Topic: Growth Stocks

INTACT FINANCIAL $92.22 – Toronto symbol IFC

INTACT FINANCIAL $92.22 (Toronto symbol IFC; TSINetwork Rating: Speculative) (416-341-1464; www.intactfc.com; Shares outstanding: 131.5 million; Market cap: $12.2 billion; Dividend yield: 2.3%) is Canada’s largest provider of property and casualty insurance. Its brands include Intact Insurance, Canada BrokerLink and belairdirect.

In the three months ended June 30, 2015, Intact’s revenue rose 6.0%, to $2.34 billion from $2.21 billion a year earlier. Revenue improved across all of the company’s insurance lines and geographic regions. Its $197-million acquisition of Canadian Direct Insurance in early 2015 also added to its sales. Canadian Direct offers home, auto and travel insurance, mainly in Alberta and B.C.

Earnings rose 1.9%, to $210 million, or $1.56 a share, from $206 million, or $1.53. Intact continues to write more-profitable insurance policies and cut its operating costs.

The company reported a combined ratio, or claims paid out divided by premiums taken in (the lower, the better) of 91.6% in the latest quarter, down from 92.9% a year earlier.

The stock trades at 14.0 times Intact’s forecast 2015 earnings of $6.57 a share. It yields 2.3%.

Intact Financial is a buy.

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