Pick Of The Niche Insurance Stocks

Article Excerpt

KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES $15.83 (Toronto symbol KFS; SI Rating: Speculative) (905- 629-7888; www.kingsway-financial.com; Shares outstanding: 55.9 million; Market cap: $880.6 million) offers automobile insurance for drivers that standard auto insurers have rejected. This could be because of their poor driving record, vehicle type, place of residence, age or credit rating. The company serves other niche markets including long-haul trucking, taxi, rental car and motorcycle insurance. Kingsway does three-quarters of its business in the U.S. Kingsway reported 36.9% lower earnings in the three months ended September 30, 2007, to $23.6 million, or $0.43 a share, from $37.4 million or $0.67. (All figures except share price in U.S. dollars.) The decline came as stronger operating results in Canada were offset by weakness in the United States. Lincoln General, Kingsway’s largest U.S. subsidiary, continues to lose money on policies it has written in the long-haul trucking market. However, the company is now putting in place corrective measures, which it expects will improve its results in 2008. Kingsway’s…