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Progressive's (PGR) April Earnings Rise on Higher Revenues
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The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) reported earnings per share of $1.62 for April 2020, soaring 96% year over year on an improved top line.
Year to date, Progressive’s shares have gained 3.5% against the industry’s 24.8% decline. The rise was courtesy of the company’s sustained strength in results.
Numbers in April
Progressive recorded net premiums written of $3.8 billion in the month, up 3% from $3.7 billion in the year-ago quarter. Net premiums earned were about $3.6 billion, up 9% from $3.3 billion last April.
Net realized gain on securities in the quarter was $537.3 million, up from a gain of $131.6 million in the prior-year quarter.
Combined ratio — percentage of premiums paid out as claims and expenses — improved 400 basis points (bps) year over year to 83.4%.
Total operating revenues came in at $4.5 billion, improving 29.3% year over year owing to an 8.5% increase in premiums, 2.2% higher investment income and other revenues plus a 13.7% rise in service revenues. However, 12.8% lower fees was a partial relief.
Total expenses rose 3.3% to nearly $3.1 billion, primarily because of a 6.3% rise in losses and loss adjustment expenses and 13.2% jump in other underwriting expenses. However, 21.9% lower losses and loss adjustment expenses limited the downside.
In April, policies in force were impressive in both Vehicle and Property business. In its vehicle business, Personal Auto segment improved 10% year over year to nearly 15.5 million. Special Lines increased 4% from the year-earlier month to 4.6 million policies.
In Progressive’s Personal Auto segment, Agency Auto expanded 7.2% to 8 million while Direct Auto increased 11% to nearly 8.3 million.
Progressive’s Commercial Auto segment rose 6% year over year to 0.8 million. The Property business had 2.3 million policies in force in the reported month, up 13% year over year.
Progressive’s book value per share was $25.74 as of Apr 30, 2020, up 24.1% from $20.74 as of Apr 30, 2019.
Return on equity in the trailing 12 months was 33.4%, up 60 bps from 32.8% in Apr 2019. The debt-to-total-capital ratio improved 120 bps year over year to 25.7 as of Apr 30, 2020.
Zacks Rank and Other Top Insurers
Progressive carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other top-ranked companies from the same space are National General Holdings Corp , Allstate Corporation (ALL - Free Report) and Palomar Holdings Inc. (PLMR - Free Report) .
National General, a specialty personal lines insurance holding company, provides various insurance products and services in the United States, Bermuda, Luxembourg and Sweden. Its earnings beat estimates in two of the last four quarters and missed in the other two, the average positive surprise being 5.68%. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Allstate provides property and casualty, and other insurance products in the United States and Canada. The company surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average positive surprise being 18.45%.The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Palomar provides specialty property insurance. Its earnings surpassed estimates in two of the last four quarters, the average positive surprise being 10.93%. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2.
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Progressive's (PGR) April Earnings Rise on Higher Revenues
The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) reported earnings per share of $1.62 for April 2020, soaring 96% year over year on an improved top line.
Year to date, Progressive’s shares have gained 3.5% against the industry’s 24.8% decline. The rise was courtesy of the company’s sustained strength in results.
Numbers in April
Progressive recorded net premiums written of $3.8 billion in the month, up 3% from $3.7 billion in the year-ago quarter. Net premiums earned were about $3.6 billion, up 9% from $3.3 billion last April.
Net realized gain on securities in the quarter was $537.3 million, up from a gain of $131.6 million in the prior-year quarter.
Combined ratio — percentage of premiums paid out as claims and expenses — improved 400 basis points (bps) year over year to 83.4%.
Total operating revenues came in at $4.5 billion, improving 29.3% year over year owing to an 8.5% increase in premiums, 2.2% higher investment income and other revenues plus a 13.7% rise in service revenues. However, 12.8% lower fees was a partial relief.
Total expenses rose 3.3% to nearly $3.1 billion, primarily because of a 6.3% rise in losses and loss adjustment expenses and 13.2% jump in other underwriting expenses. However, 21.9% lower losses and loss adjustment expenses limited the downside.
In April, policies in force were impressive in both Vehicle and Property business. In its vehicle business, Personal Auto segment improved 10% year over year to nearly 15.5 million. Special Lines increased 4% from the year-earlier month to 4.6 million policies.
In Progressive’s Personal Auto segment, Agency Auto expanded 7.2% to 8 million while Direct Auto increased 11% to nearly 8.3 million.
Progressive’s Commercial Auto segment rose 6% year over year to 0.8 million. The Property business had 2.3 million policies in force in the reported month, up 13% year over year.
Progressive’s book value per share was $25.74 as of Apr 30, 2020, up 24.1% from $20.74 as of Apr 30, 2019.
Return on equity in the trailing 12 months was 33.4%, up 60 bps from 32.8% in Apr 2019. The debt-to-total-capital ratio improved 120 bps year over year to 25.7 as of Apr 30, 2020.
Zacks Rank and Other Top Insurers
Progressive carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other top-ranked companies from the same space are National General Holdings Corp , Allstate Corporation (ALL - Free Report) and Palomar Holdings Inc. (PLMR - Free Report) .
National General, a specialty personal lines insurance holding company, provides various insurance products and services in the United States, Bermuda, Luxembourg and Sweden. Its earnings beat estimates in two of the last four quarters and missed in the other two, the average positive surprise being 5.68%. The stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Allstate provides property and casualty, and other insurance products in the United States and Canada. The company surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average positive surprise being 18.45%.The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Palomar provides specialty property insurance. Its earnings surpassed estimates in two of the last four quarters, the average positive surprise being 10.93%. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>>