Insurance Australia Group Ltd
Strategy Update: Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) stock rose 4.6% on December 08, 2016 as the group provided its strategy update. IAG now aims to reduce gross operating costs by an annual run rate of at least 10% by end of FY19 through its optimization program. The group plans to enhance customer experience to have business growth in line with the market of around 3-5%. FY17 gross written premium growth is considered flat while there may be improvement in commercial market in Australia. Margin guidance is maintained at 12.5-14.5% while there will be a net claim cost of $200 million owing to recent storm and earthquake events. IAG had earlier raised over $300 million as a part of IAG's capital management strategy to use these proceeds for the general corporate purposes and refinance some of the current convertible preference shares (CPS) issued by IAG in May 2012. We give a “Buy” recommendation on the stock at the current price of – $ 5.85
Medibank Private Ltd
Delivering performance below the initial expectations: Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) health insurance has paid $5.1 billion on behalf of the customers and some challenges remain with the value MPL offers to the customers. The group’s profit growth was affected due to the lower than expected growth this year in hospital utilization rates across the industry. The revenue growth has remained soft due to underperformance of the Medibank brand and a slowing market. But, in FY 16 MPL had implemented its new core policy management system, DelPHI. While there have been some initial implementation issues which have impacted the customer experience, MPL expects that in FY 17 DelPHI would become fully operational and customers would start to appreciate the benefits of the new platform. Additionally, in the first four months of FY 17, the revenue has been slightly below the initial expectations with premium revenue growth of only 1.3%. MPL stock is trading at a high P/E. The slowing trend of higher hospital and treatment costs and slowing population growth could have a dramatic effect on insurers. We give an “Expensive” recommendation on this dividend yield stock at the current price of – $ 2.76
AMP Ltd
Reinsurance arrangement with Munich Re: AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) reported implementation of a significant reinsurance arrangement with Munich Reinsurance Company of Australasia Limited (Munich Re). Moreover, for wealth protection the group is strengthening the best estimate assumptions across both AMP Life and NMLA effective from 31st December 2016. Despite these efforts from the group, the insurance sector pressure is significantly impacted by the performance of the wealth protection business. Moreover, the cash flows in the third quarter are subdued due to the ongoing uncertainty in superannuation legislation, which led to the lower consumer confidence in the system. Additionally, FY 17 profit margins for the Australian wealth protection business are expected to be impacted due to the combination of strengthened assumptions ($65 million) and execution of the reinsurance agreement ($25 million). Profit margins in FY 17 are expected to reduce by over $90 million. The group has now realigned the business in terms of leadership changes to focus on growth. We give an “Expensive” recommendation on this dividend yield stock at the current price of – $ 4.79
QBE Insurance Group Ltd
Expiration and final results of the exchange offer: QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) reported that eligible holders tendered over US$371.954 million in total principal amount of current Notes which is equal to over 69.06% of the overall principal amount of outstanding notes before Exchange Offer. The group has entered into an agreement with Elders wherein the latter aims to acquire further 10% equity in Elders Insurance from QBE. QBE stock is still trading at a very P/E and close to its 52-week high price and we maintain an “Expensive” recommendation on this dividend yield stock at the current price of – $ 12.36
Henderson Group PLC
Ongoing pressure dampening retail sentiment: Henderson Group PLC (ASX: HGG) in the third quarter 2016 posted 6% growth in the Assets under management (AUM) to £100.9 billion as compared to £95.0 billion in June quarter due to the positive markets and FX gains caused by sterling weakness. But, the retail net flows were £1.0 billion negative, with over 70% of the outflow occurred in July immediately aftermath of the UK Referendum. So the retail client sentiment remained cautious. Institutional net flows were £0.4 billion positive. Meanwhile, HGG stock has fallen 24.1% in the last six months as on December 07, 2016 and still trading at high P/E. We give an “Expensive” recommendation on the stock at the current price of – $ 3.98
Challenger Ltd
