American Equity to Share More Profits, Ups Dividend by 10%

Zacks Equity Research

Updated Fri, Nov 20, 2015, 3:55 PM

The board of directors of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company AEL approved a 10% hike in its annual dividend.

The company will pay out the meatier dividend of 22 cents per share on Dec 14, 2015 to shareholders of record on Nov 30. Based on yesterday’s closing price of $26.90, the dividend currently has a yield of 0.82%.

The recent increase marks the twelfth straight year of hike, with a CAGR of 28.4%. It also marks the seventeenth consecutive year of cash dividend that has been declared by the company. The last hike of 11% was approved in Nov 2014 when the dividend was raised to 20 cents from 18 cents paid earlier.

With about 81.6 million shares outstanding at the end of the third quarter, American Equity will have to dish out nearly $18 million.

Its financial position, cushioned by a sustained solid operational performance, will support its payout. The company exited the third quarter with solid cash and cash equivalents of $523.6 million. Retained earnings were sturdy at $1 billion.

To its credit, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) life insurer delivered positive surprises in three of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 6.85%.

Investors interested in insurers can also look at Primerica, Inc PRI, Assured Guaranty Ltd AGO and Old Republic International Corporation ORI. While Assured Guaranty and Old Republic International sport Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Primerica shares the Zack Rank with American Equity.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

AMER EQUITY INV (AEL): Free Stock Analysis Report

ASSURED GUARNTY (AGO): Free Stock Analysis Report

OLD REP INTL (ORI): Free Stock Analysis Report

PRIMERICA INC (PRI): Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research

Suze Orman Decided To Drop Homeowners Insurance After An Outrageous Quote: '$28,000 For A 2,100-Square-Foot Condo. Are You Kidding Me?'
Finance expert Suze Orman has voiced concerns about the impact of climate change on property insurance costs, asserting it could threaten the American dream of homeownership. Orman, 72, faced a $28,000 annual insurance quote for her Florida oceanside condo, leading her to forego coverage entirely. She highlights a troubling trend where soaring insurance costs driven by frequent and severe weather events may deter Americans from buying homes. Don't Miss: For many first-time buyers, a house is abo
Benzinga•3h ago
The IRS says it’s going after wealthy tax cheats. Here’s what new audit stats show.
After Congress approved billions of extra funding for tax compliance, the Internal Revenue Service pledged it would get tougher on rich taxpayers and corporations while avoiding extra scrutiny of middle-class households.
MarketWatch•6h ago
Holding 6 Ethereum (ETH) Could Make You A Millionaire, According to Cathie Wood
With the recent halving and spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) driving demand, Bitcoin has had the spotlight for much of 2024. However, according to Cathie Wood of Ark Invest, Ethereum (ETH) could catch up to Bitcoin and provide investors with huge profits in the coming years. At an investor conference held by Ark Invest, Wood spoke about Ethereum, noting that the project could reach a market capitalization of $20 trillion by 2032. ETH currently has a supply of around 120 million tokens. So, a ma
Benzinga•5h ago
California McDonald's Franchise Owner Says, 'The Focus Is On Survival' With 'Unprecedented' $20 Per Hour Minimum Wage Forcing Higher Prices
In response to California's new $20 minimum wage law, fast food franchises are being forced to rethink their business strategies to stay afloat. Scott Rodrick, who owns 18 McDonald's franchises in the state, is considering measures to manage the increased labor costs without resorting to layoffs, which he sees as a last resort. Don't Miss: 82% of Americans aren’t using this government secured 5% passive income stream, are you one of them? The average American couple has saved this much money for
Benzinga•1d ago
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week's Release
Super Micro (SMCI) possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
Zacks•6h ago
Jamie Dimon is worried the US economy is headed back to the 1970s
JPMorgan's CEO is concerned the US economy could be in for a repeat of the stagflation that hampered the country during the 1970s.
Yahoo Finance•2h ago
JPMorgan’s ‘Bloody Friday’: Why Several Top Financial Advisors Jumped Ship the Same Day
Six teams managing nearly $15 billion in total assets quit JPMorgan Chase’s brokerage unit to join competitors last Friday. Here’s what may have triggered their departures.
Barrons.com•1h ago
Ex-Googler and Palestinian-American fired for opposing Project Nimbus speaks out: ‘This was not my idea of what the American workplace should be’
Several fired Google employees spoke at a press conference Monday about their experiences.
Fortune•4h ago
Ask an Advisor: We're 56 With $1.2 Million in Investments and Savings. Can We Afford to Withdraw $60k-$80k Per Year in Retirement?
My wife and I are both 56. We have around $1.2 million saved – approximately $450,000 in company 401(k)s, $650,000 in a managed account, and approximately $70,000 in personal stocks. We also have approximately $22,000 in savings. Our home is worth $700,000 or more and we owe $197,000 with a 3.875% interest rate. Our advisor […] The post Ask an Advisor: We’re 56 With $1.2 Million in Investments and Savings. Can We Afford to Withdraw $60k-$80k Per Year in Retirement? appeared first on SmartReads b
SmartAsset•4h ago
Here’s who really benefits from Biden’s $153 billion in student-debt cancellation
New data sheds light on how the Biden administration’s debt-relief efforts have affected borrowers.
MarketWatch•10h ago

News

Life

Entertainment

Finance

Sports

New on Yahoo

Yahoo Finance

American Equity to Share More Profits, Ups Dividend by 10%

Recommended Stories

Suze Orman Decided To Drop Homeowners Insurance After An Outrageous Quote: '$28,000 For A 2,100-Square-Foot Condo. Are You Kidding Me?'

The IRS says it’s going after wealthy tax cheats. Here’s what new audit stats show.

Holding 6 Ethereum (ETH) Could Make You A Millionaire, According to Cathie Wood

California McDonald's Franchise Owner Says, 'The Focus Is On Survival' With 'Unprecedented' $20 Per Hour Minimum Wage Forcing Higher Prices

Super Micro Computer (SMCI) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week's Release

Jamie Dimon is worried the US economy is headed back to the 1970s

JPMorgan’s ‘Bloody Friday’: Why Several Top Financial Advisors Jumped Ship the Same Day

Ex-Googler and Palestinian-American fired for opposing Project Nimbus speaks out: ‘This was not my idea of what the American workplace should be’

Ask an Advisor: We're 56 With $1.2 Million in Investments and Savings. Can We Afford to Withdraw $60k-$80k Per Year in Retirement?

Here’s who really benefits from Biden’s $153 billion in student-debt cancellation