We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
CNA Financial (CNA) Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates, Down Y/Y
Read MoreHide Full Article
CNA Financial Corporation (CNA - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2019 core earnings of $1.16 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.5%. However, the bottom line decreased 0.8% year over year.
The improvement stemmed from improved net written premiums, increase in new business and favorable rate.
CNA Financial Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Net written premiums at Property & Casualty Operations improved 8% year over year to $1.7 billion driven by rate increase and higher new business.
Net investment income almost remained unchanged year over year at $399 million.
Combined ratio deteriorated 340 basis points year over year to 97.6%.
Book value as of Sep 30, 2019 was $44.66 per share, up 8.1% from Dec 31, 2018.
Core return on equity was 3.4%, down 710 basis points.
Segment Results
Specialty’s net written premiums rose nearly 6% year over year to $732 million, driven by strong retention and favorable rate. Combined ratio deteriorated 280 bps to 89.8%.
Commercial’s net written premiums increased 11% year over year to $775 million, driven by higher new business and favorable rate. Combined ratio deteriorated 420 bps to 101.6%.
International’s net written premiums increased 3% year over year to $201 million driven by change in the timing of ceded reinsurance contract renewals. Combined ratio deteriorated 350 bps to 107.4%.
Life & Group’s total operating revenues were $336 million, up 1.2% year over year. Core loss was $122 million against the year-ago income of $32 million.
Corporate & Other’s core loss of $17 million was narrower than loss of $20 million incurred in the prior-year period.
Dividend Update
CNA Financial’s board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of 35 cents to be paid out on Dec 2, 2019 to stockholders of record as of Nov 11.
Of the insurance industry players that have reported third-quarter results so far, Global Life (GL - Free Report) , Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG - Free Report) and RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +98%, +119% and +164% in as little as 1 month. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
Image: Bigstock
CNA Financial (CNA) Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates, Down Y/Y
CNA Financial Corporation (CNA - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2019 core earnings of $1.16 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.5%. However, the bottom line decreased 0.8% year over year.
The improvement stemmed from improved net written premiums, increase in new business and favorable rate.
CNA Financial Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
CNA Financial Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | CNA Financial Corporation Quote
Behind Third-Quarter Headlines
Net written premiums at Property & Casualty Operations improved 8% year over year to $1.7 billion driven by rate increase and higher new business.
Net investment income almost remained unchanged year over year at $399 million.
Combined ratio deteriorated 340 basis points year over year to 97.6%.
Book value as of Sep 30, 2019 was $44.66 per share, up 8.1% from Dec 31, 2018.
Core return on equity was 3.4%, down 710 basis points.
Segment Results
Specialty’s net written premiums rose nearly 6% year over year to $732 million, driven by strong retention and favorable rate. Combined ratio deteriorated 280 bps to 89.8%.
Commercial’s net written premiums increased 11% year over year to $775 million, driven by higher new business and favorable rate. Combined ratio deteriorated 420 bps to 101.6%.
International’s net written premiums increased 3% year over year to $201 million driven by change in the timing of ceded reinsurance contract renewals. Combined ratio deteriorated 350 bps to 107.4%.
Life & Group’s total operating revenues were $336 million, up 1.2% year over year. Core loss was $122 million against the year-ago income of $32 million.
Corporate & Other’s core loss of $17 million was narrower than loss of $20 million incurred in the prior-year period.
Dividend Update
CNA Financial’s board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of 35 cents to be paid out on Dec 2, 2019 to stockholders of record as of Nov 11.
Zacks Rank
CNA Financial currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Other Insurance Releases
Of the insurance industry players that have reported third-quarter results so far, Global Life (GL - Free Report) , Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG - Free Report) and RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +98%, +119% and +164% in as little as 1 month. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>>