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.
MetLife (MET) Q2 Earnings Top Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y
Read MoreHide Full Article
MetLife, Inc. (MET - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2021 adjusted operating earnings of $2.37 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 47.2%. The bottom line improved to nearly three-fold year over year.
The company’s results benefited from uptick in revenues stemming from solid contributions by the U.S. and Asia segments, partly offset by elevated expenses.
Behind the Headlines
MetLife’s adjusted operating revenues of $16.2 billion improved 17% year over year on account of rise in premiums, fees and other revenues, and higher net investment income. However, the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.2%.
Adjusted premiums, fees and other revenues, excluding pension risk transfer (PRT) rose 7% year over year to $11.1 billion in the quarter under review.
Adjusted net investment income of $5.1 billion soared 49% year over year, courtesy of growth in variable investment income resulting from improved private equity returns.
Total expenses inched up 1% year over year to $14 billion in the second quarter primarily due to increase in policyholder benefits and claims.
Adjusted expense ratio, excluding total notable items related to other expenses and PRT, improved 140 basis points (bps) year over year to 19.2%.
Adjusted book value per share of $56.38 climbed 8% year over year.
Adjusted return on equity improved 1,110 bps year over year to 17.5% in the quarter under review.
Adjusted earnings in this segment surged 72% year over year to $902 million attributable to rise in variable investment income stemming from robust private equity returns.
Adjusted premiums, fees and other revenues amounted to $6.1 billion at the segment, which grew 8% year over year. The upside can be attributed to creation of an unearned dental premium reserve and crediting of premium to dental customers in the prior-year comparable period. The inclusion of Versant Health in the company’s results has provided a boost to the segment’s performance.
Asia
The segment reported adjusted earnings of $520 million, which doubled on a year-over-year basis. On a constant currency (cc) basis, adjusted earnings soared 91% year over year, courtesy of uptick in variable investment income and growing volumes.
Adjusted premiums, fees & other revenues inched up 1% year over year to $2 billion in the quarter under review.
Latin America
Adjusted earnings in the segment totaled $97 million, which slumped 27% year over year. Adjusted earnings on a cc basis plunged 38% year over year due to increased COVID-19 related claims, partly offset by improved variable investment income.
Adjusted premiums, fees & other revenues of $934 million climbed 27% year over year in the segment.
EMEA
Adjusted earnings from EMEA fell 19% year over year to $94 million. On a cc basis, adjusted earnings declined 23% year over year due to reduced utilization in the year-ago period coupled with increased COVID-19 linked claims during the current-year period. The downside was partly mitigated by rising volumes.
Adjusted premiums, fees & other revenues of $744 million improved 13% year over year.
MetLife Holdings
The segment’s adjusted earnings from MetLife Holdings amounted to $536 million, which increased to nearly 27-fold from the prior-year quarter. The improvement came on the back of favorable life underwriting and improved variable investment income.
Adjusted premiums, fees & other revenues of $1.2 billion decreased 2% year over year in the second quarter.
Corporate & Other
Adjusted loss of $60 million at the segment came in narrower than the prior-year quarter’s adjusted loss of $289 million.
Financial Update
MetLife exited the second quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $25 billion, which increased 26.5% from the figure at 2020 end.
The company’s long-term debt amounted to $14.5 billion, which dipped 0.6% from the 2020-end level.
Total shareholders’ equity as of Jun 30, 2021, was $69.1 billion, down 7.3% from the figure as of Dec 31, 2020.
Share Repurchase & Dividend Update
The company bought back shares worth $1.1 billion in the quarter under review.
Concurrent with second-quarter results, the board of directors authorized share repurchases worth $3 billion. The new $3-billion is an addition to the remaining $475 million under the company’s prior authorization unveiled in December 2020.
In April 2021, the company’s board of directors approved a 4.3% hike in its quarterly dividend, with the new dividend payout being 48 cents per share.
Of the multiline insurance industry players that have reported second-quarter results so far, the bottom line of Old Republic International Corporation (ORI - Free Report) , Assurant, Inc. (AIZ - Free Report) and CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO - Free Report) beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
MetLife (MET) Q2 Earnings Top Estimates, Revenues Rise Y/Y
MetLife, Inc. (MET - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2021 adjusted operating earnings of $2.37 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 47.2%. The bottom line improved to nearly three-fold year over year.
