Top Insurance Stocks To Watch Right Now

tags:PFG,AIG,PRU,AON,WRB,TOP,

Guggenheim Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Allstate Corp (NYSE:ALL) by 4.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 530,877 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 22,475 shares during the period. Guggenheim Capital LLC’s holdings in Allstate were worth $50,327,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Clearwater Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Allstate during the first quarter worth $122,000. Prentiss Smith & Co. Inc. acquired a new position in Allstate during the fourth quarter worth $143,000. Archford Capital Strategies LLC acquired a new position in Allstate during the first quarter worth $158,000. Truewealth LLC acquired a new position in Allstate during the fourth quarter worth $159,000. Finally, Cypress Capital Management LLC WY acquired a new position in Allstate during the first quarter worth $176,000. Institutional investors own 76.93% of the company’s stock.

Top Insurance Stocks To Watch Right Now: Principal Financial Group Inc(PFG)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  KBC Group NV lowered its position in shares of Principal Financial Group Inc (NYSE:PFG) by 41.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 201,808 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 142,313 shares during the period. KBC Group NV’s holdings in Principal Financial Group were worth $12,292,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

• [By Max Byerly]

  Shore Capital reissued their hold rating on shares of Provident Financial (LON:PFG) in a report issued on Thursday.

  PFG has been the subject of several other reports. Liberum Capital reissued a sell rating and set a GBX 483 ($6.48) price objective on shares of Provident Financial in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Peel Hunt reissued a hold rating and set a GBX 870 ($11.67) price objective on shares of Provident Financial in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Provident Financial from GBX 1,100 ($14.76) to GBX 750 ($10.06) and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 10th. Barclays reissued an underweight rating and set a GBX 584 ($7.84) price objective on shares of Provident Financial in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Societe Generale lowered Provident Financial to a hold rating and set a GBX 1,050 ($14.09) price objective for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Provident Financial presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 1,190.14 ($15.97).

• [By Logan Wallace]

  ING Groep NV boosted its stake in Principal Financial Group Inc (NYSE:PFG) by 7.8% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 27,524 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,991 shares during the period. ING Groep NV’s holdings in Principal Financial Group were worth $1,676,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Top Insurance Stocks To Watch Right Now: American International Group Inc.(AIG)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By ]

  Insurance company American International Group Inc. (AIG) stock fell 5.3% as harsh winter weather weighed on profits. But the company's long-term care exposure is relatively minimal.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Gifford Fong Associates acquired a new position in shares of American International Group (NYSE:AIG) in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 44,100 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,400,000.

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Sentry Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in American International Group (NYSE:AIG) by 8.6% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 64,968 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 6,147 shares during the quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC’s holdings in American International Group were worth $3,536,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Top Insurance Stocks To Watch Right Now: Prudential Financial Inc.(PRU)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Prudential Financial (PRU)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Max Byerly]

  Flippin Bruce & Porter Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU) by 2.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 61,363 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,391 shares during the period. Flippin Bruce & Porter Inc.’s holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $6,354,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Symphony Asset Management LLC lowered its position in Prudential Financial Inc (NYSE:PRU) by 18.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 16,149 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 3,765 shares during the period. Symphony Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $1,672,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

• [By Jason Hall, Chuck Saletta, and Reuben Gregg Brewer]

  But that doesn't mean you need to make risky bets to capture solid returns, either, and buying solid companies at reasonable prices can help create a margin of safety and improve your returns, while also decreasing your risk of permanent losses. Three stocks that meet these criteria are small healthcare real-estate specialist�Caretrust REIT Inc�(NASDAQ:CTRE), financial services giant�Prudential Financial Inc�(NYSE:PRU), and energy behemoth�ExxonMobil Corporation�(NYSE:XOM).�

Top Insurance Stocks To Watch Right Now: Aon Corporation(AON)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Shane Hupp]

  BB&T Securities LLC raised its holdings in Aon PLC (NYSE:AON) by 6.2% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 23,068 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,352 shares during the period. BB&T Securities LLC’s holdings in AON were worth $3,237,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  AON (NYSE:AON) had its price target hoisted by Citigroup from $160.00 to $165.00 in a report issued on Tuesday morning. They currently have a buy rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

• [By Max Byerly]

  State of Wisconsin Investment Board decreased its holdings in shares of Aon (NYSE:AON) by 9.2% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 384,127 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 38,942 shares during the quarter. State of Wisconsin Investment Board’s holdings in AON were worth $53,905,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

