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Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) Hit a 52 Week High, Can the Run Continue?
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Shares of Assurant (AIZ - Free Report) have been strong performers lately, with the stock up 11.4% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $189.77 in the previous session. Assurant has gained 12% since the start of the year compared to the 14.4% move for the Zacks Finance sector and the 10.9% return for the Zacks Insurance - Multi line industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?
The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on August 6, 2024, Assurant reported EPS of $4.08 versus consensus estimate of $3.58 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 2.49%.
For the current fiscal year, Assurant is expected to post earnings of $16.58 per share on $11.72 billion in revenues. This represents a 7.04% change in EPS on a 4.62% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $17.19 per share on $12.09 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 3.72% and 3.19%, respectively.
Valuation Metrics
Assurant may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Assurant has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are C and B, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 11.4X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 9.6X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 9.6X versus its peer group's average of 9.3X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 1.59. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks Rank
We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Assurant currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Assurant fits the bill. Thus, it seems as though Assurant shares could still be poised for more gains ahead.
How Does AIZ Stack Up to the Competition?
Shares of AIZ have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (HG - Free Report) . HG has a Zacks Rank of # 1 (Strong Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of C, and a Momentum Score of C.
Earnings were strong last quarter. Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. beat our consensus estimate by 31.87%, and for the current fiscal year, HG is expected to post earnings of $4.21 per share on revenue of $2.33 billion.
Shares of Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. have gained 13.4% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 4.52X and a P/CF of 9.15X.
The Insurance - Multi line industry is in the top 27% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for AIZ and HG, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.
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Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) Hit a 52 Week High, Can the Run Continue?
Shares of Assurant (AIZ - Free Report) have been strong performers lately, with the stock up 11.4% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $189.77 in the previous session. Assurant has gained 12% since the start of the year compared to the 14.4% move for the Zacks Finance sector and the 10.9% return for the Zacks Insurance - Multi line industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?
The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on August 6, 2024, Assurant reported EPS of $4.08 versus consensus estimate of $3.58 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 2.49%.
For the current fiscal year, Assurant is expected to post earnings of $16.58 per share on $11.72 billion in revenues. This represents a 7.04% change in EPS on a 4.62% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $17.19 per share on $12.09 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 3.72% and 3.19%, respectively.
Valuation Metrics
Assurant may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Assurant has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are C and B, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 11.4X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 9.6X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 9.6X versus its peer group's average of 9.3X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 1.59. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks Rank
We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Assurant currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Assurant fits the bill. Thus, it seems as though Assurant shares could still be poised for more gains ahead.
How Does AIZ Stack Up to the Competition?
Shares of AIZ have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. (HG - Free Report) . HG has a Zacks Rank of # 1 (Strong Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of C, and a Momentum Score of C.
Earnings were strong last quarter. Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. beat our consensus estimate by 31.87%, and for the current fiscal year, HG is expected to post earnings of $4.21 per share on revenue of $2.33 billion.
Shares of Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd. have gained 13.4% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 4.52X and a P/CF of 9.15X.
The Insurance - Multi line industry is in the top 27% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for AIZ and HG, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.