The company’s results benefited from uptick in revenues stemming from solid contributions by the U.S. and Asia segments, partly offset by elevated expenses.
Behind the Headlines
MetLife’s adjusted operating revenues of $16.2 billion improved 17% year over year on account of rise in premiums, fees and other revenues, and higher net investment income. However, the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.2%.
Adjusted premiums, fees and other revenues, excluding pension risk transfer (PRT) rose 7% year over year to $11.1 billion in the quarter under review.
Adjusted net investment income of $5.1 billion soared 49% year over year, courtesy of growth in variable investment income resulting from improved private equity returns.
Total expenses inched up 1% year over year to $14 billion in the second quarter primarily due to increase in policyholder benefits and claims.
Adjusted expense ratio, excluding total notable items related to other expenses and PRT, improved 140 basis points (bps) year over year to 19.2%.
Adjusted book value per share of $56.38 climbed 8% year over year.
Adjusted return on equity improved 1,110 bps year over year to 17.5% in the quarter under review.
MetLife, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
MetLife, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | MetLife, Inc. Quote
Segmental Performances
U.S.
Adjusted earnings in this segment surged 72% year over year to $902 million attributable to rise in variable investment income stemming from robust private equity returns.
Adjusted premiums, fees and other revenues amounted to $6.1 billion at the segment, which grew 8% year over year. The upside can be attributed to creation of an unearned dental premium reserve and crediting of premium to dental customers in the prior-year comparable period. The inclusion of Versant Health in the company’s results has provided a boost to the segment’s performance.
Asia
The segment reported adjusted earnings of $520 million, which doubled on a year-over-year basis. On a constant currency (cc) basis, adjusted earnings soared 91% year over year, courtesy of uptick in variable investment income and growing volumes.
Adjusted premiums, fees & other revenues inched up 1% year over year to $2 billion in the quarter under review.
Latin America
Adjusted earnings in the segment totaled $97 million, which slumped 27% year over year. Adjusted earnings on a cc basis plunged 38% year over year due to increased COVID-19 related claims, partly offset by improved variable investment income.
Adjusted premiums, fees & other revenues of $934 million climbed 27% year over year in the segment.
EMEA
Adjusted earnings from EMEA fell 19% year over year to $94 million. On a cc basis, adjusted earnings declined 23% year over year due to reduced utilization in the year-ago period coupled with increased COVID-19 linked claims during the current-year period. The downside was partly mitigated by rising volumes.
Adjusted premiums, fees & other revenues of $744 million improved 13% year over year.
MetLife Holdings
The segment’s adjusted earnings from MetLife Holdings amounted to $536 million, which increased to nearly 27-fold from the prior-year quarter. The improvement came on the back of favorable life underwriting and improved variable investment income.
Adjusted premiums, fees & other revenues of $1.2 billion decreased 2% year over year in the second quarter.
Corporate & Other
Adjusted loss of $60 million at the segment came in narrower than the prior-year quarter’s adjusted loss of $289 million.
Financial Update
MetLife exited the second quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $25 billion, which increased 26.5% from the figure at 2020 end.
The company’s long-term debt amounted to $14.5 billion, which dipped 0.6% from the 2020-end level.
Total shareholders’ equity as of Jun 30, 2021, was $69.1 billion, down 7.3% from the figure as of Dec 31, 2020.
Share Repurchase & Dividend Update
The company bought back shares worth $1.1 billion in the quarter under review.
Concurrent with second-quarter results, the board of directors authorized share repurchases worth $3 billion. The new $3-billion is an addition to the remaining $475 million under the company’s prior authorization unveiled in December 2020.
In April 2021, the company’s board of directors approved a 4.3% hike in its quarterly dividend, with the new dividend payout being 48 cents per share.
Zacks Rank
MetLife presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Multiline Insurers
Of the multiline insurance industry players that have reported second-quarter results so far, the bottom line of Old Republic International Corporation (ORI - Free Report) , Assurant, Inc. (AIZ - Free Report) and CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO - Free Report) beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate.