Allstate plans to sell small unit

Article Excerpt

ALLSTATE CORP. $132 is a hold. The company (New York symbol ALL; Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 261.7 million; Market cap: $34.5 billion; Dividend yield: 2.7%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.allstate.com) is a leading provider of property and casualty, and other insurance products in the U.S. and Canada. Activist investor Nelson Peltz, through his Trian Fund Management firm, has reportedly acquired an undisclosed stake in Allstate. The company has lost money in the past five quarters, partly due to high payouts related to natural disasters such as wildfires in Hawaii. Perhaps due to the Trian investment, Allstate recently announced that it will sell its health and benefits businesses, which supply just 4% of its revenue. It aims to complete the sale in 2024. That would let the company better focus on its property and liability products. Allstate is also raising its premiums, which should improve its profitability. Allstate is a hold. hold. …