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.
Aon's (AON) Earnings Miss Estimates in Q1, Increase Y/Y
Read MoreHide Full Article
Aon plc’s (AON - Free Report) first-quarter 2020 operating earnings of $3.68 per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5%. However, the metric improved 11.2% year over year on the back of higher revenues and strong segmental contributions.
Total revenues inched up 2.4% to $3.2 billion including 5% organic revenue growth. This can be attributed to solid new business generation in Reinsurance Solutions and strong management of the renewal book in Health Solutions and Commercial Risk Solutions.
Operating margin grew 440 basis points (bps) to 32.1% and operating margin, adjusted for certain items, expanded 200 basis points to 35.7%.
Total operating expenses were down 4% to $2.2 billion, primarily owing to decrease in restructuring charges, favorable impact from foreign currency translation, and the preemptive reduction and deferral of certain discretionary expenses related to COVID-19.
The adjusted effective tax rate on a comparable basis for the first quarter was 19.3% compared with 16.9% in the prior-year period. This was due to certain changes in geographical distribution of income and a net favourable impact from discrete items.
Organic Revenue Catalysts Commercial Risk Solutions: Organic revenues rose 4% on the back of strong growth across every major geography, highlighted by double-digit growth in Canada and Latin America, mainly on the back of solid retention and management of the renewal book portfolio. The segment witnessed a 3% increase in total revenues year over year to $1.1 billion.
Reinsurance Solutions: Organic revenues improved 9%, driven by growth in facultative placements and new business generation. Moreover, total revenues for the segment increased 8% year over year to $848 million. Retirement Solutions: Organic revenues were flat year over year. The results reflect a solid rise in investments, consisting of double-digit growth in delegated investment management and growth in Human Capital, partly offset by a decline in core retirement due to coronavirus outbreak. However, total revenues dipped 5% year over year to $397 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 in Latin America, Asia and EMEA. Results reflect strength in active exchange business as well. Revenues from this segment rose 3% year over year to $502 million.
Data & Analytic Services: Organic revenues inched up 1% year over year owing to international prosperity in Affinity business, particularly in the United States. Results also reflect pressure in some discretionary parts of the business due to COVID-19. Revenues slid 1% year over year.
Financial Position
At the end of the quarter, the company’s cash flow from operations soared 357% to $338 million. Moreover, free cash flow surged to $279 million from $17 million in the prior-year quarter, banking on increase in cash flow from operations.
The company exited the first quarter with total assets worth $30.2 billion, up 3% from the level on Dec 31, 2019.
As of Mar 31, 2020, long-term debt stands at $6.2 billion, declining 6% from the level at 2019 end.
Share Repurchase Update
The company bought back 2.2 million Class A Ordinary shares for nearly $460 million in the quarter under review. As of Mar 31, 2020, it had stock worth $1.6 billion left under its share repurchase program.
Among other players from the insurance industry that reported first-quarter results so far, the bottom-line results of The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) and The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate while that of Globe Life Inc. (GL - Free Report) met the same.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>
Unique Zacks Analysis of Your Chosen Ticker
Pick one free report - opportunity may be withdrawn at any time
Image: Bigstock
Aon's (AON) Earnings Miss Estimates in Q1, Increase Y/Y
Aon plc’s (AON - Free Report) first-quarter 2020 operating earnings of $3.68 per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5%. However, the metric improved 11.2% year over year on the back of higher revenues and strong segmental contributions.
Total revenues inched up 2.4% to $3.2 billion including 5% organic revenue growth. This can be attributed to solid new business generation in Reinsurance Solutions and strong management of the renewal book in Health Solutions and Commercial Risk Solutions.
Operating margin grew 440 basis points (bps) to 32.1% and operating margin, adjusted for certain items, expanded 200 basis points to 35.7%.
Total operating expenses were down 4% to $2.2 billion, primarily owing to decrease in restructuring charges, favorable impact from foreign currency translation, and the preemptive reduction and deferral of certain discretionary expenses related to COVID-19.
The adjusted effective tax rate on a comparable basis for the first quarter was 19.3% compared with 16.9% in the prior-year period. This was due to certain changes in geographical distribution of income and a net favourable impact from discrete items.
Aon plc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Aon plc price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Aon plc Quote
Organic Revenue Catalysts
Commercial Risk Solutions: Organic revenues rose 4% on the back of strong growth across every major geography, highlighted by double-digit growth in Canada and Latin America, mainly on the back of solid retention and management of the renewal book portfolio. The segment witnessed a 3% increase in total revenues year over year to $1.1 billion.
Reinsurance Solutions: Organic revenues improved 9%, driven by growth in facultative placements and new business generation. Moreover, total revenues for the segment increased 8% year over year to $848 million.
Retirement Solutions: Organic revenues were flat year over year. The results reflect a solid rise in investments, consisting of double-digit growth in delegated investment management and growth in Human Capital, partly offset by a decline in core retirement due to coronavirus outbreak. However, total revenues dipped 5% year over year to $397 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 in Latin America, Asia and EMEA. Results reflect strength in active exchange business as well. Revenues from this segment rose 3% year over year to $502 million.
Data & Analytic Services: Organic revenues inched up 1% year over year owing to international prosperity in Affinity business, particularly in the United States. Results also reflect pressure in some discretionary parts of the business due to COVID-19. Revenues slid 1% year over year.
Financial Position
At the end of the quarter, the company’s cash flow from operations soared 357% to $338 million. Moreover, free cash flow surged to $279 million from $17 million in the prior-year quarter, banking on increase in cash flow from operations.
The company exited the first quarter with total assets worth $30.2 billion, up 3% from the level on Dec 31, 2019.
As of Mar 31, 2020, long-term debt stands at $6.2 billion, declining 6% from the level at 2019 end.
Share Repurchase Update
The company bought back 2.2 million Class A Ordinary shares for nearly $460 million in the quarter under review. As of Mar 31, 2020, it had stock worth $1.6 billion left under its share repurchase program.
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.
Among other players from the insurance industry that reported first-quarter results so far, the bottom-line results of The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) and The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate while that of Globe Life Inc. (GL - Free Report) met the same.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>