is expected to remain favorable.
What made life insurers resort to these less secure asset classes is ultra-low bond yields due to global growth concerns. However, bond yields have improved since President Trump took office, on expectations of better economic growth and higher inflation based on an expansive fiscal policy. If this trend continues, life insurers will likely see better days.
Also, as the U.S. corporate bond market remains healthy and the real estate market is unlikely to disappoint with strength is job market, life insurers’ credit-related investment losses should be below average.
Above all, increasing disposable income on the back of continued growth in the economy and declining unemployment should perk up demand for life insurance and annuity products. An improving employment scenario raises optimism.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Solid Upside Potential
This 14-company group carries a Zacks Industry Rank of #45, placing it in the top 45% of the 250-plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Price Performance and Valuation
The Zacks Life Insurance Industry has gained 4.7% in a year compared with S&P 500’s rally of 15.6% over the same time frame.
The industry’s valuation is attractive currently, with P/B of 2.13 lower than S&P 500 average of 3.74. Given the solid fundamental and growth prospect, undervaluation offers investment opportunity.
Business Restructuring to Work in Favor
Life insurers did not shy away under difficulties that the low-rate environment had created for them. Taking them in stride, they had chosen to capitalize on the rapidly changing sector dynamics. As part of this effort, life insurers had reduced the sensitivity of their product lines to interest rates to some extent and invested in less-liquid assets.
While this rationalization is curbing the benefits from the rising rate environment, it should make the growth path steady. The changing economic and demographic conditions are making risk calculation difficult, but life insurers are adopting more predictive techniques with the help of analytics.
Most importantly, life insurers have managed to improve net income in the last few quarters by trimming underwriting expenses and modestly increasing premium rates. In fact, some life insurers are quietly hiking rates on some universal life policies in order to offset losses emanating from a tough industry backdrop. This action is actually narrowing the gap between what they receive as premium and what they promised to pay policyholders.
Life insurers have also been resorting to product modification and re-pricing, which should enhance their liability profiles and profitability. While re-pricing of traditional products with attractive additional features will help them earn more, product modification will lessen liabilities on insurers’ part by shifting risks related to equity and hedging to policyholders.
Moreover, a beefed-up capital market should strengthen the industry’s liquidity profile in the upcoming quarters and help its participants confront any unforeseen challenges.
However, implementation of The Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule might adversely impact insurers, as they might find it hard to sell their retirement products complying regulatory requirements. Nevertheless, implementation has been delayed till Jul 1, 2019.
How to Play Life Insurance Stocks
Life insurers’ near-term prospects are looking up on a number of positive factors. So, it would be prudent to pick a few stocks based on a favorable Zacks Rank.
Here are a few top-ranked stocks that you may want to consider:
FGL Holdings: This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings being revised 42.7% upward over the last 60 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Health Insurance Innovations, Inc.: This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings being revised 21% upward over the last 60 days.
China Life Insurance Company Limited:This Zacks Rank #2 has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings being revised 2.9% upward over the last 60 days.
Check out our latest U.S. Insurance Stock Outlook for more on the current state of affairs in the overall insurance market.
Investor Alert: Breakthroughs Pending
A medical advance is now at the flashpoint between theory and realization. Billions of dollars in research have poured into it. Companies are already generating substantial revenue, and even more wondrous products are in the pipeline.
Cures for a variety of deadly diseases are in sight, and so are big potential profits for early investors. Zacks names 5 stocks to buy now.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights: FGL Holdings, Health Insurance Innovations and China Life Insurance
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – April 19, 2018 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Industry: Insurance, Part 2, including FGL Holdings (FG - Free Report) , Health Insurance Innovations, Inc. and China Life Insurance Company Limited .
Industry: Insurance, Part 2
Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/158647/rate-environment-higher-employment-to-aid-life-insurers
The rate environment has been favoring life insurers since the Fed started tightening its monetary policy a couple of years back, given the high sensitivity of their business models to interest rates. But neither the pace nor the magnitude of rate hikes has been enough for a measurable benefit so far.
However, the number of rate hikes might change the fate of life insurers by steadily boosting their investment income. The Federal Reserve’s rate hike in March 2018 marks the sixth increase since December 2015. The Central Bank has announced intentions of two more hikes this year, with another three in 2019 and a couple of in 2020.
Actually, for any gain, a rate-hike-driven improvement in investment income will have to more than offset the decline in yield on assets invested in. And the rate hikes so far have not been enough to fetch any significant benefit.
