Another impressive quarter for Intact

Article Excerpt

INTACT FINANCIAL CORP. $227 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol IFC; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 178.4 million; Market cap: $40.5 billion; Dividend yield: 1.9%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.intactfc.com) is Canada’s largest property and casualty insurance provider. With the March 2024 payment, the company raised your quarterly dividend by 10.0%, to $1.21 a share from $1.10. The annual rate of $4.40 yields a solid 1.9%. In the quarter ended March 31, 2024, the insurer collected $5.11 billion in premiums, up 6.2% from $4.81 billion a year earlier. Premiums were higher due to solid results from both its personal lines and commercial business. Intact’s net operating income also rose 20.7%, to $648 million, or $3.63 a share, from $537 million, or $3.06 a share. In 2024, the company will probably earn $14.79 a share (excluding unusual items). The stock trades at a moderate 15.3 times that estimate. Intact Financial is a buy. buy. …