Allstate Corporation’s (NYSE:ALL) first-quarter 2019 earnings of $2.3 per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.44% but decreased 25.3% on a year-over-year basis.
The decrease was mainly due to heavy catastrophe loss. Adjusted revenues came in at $10.33 billion, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 15.22%. The top line was up 12.5% year over year, driven by an increase in property and casualty insurance premium (up 6.9% year over year).
In the quarter under review, total expenses increased 10.1% year over year to $9.37 billion on higher property and casualty insurance claims, and operating cost and expenses.
The company incurred catastrophe loss of $680 million, which was 88.4% higher year over year.
Total policies in force as of Mar 31, 2019 were 123.5 million, up 44.3% year over year.
Net investment income of $648 million declined 17.6% year over year due to lower performance-based income.
The Allstate Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
Solid Segmental Performance
Property-Liability insurance premiums of $8.8 billion increased 6.2% year over year due to rise in premium in auto, homeowners and Ensurance brand.
The segment’s underwriting income of $700 million was down 30.3% year over year due to catastrophe losses incurred in the reported quarter.
Service Businesses’ total revenues were $392 million, up 25% year over year. This upside was primarily driven by higher revenues (up 34.4%) from the company’s Square (NYSE:SQ) Trade business, followed by revenue growth of 14.3% and 11.5% respectively, in Arity and Allstate Dealer Services.
Allstate Life’s total revenues of $486 million increased 3% year over year, driven by growth in premiums and net investment income.
Allstate Benefits’ total revenues grew 2.6% year over year to $311 million, driven by growth in premium and gains from realized capital losses.
Allstate Annuities’ revenues of $349 million grew 32% year over year mainly due to high realized capital gains.
Capital Position (As of Mar 31, 2019)
Total shareholders’ equity was $20.5 billion, down 1.4% year over year.
Total assets were $115.8 billion, up 2.3% year over year.
Long-term debt of $6.45 billion decreased 5.8% year over year.
Ratio of debt-to-equity was 27.6%, down 180 basis points year over year.
Adjusted return on equity of 13.5% declined from 16.2% in the year-ago quarter.
Zacks Rank and Performance of Other Insurers
Allstate carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Among the other players from the insurance industry that have reported first-quarter earnings so far, the bottom line of Torchmark Corp. (NYSE:TMK) , RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) and W.R. Berkley Corp. (NYSE:WRB) beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.14%, 20.3% and 54%.
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The Allstate Corporation (ALL): Free Stock Analysis Report
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Zacks Investment Research