Investors interested in Finance stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. CNO Financial (CNO) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Finance sector should help us answer this question.CNO Financial is a member of the Finance sector. This group includes 867 individual stocks and cu ...

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1] Company Overview: CNO Financial - CNO Financial has a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating strong potential for momentum investing [2] - The company currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting it is positioned for outperformance in the market [3] Performance Metrics - CNO's shares have increased by 4.78% over the past week, outperforming the Zacks Insurance - Multi line industry, which rose by 3.17% [5] - Over the past quarter, CNO's shares have risen by 8.22%, and they have gained 56.2% over the last year, while the S&P 500 has seen movements of -2.97% and 15.34%, respectively [6] - The average 20-day trading volume for CNO is 637,914 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [7] Earnings Outlook - In the last two months, two earnings estimates for CNO have been revised upwards, with the consensus estimate increasing from $3.76 to $3.83 [9] - For the next fiscal year, two estimates have also moved upwards, with no downward revisions during the same period [9] Conclusion - Given the positive performance metrics and earnings outlook, CNO Financial is positioned as a strong momentum pick with a 2 (Buy) rating and a Momentum Score of B [11]

CARMEL, Ind., Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CNO Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CNO) today recognized associate Paul Richard as its Volunteer of the Year and announced CNO's 2025 Invested in Giving Back® program winners.Richard was named Volunteer of the Year for his dedicated volunteer work with the Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter. The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia, and the Greater Indiana Chapter provides support services, care options and edu ...

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 ☐ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Form 10-K ☑ Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the transition period from ______ to ______ Commission File Number 001-31792 CNO Financial Group, Inc. | Delaware | 75-3108137 | | | --- | --- | --- | | State of Incorporation | IRS Empl ...

CARMEL, Ind., Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Optavise, a leading provider of employee benefits services, offering personalized expert guidance backed by technology, today introduced Optavise Clear—a comprehensive solution to eliminate employee confusion and frustration with their benefits. As employee satisfaction continues to be a critical factor in workplace retention and performance, Optavise Clear offers a seamless, year-round experience to help employees navigate their benefits with ease and confidence. ...

Core Points - CNO Financial Group, Inc. announced a $500 million increase in its share repurchase program, with approximately $240.3 million remaining as of December 31, 2024 [1] - The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share, payable on March 24, 2025, to shareholders of record as of March 10, 2025 [2] - CNO will hold its annual shareholder meeting virtually on May 8, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. ET, allowing shareholders to participate and vote [3] Company Overview - CNO Financial Group focuses on securing the future of middle-income America, providing life and health insurance, annuities, financial services, and workforce benefits solutions [4] - The company manages 3.2 million policies and has total assets of $37.9 billion, supported by a workforce of 3,500 associates and 4,900 exclusive agents [4]

Core Viewpoint - CNO Financial Group, Inc. reported strong fourth-quarter 2024 results, driven by increased collected premiums across various insurance products, despite facing challenges in investment income [1][2]. Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for Q4 2024 were $1.31, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.4% and reflecting an 11% year-over-year increase [2]. - Total operating revenues decreased by 2.7% year over year to $1.1 billion, but still surpassed the consensus estimate by 19.9% [2]. - Total insurance policy income rose by 2.9% year over year to $643.6 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $641.1 million [3]. Investment Income and Expenses - Net investment income fell by 10.4% year over year to $416.6 million [4]. - Total benefits and expenses decreased by 21.1% year over year to $886.7 million, attributed to lower insurance policy benefits and operating costs [5]. Premiums and Revenue Breakdown - Annuity collected premiums increased by 13% year over year to $493.1 million [5]. - New annualized premiums for health products rose by 21.6% year over year, while life products grew by 2.7% year over year [5]. - Fee revenues and other income increased by 13.4% year over year to $78.7 million [4]. Financial Position - As of December 31, 2024, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents stood at $1.7 billion, more than doubling from the end of 2023 [6]. - Total assets increased by 8.1% year over year to $37.9 billion [6]. - Total shareholders' equity improved by 12.8% from the end of 2023 to $2.5 billion [6]. Shareholder Returns - CNO Financial returned $91.6 million to shareholders through share buybacks and $16.4 million in dividends during Q4 2024 [8]. - The company had a remaining repurchase capacity of $240.3 million as of December 31, 2024 [8]. Future Guidance - For 2025, CNO anticipates operating EPS in the range of $3.70-$3.90, indicating a 4.3% decline from the 2024 figure of $3.97 [9]. - Management estimates excess cash flow of $200-$250 million for the holding company in 2025 [9]. - The projected expense ratio for 2025 is between 19-19.4%, with an effective tax rate around 23% [9].

