Advertisement
Singapore markets closed
  • Straits Times Index

    3,224.01
    -27.70 (-0.85%)
     
  • Nikkei

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     
  • Hang Seng

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • FTSE 100

    7,966.00
    +34.02 (+0.43%)
     
  • Bitcoin USD

    70,840.29
    +2,093.27 (+3.04%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,252.44
    +3.95 (+0.08%)
     
  • Dow

    39,788.29
    +28.21 (+0.07%)
     
  • Nasdaq

    16,388.59
    -10.93 (-0.07%)
     
  • Gold

    2,234.20
    +21.50 (+0.97%)
     
  • Crude Oil

    82.53
    +1.18 (+1.45%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.1870
    -0.0090 (-0.21%)
     
  • FTSE Bursa Malaysia

    1,530.60
    -7.82 (-0.51%)
     
  • Jakarta Composite Index

    7,288.81
    -21.28 (-0.29%)
     
  • PSE Index

    6,903.53
    +5.36 (+0.08%)
     

Allstate (ALL) Announces December and Q4 Cat Loss Estimates

The Allstate Corporation ALL projects a headwind of $411 million, pre-tax or $325 million after-tax in December 2021 related to catastrophe losses incurred in the month.

Catastrophe losses for December primarily stemmed from events bearing an estimated cost of $381 million and unfavorable reserve reestimates. 78% of the month’s anticipated catastrophe losses stemmed from the Marshall Fire and December tornados. The Marshall Fire broke out in Colorado last month, which is expected to result in $218 million losses.

Concurrently, the property and casualty (P&C) insurer is likely to incur pre-tax catastrophe losses worth $528 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.

As the business of Allstate primarily operates within the P&C insurance line, its results remain exposed to unforeseen catastrophic events. Consequently, weather-related losses continue to elevate claims and claims expenses for Allstate and dampen its underwriting results. This has continued to weigh on ALL’s bottom-line performance for quite some time.

ADVERTISEMENT

In the first nine months of 2021, Allstate incurred catastrophe losses of $2.8 billion, which increased 17.8% from the prior-year comparable period. As catastrophe losses rose, ALL’s claims and claims expenses escalated 29.6% in the same time frame from the prior-year comparable period. The combined ratio deteriorated 600 basis points year over year for the first nine months of 2021.

Following an active 2021 Atlantic hurricane season with 21 named storms (per the Climate Prediction Center of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)), yet another active season waits in the year 2022 as well. Hence, the bottom line of Allstate is expected to remain under pressure in the days ahead as Colorado State University’s (CSU) researchers predict an above-average season as one of the possible scenarios for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. The source hinted toward a 40% chance of ocean temperatures rising in the North Atlantic Ocean to an above-average level, which can result in a more intense hurricane season in 2022.

Though catastrophe losses will always be a concern for insurers due to the uncertainty of occurrence and degree of impact, Allstate remains equipped with appropriate strategies that should continue to impress investors. The company continues to minimize losses through its catastrophe management strategy and reinsurance programs.

With digitization being infused across every sphere of life due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Allstate continues to utilize new technologies and bring about process upgradations. This has extended digital competencies for ALL and resulted in enhanced efficiencies of virtual processing of claims at an accelerated pace. These initiatives have aided the company’s bottom-line results.

Shares of Allstate have gained 8.2% in a year compared with the industry’s growth of 19.8%. ALL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Investment Research

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stocks to Consider

Some better-ranked stocks in the P&C insurance space include Fidelity National Financial, Inc. FNF, AXIS Capital Holdings Limited AXS and Arch Capital Group Ltd. ACGL. While Fidelity National sports a Zacks Rank #1, AXIS Capital and Arch Capital carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.

Fidelity National’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 38.18%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FNF’s 2022 earnings has moved north by 4.6% in the past 60 days. Fidelity National has a Value Score of A.

The bottom line of AXIS Capital outpaced earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 60.14%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXS’s 2022 earnings suggests an improvement of 28.8% from the year-ago reported figure, while the same for revenues suggests growth of 5.9%. The consensus mark has moved north by 0.7% in the past 30 days. AXIS Capital boasts of a VGM Score of A.

Arch Capital’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 32.71%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ACGL’s 2022 earnings indicates a rise of 31.5% year over year, while the same for revenues suggests an improvement of 10.8%. The consensus mark has moved north by 1.2% in the past 30 days. Arch Capital boasts of an impressive VGM Score of A.

Shares of Fidelity National, AXIS Capital and Arch Capital have gained 29.6%, 15.7% and 37%, respectively, in a year.


Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

The Allstate Corporation (ALL) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Axis Capital Holdings Limited (AXS) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (FNF) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Arch Capital Group Ltd. (ACGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research