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This blog is produced by David Merkel CFA, a registered representative of Finacorp Securities as an outside business activity. As such, Finacorp Securities does not review or approve materials presented herein. By viewing or participating in discussion on this blog, you understand that the opinions expressed within do not reflect the opinions or recommendations of Finacorp Securities, but are the opinions of the author and individual participants. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or other instrument. Before investing, consider your investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Any purchase or sale activity in any securities instrument should be based upon your own analysis and conclusions. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Finacorp Securities is a member FINRA and SIPC.

David Merkel

At my blog there are two main purposes: teaching investors about better investing through risk control, and tying all of the markets into a coherent whole.

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    Insurance Earnings So Far 2Q07 — Part I

    I’ll give this one more quarter to see how well my readers like this, but here are the earnings in insurance so far this quarter.  As you can tell, I am doing it a little different this time, in providing a file, and less qualitative commentary.  It’s the same data that I provided last time, but now you can do your own slicing and dicing.

    What affects insurance equity prices when earnings are released?  Three things: guidance changes (most powerful), earnings surprises (powerful), and revenue growth. (When the market can’t decide otherwise, they like to see top line growth.  I think that’s dumb, but give the market what it wants, then it will change what it wants on you…)

    Trends so far:

    • Exposure to UK property with the floods is a negative.
    • Personal lines are doing badly, both bottom and top lines, aside from specialty areas.
    • Commercial lines are still winning.  When do premiums finally get below technical pricing levels?
    • I like Brown and Brown.  Wish I owned some.  Hope no one buys it tomorrow. :)
    • Mortgage insurers are weak, but how much can they really get whacked when they are so near book value?


    Full disclosure: long ALL

    2 Responses to “ Insurance Earnings So Far 2Q07 — Part I ”

    1. prcp37t Says:

      David,
      Please continue to do this, I find it very helpful.

    2. PaulinKansasCity Says:

      thanks for this david

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