• [By Lisa Levin] Companies Reporting Before The Bell Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.96 per share on revenue of $3.46 billion. Aon plc (NYSE: AON) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $2.8 per share on revenue of $2.93 billion. American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AXL) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.81 per share on revenue of $1.75 billion. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.88 per share on revenue of $9.27 billion. LifePoint Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPNT) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.13 per share on revenue of $1.62 billion. V.F. Corporation (NYSE: VFC) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.65 per share on revenue of $2.90 billion. Newell Brands Inc. (NYSE: NWL) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.26 per share on revenue of $3.05 billion. Titan International, Inc. (NYSE: TWI) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.04 per share on revenue of $407.27 million. Boise Cascade Company (NYSE: BCC) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.45 per share on revenue of $1.09 billion. Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE: LNG) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.39 per share on revenue of $1.59 billion. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBOE) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.24 per share on revenue of $308.05 million. ITT Inc. (NYSE: ITT) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.73 per share on revenue of $683.96 million. Fred's, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRED) is expected to report quarterly loss at $0.19 per share on revenue of $551.00 million. Virtu Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIRT) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.52 per share on revenue of $288.31 million. Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: CQP) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.57 per share on revenue of $1.38 billion. Genesis Energy, L.P

Top Insurance Stocks To Watch Right Now: W.R. Berkley Corporation(WRB)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on W. R. Berkley (WRB)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Ethan Ryder]

  ValuEngine cut shares of W. R. Berkley (NYSE:WRB) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Monday morning.

  WRB has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Bank of America cut shares of W. R. Berkley from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $74.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Thursday, June 14th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of W. R. Berkley from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Boenning Scattergood restated a hold rating on shares of W. R. Berkley in a report on Wednesday, April 25th. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of W. R. Berkley in a report on Monday. They set a sell rating and a $74.00 target price on the stock. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have issued a hold rating to the stock. W. R. Berkley currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $70.78.

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on W. R. Berkley (WRB)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

• [By Logan Wallace]

  W. R. Berkley (NYSE: WRB) and State Auto Financial (NASDAQ:STFC) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations and risk.

Top Insurance Stocks To Watch Right Now: Topdanmark A/S (TOP)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  TopCoin (CURRENCY:TOP) traded down 15.4% against the dollar during the 1-day period ending at 7:00 AM E.T. on June 21st. During the last seven days, TopCoin has traded up 4% against the dollar. TopCoin has a market cap of $0.00 and approximately $123.00 worth of TopCoin was traded on exchanges in the last day. One TopCoin coin can currently be bought for about $0.0010 or 0.00000015 BTC on popular exchanges.

Best Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now

tags:ESRT,IP,KNOP,

The decoupling thesis -- that Asia is now more immune from what goes on at the Federal Reserve -- is being tested as 10-year U.S. Treasury yields hover near 3 percent.

Asian economies that reaped the benefits of low U.S. interest rates -- from record foreign inflows to subdued inflation -- are finding that rising U.S. yields and accompanying strength in the greenback are pushing up domestic borrowing costs, weakening currencies, and fueling capital outflows.

With Malaysia and the Philippines deciding on interest rates this week and Indonesia next week, the Fed’s moves are a key factor for central bank bosses once again. That’s especially true for economies dependent on foreign capital to finance their current account deficits: the Philippines, India and Indonesia. The three have the worst performing currencies in Asia this year.

Here’s how some of Asia’s biggest economies are affected by higher Treasury yields, starting with the three economies already being pressured:

Best Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.(ESRT)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Prudential Financial Inc. cut its stake in Empire State Realty (NYSE:ESRT) by 0.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,745,889 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after selling 8,046 shares during the quarter. Prudential Financial Inc.’s holdings in Empire State Realty were worth $29,313,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

• [By ]

  For example, nobody is going to come along and build another Empire State Building. In fact, you can actually invest in this building through the Empire State Realty Trust (NYSE: ESRT).�

• [By ]

  Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT) : "The yield on this one is too low."

  DowDuPont (DWDP) : "I'm not running away, I'm sticking with them."