However, the likely change in the frequency of rate hikes should position carriers better in terms of generating investment income and maintaining minimum surplus requirements.
In addition to a likely escalation in investment income based on an improved rate scenario, there are reasons to be optimistic about the industry’s growth.
Key Drivers Beyond Rate Hikes
High hedging costs, which have been marring profitability, are likely to decline with rising interest rates. This will, in turn, alleviate the pressure on investment yields.
Moreover, better control over underwriting expenses and continued increase in premiums should help life insurers enhance their income in the quarters ahead. The individual life insurance premiums, which showed decent growth since the last recession, will likely continue the trend with rising demand driven by a strong job market and the aging population (for retirement savings).
In the low-rate era, life insurers managed to stay afloat by going beyond their conservative approach and through capital flexibility. In order to keep their commitments to policyholders, they increasingly resorted to riskier asset classes such as equities. While increased dependence on this strategy has made them vulnerable to faltering on claim payments as there is no guarantee of steady returns from riskier assets, no major setback is likely in the near term. In fact, this arrangement should make variable annuity portfolios and other fee-driven businesses contribute a little more to profits, as the equity market is expected to remain favorable.
What made life insurers resort to these less secure asset classes is ultra-low bond yields due to global growth concerns. However, bond yields have improved since President Trump took office, on expectations of better economic growth and higher inflation based on an expansive fiscal policy. If this trend continues, life insurers will likely see better days.
Also, as the U.S. corporate bond market remains healthy and the real estate market is unlikely to disappoint with strength is job market, life insurers’ credit-related investment losses should be below average.
Above all, increasing disposable income on the back of continued growth in the economy and declining unemployment should perk up demand for life insurance and annuity products. An improving employment scenario raises optimism.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Solid Upside Potential
This 14-company group carries a Zacks Industry Rank of #45, placing it in the top 45% of the 250-plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Price Performance and Valuation
The Zacks Life Insurance Industry has gained 4.7% in a year compared with S&P 500’s rally of 15.6% over the same time frame.
The industry’s valuation is attractive currently, with P/B of 2.13 lower than S&P 500 average of 3.74. Given the solid fundamental and growth prospect, undervaluation offers investment opportunity.
Business Restructuring to Work in Favor
Life insurers did not shy away under difficulties that the low-rate environment had created for them. Taking them in stride, they had chosen to capitalize on the rapidly changing sector dynamics. As part of this effort, life insurers had reduced the sensitivity of their product lines to interest rates to some extent and invested in less-liquid assets.
While this rationalization is curbing the benefits from the rising rate environment, it should make the growth path steady. The changing economic and demographic conditions are making risk calculation difficult, but life insurers are adopting more predictive techniques with the help of analytics.
Most importantly, life insurers have managed to improve net income in the last few quarters by trimming underwriting expenses and modestly increasing premium rates. In fact, some life insurers are quietly hiking rates on some universal life policies in order to offset losses emanating from a tough industry backdrop. This action is actually narrowing the gap between what they receive as premium and what they promised to pay policyholders.
Life insurers have also been resorting to product modification and re-pricing, which should enhance their liability profiles and profitability. While re-pricing of traditional products with attractive additional features will help them earn more, product modification will lessen liabilities on insurers’ part by shifting risks related to equity and hedging to policyholders.
Moreover, a beefed-up capital market should strengthen the industry’s liquidity profile in the upcoming quarters and help its participants confront any unforeseen challenges.
However, implementation of The Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule might adversely impact insurers, as they might find it hard to sell their retirement products complying regulatory requirements. Nevertheless, implementation has been delayed till Jul 1, 2019.
How to Play Life Insurance Stocks
Life insurers’ near-term prospects are looking up on a number of positive factors. So, it would be prudent to pick a few stocks based on a favorable Zacks Rank.
Here are a few top-ranked stocks that you may want to consider:
FGL Holdings: This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings being revised 42.7% upward over the last 60 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Health Insurance Innovations, Inc.: This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings being revised 21% upward over the last 60 days.
China Life Insurance Company Limited:This Zacks Rank #2 has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings being revised 2.9% upward over the last 60 days.
Check out our latest U.S. Insurance Stock Outlook for more on the current state of affairs in the overall insurance market.
Investor Alert: Breakthroughs Pending
A medical advance is now at the flashpoint between theory and realization. Billions of dollars in research have poured into it. Companies are already generating substantial revenue, and even more wondrous products are in the pipeline.
Cures for a variety of deadly diseases are in sight, and so are big potential profits for early investors. Zacks names 5 stocks to buy now.
Click here to see them >>
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.