Core Insights - Bankers Life announced its Top Women Financial Advisors (TWFA) for 2025, recognizing the top-performing women in its financial advisory services [1][3] - The 2025 class includes 37 women financial advisors, marking the largest group since the program's inception in 2022 [2] Company Initiatives - Bankers Life emphasizes the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the financial services industry, supporting initiatives like the Women's Leadership and Networking Committee (WLNC) [3][4] - The WLNC offers various programs aimed at personal and professional growth for women, including Advancing Financial Advisors, the Superwoman Summit, and the Making Mentors program [4] Company Overview - Bankers Life focuses on the insurance and investment needs of middle-income Americans nearing or in retirement and is part of CNO Financial Group, Inc. [5] - The company operates with approximately 4,900 exclusive agents, including 700 financial representatives across more than 220 U.S. sales offices [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - CNO Financial Group reported operating earnings per diluted share of $3.97, an increase of 28% year-over-year, with a 40% increase when excluding significant items [10][32] - Total new annualized premium was up 7% across the enterprise, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of sales growth [9][10] - Book value per diluted share, excluding AOCI, was $37.19, up 10% [12] - Capital and liquidity were well above target levels, with $349 million returned to shareholders, a 50% increase over 2023 [12][32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes Consumer Division - Total NAP in the Consumer Division was up 5% for the full year, with health NAP up 18% and Medicare Supplement NAP up 26% [15][16] - Long-term Care NAP increased by 35% for the year, reflecting growing demand [18] - Annuity collected premiums were up 13% for the year, with record sales in the last two quarters [20][21] Worksite Division - Worksite Division insurance sales were up 16% for the full year and 23% for the fourth quarter, marking the 11th consecutive quarter of insurance growth [25] - New insurance products in the Worksite Division saw double-digit sales growth, with critical illness up 24% and accident insurance up 13% [25][26] - Producing agent count in the Worksite Division was up 8% for the year, continuing a trend of growth [29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Client assets in brokerage and advisory were up 28% to a record $4.1 billion, with new accounts up 13% [21] - The market value of invested assets grew 12% from the prior year, with 96% of the fixed maturity portfolio rated investment-grade [41] Company Strategy and Development Direction - CNO is focused on expanding return on equity (ROE) and has set a target to improve ROE by 150 basis points over the next three years [55] - The company is investing in technology modernization to enhance operational efficiency and support long-term growth [49][58] - CNO aims to leverage its strong sales momentum and agent distribution to drive future growth [24][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continued demand for annuities due to demographic trends and a lack of alternatives for lifetime income [75] - The company anticipates challenges in matching previous quarters' performance due to tougher comparisons but remains optimistic about long-term growth [76] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining expense discipline while pursuing growth opportunities [66][108] Other Important Information - The new money rate was reported at 6.72%, marking the eighth consecutive quarter above 6% [38] - CNO's consolidated risk-based capital ratio was 383%, indicating a strong capital position [42] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on buybacks and excess free cash flow guidance - Management indicated that free cash flow guidance should be considered alongside excess cash position relative to minimum liquidity [63] Question: Geographic expansion opportunities - Management believes there is significant potential for geographic expansion, particularly in the Worksite Division [66] Question: Additional Bermuda opportunities - Management is evaluating opportunities in Bermuda but did not provide specifics, focusing on establishing relationships and team capabilities [70] Question: Surrender rates and sales activity in fixed indexed annuities - Surrender rates have moderated, and management is optimistic about continued strong sales activity in annuities [72][74] Question: Breakdown of tech investments - The technology investment focuses on converting legacy systems to cloud-based solutions to enhance flexibility and efficiency [80][81] Question: Confidence in ROE improvement - Management emphasized a cautious approach to guidance, highlighting a strong track record and various initiatives to support ROE growth [90][94] Question: Drivers of excess cash flow outlook - The outlook for excess cash flow is influenced by organic growth pace, economic conditions, and investment portfolio risk [108] Question: Long-term expense ratio expectations - Management expects the expense ratio to improve over time as the company grows and develops operating leverage [112]

Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial and operating results for the period ended December 31, 2024 February 6, 2025 Unless otherwise specified, comparisons in this presentation are between 4Q23 and 4Q24. 1 IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this presentation should be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements about future results of operations and capital plans. We caution investor ...