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MetLife's (MET) Business Restructuring on Track for Efficiency
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According to sources, multiline insurer MetLife, Inc. (MET - Free Report) is in talks to sell its property/casualty auto and home insurance business to Zurich Insurance for nearly $4 billion.
This property & casualty business offers personal lines of property and casualty insurance including private passenger automobile, homeowners’ and personal excess liability insurance and is offered in the United States. Rumors about the company exiting this business have been doing the rounds since September. MetLife strategy is to shed this fiercely competitive business and expand into life and health insurance and other benefits offerings, for which it is widely known.
MetLife’s property/casualty auto and home insurance business generated average operating earnings of 13% from 2015 to 2019. Its combined ratio was 97% during this period. Notably a combined ratio of less than 100% signifies underwriting profitability.
However, operating earnings for this unit declined to $249 million in 2019 from $344 million in 2018. The unit faces significant competition from other niche players, such as Travelers Companies (TRV - Free Report) , The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) , The Allstate Corp. (ALL - Free Report) and Berkshire Hathaway.
In the third quarter of 2020, P&C adjusted earnings were down 68% from the prior-year period, due to unfavorable underwriting margins induced by higher catastrophe losses. The overall combined ratio was 104.2%, which was above the company’s annual target range of 92-97% and the prior-year quarter’s 98.4%. This business suffered the highest quarterly cat loss in nearly a decade.
The company’s recent strategic moves also reflect its intent to streamline its business by focusing on high-growth areas, such as health and benefits business. To this end, the company recently announced that it will acquire vision care company Versant Health for $1.675 billion in an all-cash transaction. Versant Health owns the brands Davis Vision and Superior Vision.
Notably, in January this year, MetLife bought PetFirst, which gave it an entry into the growing pet insurance market.
Later in October 2020, the company divested its wholly-owned subsidiary MetLife Seguros de Retiro S.A. Also, earlier in June, the company sold two of its wholly-owned units, namely MetLife Limited and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of Hong Kong Limited (collectively, MetLife Hong Kong).
During the third quarter of 2020, the company booked the sale of its annuity business in Argentina, which was no longer a strategic fit for its growth. Thisdivestment illustrates the company’s ongoing process of planting and pruning its businessa bid to achieve the optimal mix.
These deals come as much anticipated as the company’s CEO Michel Khalaf in September had said that the company is looking for growth-driving businesses and disciplined capital deployment that achieve or exceed a minimum risk adjusted hurdle rate.
Business rejig will provide efficiency to the company at a time when its top line is already under pressure.
The company’s revenues declined 7.7% year over year in the first nine months of 2020. Also, net investment income dropped 16.5% year over year in the first nine months of 2020. The low interest rate environment (which is expected to continue through 2023) might weigh on net investment income because of weak investment yields.
Year to date, the stock has lost 3.1% against its industry’s decline of 9.8%.
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MetLife's (MET) Business Restructuring on Track for Efficiency
According to sources, multiline insurer MetLife, Inc. (MET - Free Report) is in talks to sell its property/casualty auto and home insurance business to Zurich Insurance for nearly $4 billion.
This property & casualty business offers personal lines of property and casualty insurance including private passenger automobile, homeowners’ and personal excess liability insurance and is offered in the United States.
Rumors about the company exiting this business have been doing the rounds since September. MetLife strategy is to shed this fiercely competitive business and expand into life and health insurance and other benefits offerings, for which it is widely known.
MetLife’s property/casualty auto and home insurance business generated average operating earnings of 13% from 2015 to 2019. Its combined ratio was 97% during this period. Notably a combined ratio of less than 100% signifies underwriting profitability.
However, operating earnings for this unit declined to $249 million in 2019 from $344 million in 2018. The unit faces significant competition from other niche players, such as Travelers Companies (TRV - Free Report) , The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) , The Allstate Corp. (ALL - Free Report) and Berkshire Hathaway.
In the third quarter of 2020, P&C adjusted earnings were down 68% from the prior-year period, due to unfavorable underwriting margins induced by higher catastrophe losses. The overall combined ratio was 104.2%, which was above the company’s annual target range of 92-97% and the prior-year quarter’s 98.4%. This business suffered the highest quarterly cat loss in nearly a decade.
The company’s recent strategic moves also reflect its intent to streamline its business by focusing on high-growth areas, such as health and benefits business. To this end, the company recently announced that it will acquire vision care company Versant Health for $1.675 billion in an all-cash transaction. Versant Health owns the brands Davis Vision and Superior Vision.
Notably, in January this year, MetLife bought PetFirst, which gave it an entry into the growing pet insurance market.
Later in October 2020, the company divested its wholly-owned subsidiary MetLife Seguros de Retiro S.A. Also, earlier in June, the company sold two of its wholly-owned units, namely MetLife Limited and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of Hong Kong Limited (collectively, MetLife Hong Kong).
During the third quarter of 2020, the company booked the sale of its annuity business in Argentina, which was no longer a strategic fit for its growth. Thisdivestment illustrates the company’s ongoing process of planting and pruning its businessa bid to achieve the optimal mix.
These deals come as much anticipated as the company’s CEO Michel Khalaf in September had said that the company is looking for growth-driving businesses and disciplined capital deployment that achieve or exceed a minimum risk adjusted hurdle rate.
Business rejig will provide efficiency to the company at a time when its top line is already under pressure.
The company’s revenues declined 7.7% year over year in the first nine months of 2020. Also, net investment income dropped 16.5% year over year in the first nine months of 2020. The low interest rate environment (which is expected to continue through 2023) might weigh on net investment income because of weak investment yields.
Year to date, the stock has lost 3.1% against its industry’s decline of 9.8%.
MetLife carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), currently. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>