• [By Stephan Byrd]

  Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT)

  For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

Best Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: International Paper Company(IP)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lisa Levin] Companies Reporting Before The Bell General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.24 per share on revenue of $34.66 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.85 per share on revenue of $5.24 billion. United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE: UPS) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.55 per share on revenue of $16.44 billion. Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.74 per share on revenue of $7.91 billion. ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.74 per share on revenue of $8.81 billion. PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.93 per share on revenue of $12.4 billion. American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.72 per share on revenue of $10.42 billion. Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE: LUV) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.74 per share on revenue of $5.01 billion. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE: FCAU) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.8 per share on revenue of $34.52 billion. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.66 per share on revenue of $5.38 billion. D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE: DHI) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.85 per share on revenue of $3.76 billion. The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.4 per share on revenue of $1.94 billion. Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.56 per share on revenue of $2.94 billion. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.92 per share on revenue of $4.63 billion. Shire plc (NASDAQ: SHPG) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $3.54 per share on revenue of $3.72 billion. Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) is projected to report quarter
• [By Asit Sharma]

  As Packaging Corp diverts resources to a more promising business line, other paper and packaging companies are employing similar strategies. Last fall, paper and packaging giant International Paper (NYSE:IP) announced that it would convert its No. 17 machine at its Riverdale plant in Selma, Alabama, from uncoated freesheet production to linerboard and containerboard packaging. Scheduled for completion in mid-2019, the $300 million project will decrease the mill's annual uncoated freesheet capacity by 235,000 tons. Alternatively, it's projected to give International Paper an additional 450,000 tons of annual packaging capacity.�

• [By Joseph Griffin]

  Tiverton Asset Management LLC grew its position in Champion International Paper (NYSE:IP) by 48.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,875 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,923 shares during the period. Tiverton Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Champion International Paper were worth $314,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Best Performing Stocks To Invest In Right Now: KNOT Offshore Partners LP(KNOP)

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Logan Wallace]

  Carnival Cruise Line (NYSE: CCL) and KNOT Offshore Partners (NYSE:KNOP) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends and earnings.

• [By Max Byerly]

  ValuEngine downgraded shares of KNOT Offshore Partners (NYSE:KNOP) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.

ARC Group WorldWide (ARCW) Receiving Somewhat Positive Media Coverage, Study Finds

News articles about ARC Group WorldWide (NASDAQ:ARCW) have been trending somewhat positive this week, according to Accern Sentiment Analysis. Accern identifies negative and positive media coverage by analyzing more than 20 million news and blog sources in real-time. Accern ranks coverage of public companies on a scale of negative one to positive one, with scores closest to one being the most favorable. ARC Group WorldWide earned a news sentiment score of 0.08 on Accern’s scale. Accern also assigned media coverage about the technology company an impact score of 45.8235732272447 out of 100, indicating that recent media coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the company’s share price in the near term.

Separately, ValuEngine raised shares of ARC Group WorldWide from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, April 2nd.

Get ARC Group WorldWide alerts:

ARC Group WorldWide traded up $0.05, reaching $2.40, during mid-day trading on Monday, Marketbeat reports. 33,425 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 14,134. The company has a current ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. ARC Group WorldWide has a one year low of $1.80 and a one year high of $3.60.

ARC Group WorldWide (NASDAQ:ARCW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 10th. The technology company reported ($0.15) earnings per share for the quarter. ARC Group WorldWide had a negative net margin of 25.99% and a negative return on equity of 33.33%. The firm had revenue of $21.46 million for the quarter.

ARC Group WorldWide Company Profile

ARC Group Worldwide, Inc provides metal injection molding and metal 3D printing solutions worldwide. It operates in three segments: Precision Components Group, Stamping Group, and 3DMT Group. The Precision Components Group segment provides engineered precision metal components using processes consisting of metal injection molding; tooling products; and plastic injection molding products.

Starbucks Pumps the Brakes in Its Home Market

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Americans' long-running joke about a Starbucks on every corner may be nearing its end.

The coffee behemoth is retrenching in its home market as it contends with sales growth that Chief Executive Officer Kevin Johnson acknowledges isn’t fast enough. The cafe chain said Tuesday it expects comparable sales to rise just 1 percent globally for the current quarter—the worst performance in about nine years. That’s well below the 2.9 percent analysts were expecting, according to Consensus Metrix.

Starbucks also plans to close about 150 company-operated stores in densely penetrated U.S. markets next fiscal year, three times the number it historically shuts down annually. Shares of Starbucks slid as much as 6.3 percent in late trading Tuesday to $53.82.

“Our growth has slowed a bit,” Johnson said in an interview. “I expect better, I think our shareholders deserve better, and we're committed to address that.”

In Need of Caffeine

Starbucks sees lowest same-store sales growth this quarter since fiscal 2009

Source: Company data, Bloomberg

Note: Data is for fiscal quarters

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Although business abroad has been booming and the chain has been opening more and more cafes, U.S. sales growth has stalled for the company that brought espresso to the masses. With about 14,000 stores domestically, Starbucks is now pumping the brakes on licensed and company-operated locations, with a renewed focus on rural and suburban areas—not over-caffeinated urban neighborhoods where locals already joke that the next Starbucks will open inside an existing store.

