Blue-Chip

QBE’s emerging markets story

June 27, 2017 | Team Kalkine
QBE’s emerging markets story

QBE Insurance Group Ltd


QBE Details
 
QBE Insurance Group (ASX: QBE) informed on Tuesday in response to a query raised by the Australian Securities Exchange, it was unaware of the impact of losses in its emerging markets division on overall profitability during its annual meeting in early May. It was unaware of losses in emerging markets until a board meeting on 21 June 2017 that the financial condition of each of its global divisions, including the Emerging Markets division, had been clarified and confirmed. Last week, QBE surprised the market with a profit warning as it would report lower than expected earnings due to underwriting losses in its emerging markets division. The company downgraded its overall combined operating ratio to the 94.5% to 96% range, compared with a February guidance of 93.5% to 95%.A higher combined operating ratio translates to lower underwriting profits for insurers. The company forecast interim insurance profit margin to be in the range of 8.5% to 9.5% against 9.7% in 2016.

The stock has decline 12.1% in the last five trading sessions as on 27 June 2017, owing to cut in its FY17 profit guidance. Given the ambiguity around changing patterns of Chinese buyers and impact on company’s financials going forward, we give an “Expensive” recommendation on the stock at the current market price of $ 11.77


QBE Daily chart; (Source: Thomson Reuters)


Disclaimer
 
The advice given by Kalkine Pty Ltd and provided on this website is general information only and it does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. You should therefore consider whether the advice is appropriate to your investment objectives, financial situation and needs before acting upon it. You should seek advice from a financial adviser, stockbroker or other professional (including taxation and legal advice) as necessary before acting on any advice. Not all investments are appropriate for all people. Kalkine.com.au and associated pages are published by Kalkine Pty Ltd ABN 34 154 808 312 (Australian Financial Services License Number 425376). The information on this website has been prepared from a wide variety of sources, which Kalkine Pty Ltd, to the best of its knowledge and belief, considers accurate. You should make your own enquiries about any investments and we strongly suggest you seek advice before acting upon any recommendation. Kalkine Pty Ltd has made every effort to ensure the reliability of information contained in its newsletters and websites. All information represents our views at the date of publication and may change without notice. To the extent permitted by law, Kalkine Pty Ltd excludes all liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website and any information published (including any indirect or consequential loss, any data loss or data corruption). If the law prohibits this exclusion, Kalkine Pty Ltd hereby limits its liability, to the extent permitted by law to the resupply of services. There may be a product disclosure statement or other offer document for the securities and financial products we write about in Kalkine Reports. You should obtain a copy of the product disclosure statement or offer document before making any decision about whether to acquire the security or product. The link to our Terms & Conditions has been provided please go through them and also have a read of the Financial Services Guide. On the date of publishing this report (mentioned on the website), employees and/or associates of Kalkine Pty Ltd do not hold positions in any of the stocks covered on the website. These stocks can change any time and readers of the reports should not consider these stocks as advice or recommendations.