New key annuity relationships: Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) has announced that S&P Global ratings have affirmed their ‘BBB+’ rating (with stable outlook). The group also made some changes at Senior Executive level. Meanwhile, CGF has made two new key annuity relationships. One with AMP to offer CGF’s full range of annuity products through AMP’s investment and administration platforms and the other with Mitsui Sumitomo Primary Life Insurance Company Limited (MS Primary). CGF from the two years have formed a series of new annuity relationships, with leading financial services organizations. Moreover, for 2017, CGF expects the Life’s Normalized Cash Operating Earnings to be at a range of $620 million to $640 million and pre-tax normalized return on equity target of 18%. Additionally, in the September quarter CGF’s total group assets and funds under management grew 3% to $62 billion. The Funds Management has posted positive net flows across both Fidante Partners and Challenger Investment Partners of $0.9 billion for the September quarter. FUM enhanced $2.2 billion for the quarter to $58.9 billion, as a result of the net flows and positive investment markets ($1.3 billion). Meanwhile, CGF stock has risen 16.18% in six months as on December 07, 2016. We give a “Hold” recommendation on the stock at the current price of – $ 10.92
Steadfast Group Ltd
Resilient business model: Steadfast Group Ltd.’s (ASX: SDF) subsidiary Ausure Consolidated Brokers Pty (ACB) has entered into agreements with Ruralco Holdings Ltd, which intends to acquire a 50% joint venture interest in Ausure. This will also include merging the assets of Ruralco Insurance Pty Ltd into ACB. On the other hand, SDF in FY 16 has reported a 45% growth in the underlying NPATA to $82.0 million and the underlying Cash EPS grew 12% to 11.00 cps. The statutory NPATA grew 67% to $95.0m. FY16 includes the full impact of recent acquisitions including Calliden and QBE agencies. Moreover, Gross Written Premium (GWP) grew 4.2% to $4.5 billion in FY 16 against FY 15. SDF has the largest general insurance broker network in Australia and New Zealand with 27% market share in Australia. Additionally, for the FY 17, the underlying NPATA is expected to be in the range of $85m-$90m and the key assumptions include the flat market conditions and no material acquisitions. Therefore, FY17 guidance reflects the resilient business model. We give a “Hold” recommendation on the stock at the current price of – $ 2.10
Platinum Investment (Asset) Management Ltd
Medium term outlook of the business is positive: Platinum Asset Management Ltd (ASX: PTM) has reported FUM of $23.04 billion at 31st October, 2016, which is slightly up on the June 2016 close of $22.7 billion. Further, November FUM moved up slightly to $23.08 billion. PTM has got net fund flows which is negative over the last few months, but the recent investment performance of the PTM Funds has been strong relative to their index benchmarks. This would lead to the outperformance with regard to the medium-term outlook for the business. We give a “Buy” recommendation on the stock at the current price of – $ 5.43
Cover-More Group Ltd
Initiatives for FY 17: Cover-More Group Ltd (ASX: CVO) is reducing the overhead costs and the majority of benefit would be in the second half of FY17 and into FY18. CVO has realigned the strategy and operating model and has contracted with a new underwriting partner in Berkshire Hathaway. Moreover, CVO has acquired Travelex Insurance Services, to strengthen presence in the USA market. We give a “Buy” recommendation on the stock at the current price of – $ 1.31
BT Investment Management Ltd
Tough conditions to prevail: BT Investment Management Ltd (ASX: BTT) in FY 16 reported a 12% increase in the statutory net profit after tax to $142.0 million while cash net profit after tax (Cash NPAT) grew 18% to $156.0 million. Meanwhile, BTT stock has risen 14.86% in six months (as on December 07, 2016) placing the stock at unreasonable P/E. BTT has reported softer investment performance over last 12 months and is expecting that the tough conditions would prevail. We give an “Expensive” recommendation on this dividend yield stock at the current price of – $ 10.82
Suncorp Group Ltd
SUN and Nib to offer expanded health insurance range: Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) and nib are launching a new private health insurance solution in Australia through the SUN insurance and AAMI brands in Australia and this will be an extension to nib’s partnership. SUN expects expenses over FY17 and FY18 to be flat. We give a “Buy” recommendation on the stock at the current price of – $ 13.31
IOOF Holdings Ltd
Victorian Supreme Court orders in favor of IFL: IOOF Holdings Ltd (ASX: IFL) has announced that Maurice Blackburn Pty Limited has agreed to Victorian Supreme Court orders, that prohibited it from proceeding with a proposed class action against IFL. Moreover, IFL has continued positive net flows of $1.8 billion. IFL’s UNPAT in FY 16 is flat at $173.4 million as compared to FY 15 and underlying EPS fell 4% to 57.8cps. Additionally, IFL has increased its performance from the Shadforth acquisition combined with strong net inflows and is reinvesting in core businesses. Shadforth has posted 7.5cps and realized $25m pre-tax cost synergies. Meanwhile, IFL stock has a solid dividend yield and is trading at a reasonable P/E. Accordingly, we give a “Hold” recommendation on the stock at the current price of – $ 8.81
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