RGA Stock Trading at a Discount to Industry at 1.19X: Time to Hold?

Core Viewpoint - Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) shares are trading at a discount compared to the Zacks Life Insurance industry, with a forward price-to-book value of 1.19X, lower than the industry average of 1.80X and the Finance sector's 4.09X [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - RGA has a market capitalization of $13.64 billion and an average trading volume of 0.4 million shares over the last three months [1] - RGA's shares have lost 1% over the past year, while the industry has grown by 14.3%, the Finance sector by 16.3%, and the S&P 500 by 10% [5][6] - The company has a decent earnings surprise history, beating estimates in three of the last four quarters with an average surprise of 7.85% [9] Group 2: Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RGA's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 1.9%, with revenues projected at $24.28 billion, reflecting a 6.2% improvement [10] - Earnings have grown by 15.3% over the past five years, outperforming the industry average of 7.8% [11] - The consensus estimates for 2026 earnings per share and revenues suggest increases of 11.4% and 9.4%, respectively, from the 2025 estimates [10] Group 3: Operational Efficiency - RGA's return on invested capital (ROIC) has consistently increased, reaching 6.1% in the trailing 12 months, significantly higher than the industry average of 0.6% [12] - The company has effectively managed capital through share buybacks, dividend payments, and prudent investments, maintaining a free cash flow conversion of over 85% in recent quarters [18][19] Group 4: Market Position and Strategy - RGA is a leader in the traditional U.S. and Latin American markets, with a strong product line and capabilities that contribute to risk diversification [13] - In Canada, RGA is well-positioned with a sizable block of in-force business, anticipating long-term growth in longevity insurance [14] - The company is capitalizing on the growing demand for protection products among the emerging global middle class and aging populations [15] Group 5: Future Outlook - RGA's new business volumes, favorable longevity experience, diversified business model, and effective capital deployment are expected to support long-term growth [20] - The stock has a VGM Score of A, indicating attractive value, growth, and momentum [20] - The recommendation is to hold the stock, given its affordability and potential for future performance [21]