Life & Health Insurance

For Immediate Release Chicago, IL –August 12, 2010 – Zacks Equity Research highlights: Wynn Resorts (WYNN) as the Bull of the Day and StanCorp Financial (SFG) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Macy’s Inc. (M), Visa (V) and The Walt Disney Company (DIS...

Earlier during the week, Delphi Financial Group Inc. (DFG), a provider of integrated employee benefit services, announced the redemption of $50.0 million in 8.00% senior notes due 2033. The redemption date is set for September 21, 2010. The outstanding principal amount of the notes would be $68.8...

After a satisfactory performance in the second quarter, Aflac Inc. (AFL) further enhanced its value by declaring a 7.1% hike in its dividend and by recommencing its share repurchase program that was shelved in 2008. Aflac’s business operations had got a hard thrashing by the financial crisis that...

We are downgrading StanCorp Financial (SFG) to Underperform from Neutral as we suspect organic growth will remain restricted in the near term, given the sluggish economic environment and challenging labor market conditions. Additionally, delinquencies on commercial mortgage loans are expected to...

Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods is out with a research report this morning, where it reiterates its Market Perform rating on FBL Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: FFG); it has a $25.00 price target on the stock. The KBW analysts cited that company’s recent earnings report, which was well ahead of their...

BOSTON (TheStreet) -- Investors wary of a soft patch in the economy have piled into government debt, whose yields are slim. The following 10 stocks, the cheapest on the S&P 500, sell for less than seven times earnings, reflecting a deep discount. They're ordered by forward earnings multiple,...

Below are the top life insurance stocks on the NYSE and the NASDAQ in terms of free cash flow. The trailing-twelve-month free cash flow at Protective Life Corporation (NYSE: PL) is $884.5 million. Analysts at UBS upgraded PL from “neutral” to “buy.” The trailing-twelve-month free cash flow at...

The leading German property-casualty and life insurer, Allianz Group reported its second quarter 2010 earnings of $2.91 (€2.21) per share, a substantial decrease of 47% from $5.44 (€4.13) reported in second quarter 2009. Net income to shareholders totaled $1.33 (€1.01) billion, down 45.6% from $2....

Employee benefits provider Delphi Financial Group Inc. (DFG) yesterday announced a single cent increase in quarterly dividend to 11 cents from 10 cents paid in the second quarter of 2010. This hike represents a 10% increase from the previous dividend. With the increased annual dividend of 44 cents...

Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) reported second-quarter 2010 adjusted operating earnings of 37 cents, lower than 48 cents reported in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted operating earnings were $643 (C$658) million, lower than $759 (C$776) million in second-quarter 2009. Adjusted operating...

Lincoln National Corp.’s (LNC) MACD indicator has moved into bearish territory with a reading of -0.0457. The Zacks #5 Rank (“Strong Sell”) declined more than 3% to $24.17 in afternoon trade. The Zacks Consensus Estimate on the company’s earnings for 2010 has reduced by 7 cents over the past 2...

CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO) reported its second-quarter income from continuing operations of $44.9 million or 16 cents per share, well ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 14 cents. This also compares favorably with income of $40.8 million or 22 cents in the year-ago quarter. The improved...

For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – August 06, 2010 – Zacks.com Analyst Blog features: Viacom Inc. (VIA.B), News Corporation (NWSA), Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU), Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) and STMicroelectronics NV (STM ). Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog: Viacom Nets Soars...

FBL Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: FFG) today reported net income attributable to FBL for the second quarter of 2010 of $22.3 million, or $0.73 per diluted common share, compared to net income attributable to FBL of $24.4 million, or $0.81 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2009....