Here's Why You Should Add Primerica (PRI) to Your Portfolio
Primerica Inc.’s PRI compelling portfolio, strong market presence position and solid capital position make it worth adding to one’s portfolio.
Earnings of this second-largest issuer of term-life insurance coverage in North America have risen 14.4% over the last five years, outperforming the industry average of 2.6%.
Zacks Rank & Price Performance
Primerica currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Year to date, the stock has gained 21.3% against the industry’s decline of 0.1%.
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Return on Equity
Return on equity (ROE), a profitability measure to identify how efficiently a company is utilizing its shareholders’ funds, has been improving over the last several years. PRI’s trailing 12-month ROE of 24.9% is better than the industry average of 11.6%.
Northbound Estimate Revision
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2023 and 2024 earnings has moved 0.2% north each in the past seven days, reflecting analyst optimism.
Optimistic Growth Projection
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Primerica’s 2023 earnings is pegged at $14.83 per share, indicating an increase of 29.3% on 3.6% higher revenues of $2.8 billion. The consensus estimate for 2024 earnings is pegged at $16.53, indicating an increase of 11.5% on 5.1% higher revenues of $3 billion.
Business Tailwind
Primerica stands to benefit from solid demand for protection products that drive sales growth and policy persistency. A strong business model makes it well-poised to cater to the middle market's increased demand for financial security. Thus, Primerica envisions being a successful senior health business while continuing to enhance its shareholders’ value.
The insurer stays focused on increasing the size of the life license sales force through continued recruiting and licensing. PRI estimates a 3% rise in sales force size in 2023. Licensed representatives play a pivotal role in driving operational results for PRI.
PRI estimates Term Life insurance, issued policy growth of about 1% in the first quarter and mid-single digit growth in 2023. The company noted that though new products should accelerate growth, inflationary pressure will weigh on the upside.
In Investment and Savings Products, the insurer projects first-quarter 2023 sales to decline 25% year over year. Adjusted direct premiums are expected to increase 6% in 2023.
Life insurers are direct beneficiaries of an improving interest rate environment. The Fed raised interest rates seven times in 2022 and once so far in 2023 with more on the horizon this year. At its December meeting, the Fed indicated taking the interest rate to 5.1% in 2023 to combat its expected 3.1% inflation. Thus, an improving interest rate environment should aid net investment income.
While the insurer has solid liquidity, Primerica has been strengthening its balance sheet by improving its leverage ratio. PRI scores strongly with credit rating agencies.
Impressive Dividend History
Primerica has a solid dividend history, banking on the operational excellence of Term Life and ISP businesses. It has hiked dividends 10 times in the last nine years. The insurer also engages in share buyback. PRI expects the Term Life business to be the primary source of deployable capital.
The total stockholder return of PRI was 66% over a period of six years, outperforming the S&P 500 insurance index’s mark of 49% over the same time frame.
Other Stocks to Consider
Some other top-ranked stocks from the insurance industry are Brighthouse Financial BHF, Sun Life Financial SLF and Voya Financial VOYA.
Brighthouse Financial delivered a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 2.07%. Year to date, BHF has lost 16.9%. BHF sports a Zacks Rank #1 currently. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BHF’s 2023 and 2024 earnings implies year-over-year increases of 32.9% and 11.4%, respectively.
Sun Life Financial delivered a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 9.14%. Year to date, SLF has risen 1.4%. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SLF’s 2024 earnings indicates a respective year-over-year increase of 8.2%.
Voya Financial delivered a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 38.68%. Year to date, the insurer has gained 16.6%. It carries a Zacks Rank #2
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VOYA’s 2023 and 2024 earnings indicates a respective year-over-year increase of 7.3% and 13%.
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Primerica, Inc. (PRI) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Voya Financial, Inc. (VOYA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF) : Free Stock Analysis Report
