Why Should You Still Hold Onto Chubb Limited (CB)?

Shares of Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) have outperformed the Zacks categorized Property and Casualty Insurance industry, quarter to date. While the company shares appreciated 5.08%, the industry lost 0.30%. Notably, the stock has also outperformed the S&P 500 over same time frame. The estimates have also been revised upward for last 30 days. Its return on equity is 10.1%, which is much higher than the industry’s 6.5%.

Chubb has always considered acquisition an effective strategy for inorganic growth and global expansion. Its merger with ACE Limited bears a testimony for the same. Chubb is now better poised with competitive edge, increased scale and efficiencies and a sizeable balance sheet. The company is on track to achieve annual run-rate integration-related savings of $800 million by the 2018-end.

Apart from focusing on inorganic growth, Chubb made investments in various strategic initiatives like cyber insurance capitalizing on the potential of middle-market businesses, doing away with businesses that do not meet its risk appetite and generating lower net premium to pave the way for long-term growth.

Chubb is however scaling down its guidance for net premiums written in a few portfolios for 2017. This is because the company anticipates to lower its catastrophe-related exposure and not to generate enough underwriting returns.

Net investment income, a component of an insurer’s topline, has started to show signs of improvement. Following the Federal Reserve’s announcement of an interest rate hike of 0.25% in Dec 2016 and another 1% in Mar 2016 (reflecting Fed’s confidence in the improving U.S. economy), the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) insurer expects its quarterly investment income run rate to remain in the range of $830–$840 million.

The company also effectively deploys capital to enhance shareholders’ value via dividend increases and share buybacks, owing to a sturdy capital position. Chubb’s 3% dividend hike in May 2017 should enable it to maintain the targeted dividend payout ratio of about 30%. It is also left with $769 million under its share repurchase authorization.

Per estimate revisions, the Zacks Consensus Estimate moved up by a cent to $10.36 for 2017 and by a couple of cents to $10.69 for 2018 for the last 30 days. Chubb’s expected long-term earnings growth rate is currently pegged at 10%. Also, its price earnings growth ratio of 1.37 favorably compares with an industry average 1.66.

Stocks to Consider

Better-ranked property and casualty insurers are First American Financial Corporation (NYSE:FAF) , State National Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNC) and ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE:PRA) .

State National Companies provides property and casualty insurance in the United States. The company delivered positive surprises in two of the last four quarters with average beat of 20.54%. The company flaunts Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

First American Financial provides financial services. The company delivered positive surprises in the last four quarters with an average beat of 14.12%. The company sports Zacks Rank #1

ProAssurance operates as a holding company for many property and casualty insurance companies. The company delivered positive surprises in last four quarters with an average beat of 16.59%. The company carries Zacks Rank #2.

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