The closing stores are often in “major metro areas where increases in wage and occupancy and other regulatory requirements” are making them unprofitable, Johnson said. “Now, in a lot of ways, it's middle America and the South that presents an opportunity.”

For the ubiquitous chain, moving slower and shutting unprofitable stores may trigger some deja vu. In 2008, longtime leader Howard Schultz returned to the company that was struggling after expanding too quickly across the U.S., giving competitors like McDonald's Corp. a chance to elbow back into breakfast. Investors cheered as Schultz retook the helm and closed some underperforming stores, and share prices at the chain have been up eight of the last 10 years. So far this year through Tuesday’s close, shares have been essentially flat.

But now, with Schultz stepping back from his beloved company, the task of the righting the ship will fall to Johnson, who took over as a CEO just over a year ago. Schultz, who had already transitioned away from running the coffee chain’s day-to-day operations, announced earlier this month he'd be leaving the company, fueling speculation he could be gearing up for a political career. Veteran retailing executive Myron Ullman is taking over as the new head of the board as Schultz departs.

#lazy-img-328688168:before{padding-top:69.82421875%;}Schultz (L) hands Johnson the key to the original Starbucks store during the annual shareholders’ meeting on March 22, 2017 in Seattle.Photographer: Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

While Schultz had been trying to expand the Seattle company’s premium business, dubbed Reserve, along with Italian bakery Princi, analysts have speculated that these may be put on the back burner under the new leadership. The company is also facing a resurgent McDonald’s, which has been advertising $2 cold-brew coffees, along with other steep discounts from fast-food rivals.

“The competitive environment has really become a lot stronger in the U.S. and a lot of that is the fast-food chains really improving the quality and breadth of their offerings in terms of hot beverages and breakfast,” said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jennifer Bartashus. Americans can “get that same flavor profile at a much lower price somewhere else. That becomes an area of concern for Starbucks.”

Starbucks has also faced backlash this spring after two black men were arrested at one of its stores in Philadelphia while waiting for a meeting to begin. The company and Johnson apologized, calling the arrests “reprehensible.” Last month, Starbucks closed about 8,000 cafes so its employees could undergo racial-bias training, which did hurt sales in the quarter, Johnson said. After stores reopened following the May 29 training, sales have started to rebound at U.S. locations, with the chain expecting domestic same-store sales growth of around 3 percent in June, according to the company.

“The competitive environment has really become a lot stronger in the U.S.”

Starbucks says it can attract more diners in the U.S. with new menu items and will focus on its expanding tea business, as well as capitalizing on health and wellness trends. Starbucks just added a new mango-dragon fruit iced drink to its permanent menu in the U.S. and Canada. And it’s focused on improving its food lineup with sous vide egg bites, plus a new line of lunch salads and sandwiches that it’s expanding across the nation.

“We're putting more of our energy into that afternoon day part and the portfolio of beverages that are offsetting some of the declines we're seeing in Frappuccino beverages,” Johnson said, citing a consumer shift away from sugary drinks. The company is also preparing to “lean into more plant-based beverages,” he said, noting that a new plant-based protein cold-brew drink will be introduced this summer.

The chain is also relying on its digital initiatives to contribute between 1 and 2 percent to comparable sales next fiscal year. There's going to be a new way for non-rewards customers to earn stars and rewards starting next spring, allowing visitors to cash in on loyalty without fully signing up.

Related: Free Food for Personal Data Is a Trade Some Diners Won’t Make

On Tuesday, Starbucks said that it will return more cash to shareholders—about $25 billion in buybacks and dividends through fiscal 2020, representing a $10 billion increase from the previous guidance. Additionally, it plans to cut general and administrative costs, and has hired a consultant to help in this area. It’s also exploring options to license some company-operated stores “in other appropriate markets,” it said.

The company earlier this year said the cash it got from a licensing deal with Nestle SA would go to support the company’s growth in the U.S. and China, where its expansion has been explosive. Starbucks plans to more than triple revenue in China in the next five years and open a new store every 15 hours through 2022 in that market. Johnson confirmed Tuesday that China may one day be a larger market for Starbucks than the U.S.

“The China market still offers a lot of potential,” Bartashus said. “But the current political environment with trade wars looming or the governments picking at each other—it definitely casts a shadow over the long-term prospects for large western brands that are in China.”