On Wednesday, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a financial services firm, updated its outlook on Allstate (NYSE: ALL) stock, raising the insurance company's price target from $222.00 to $225.00. The firm maintained its Outperform rating on the insurer's shares, following Allstate's third-quarter earnings report for the year 2024.
The analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cited Allstate's better-than-expected performance in the third quarter as a key reason for the adjustment. The firm has increased its earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Allstate for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026, taking into account the recent quarter's outperformance. The new EPS forecasts are set at $15.35, $18.30, and $20.30 respectively, up from the previous estimates of $13.87, $17.05, and $18.90.
The revised outlook includes expectations for faster net investment income (NII) growth and lower core loss ratios, which are somewhat balanced by the anticipation of slower premium growth, higher modeled catastrophe losses, and increased expense ratios. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods expects continuous improvement in Allstate's core loss ratio and a near-term return to organic policies in force (PIF) growth.
The firm believes that these factors will bolster investor confidence in Allstate's normalized earnings growth trajectory. This confidence is also expected to be supported by the prospect of Allstate resuming share repurchases in the future. The analyst's statement highlighted the belief that Allstate's consistent performance would underpin investor trust in the company's earnings potential moving forward.
In other recent news, Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) reported a significant increase in its total revenues for Q3 2024, rising to $16.6 billion, a 14.7% year-over-year increase. The company's net income reached $1.2 billion, with an adjusted net income of $3.91 per share. The Property-Liability business showed strong performance, with premiums increasing by 11.6% to $13.7 billion. Despite challenges in retention rates and adjusted net income in some segments, Allstate's strategic initiatives have resulted in a 26% increase in new business applications, with direct channel business up by 56%.
With recent developments, Allstate is focusing on enhancing customer retention and leveraging growth initiatives to strengthen its market position. The company's investment income rose to $783 million, driven by higher fixed income yields, and its Protection Plans business revenue grew by 23.1% year-over-year to $512 million. The company also announced the sale of its Employer Voluntary Benefits business for $2 billion, expected to close in the first half of 2025 and anticipated to generate about $1.6 billion in capital.
Allstate executives expressed optimism about growth opportunities in all distribution channels, especially in the independent agent space. They highlighted the successful integration of the National General acquisition, which has enhanced Allstate's presence in the non-standard auto market. The company's focus remains on maintaining strong returns while strategically managing growth across its insurance offerings, leveraging data and technology to enhance market competitiveness.
InvestingPro Insights
To complement Keefe, Bruyette & Woods' positive outlook on Allstate (NYSE: ALL), recent data from InvestingPro provides additional context to the company's financial performance and market position.
Allstate's market capitalization stands at $50.04 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the insurance industry. The company's P/E ratio of 12.12 suggests that it may be undervalued compared to industry peers, aligning with the analyst's optimistic price target.
InvestingPro Tips highlight Allstate's strong dividend history, having raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years and maintained payments for 32 years. This demonstrates the company's commitment to shareholder returns, which could be further enhanced if share repurchases resume as the analyst anticipates.
Additionally, InvestingPro data shows a robust revenue growth of 11.67% over the last twelve months, with quarterly revenue growth at 14.69%. This growth trajectory supports the analyst's expectation of improved performance and potential organic policy growth.
For investors seeking more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 8 additional tips for Allstate, providing deeper insights into the company's financial health and market position.
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