ZACKSยท2025-09-05 17:51Industry Overview - The Zacks Accident and Health Insurance industry is expected to benefit from increased underwriting exposure, with companies like Aflac, Trupanion, and Globe Life likely to be driven by prudent underwriting standards [1] - The industry has maintained profitability due to solid reserves, prudent claims management, stable loss trends, and fewer claims, although a softer performance is predicted for 2025 [2] - The global workers' compensation insurance market is projected to grow significantly between 2024 and 2032, driven by rising awareness of the benefits of coverage [3] Trends Impacting the Industry - Pricing pressure is anticipated to continue due to inflation, rising medical costs, and demographic changes, with healthcare spending expected to increase by 5.4% annually through 2028 [4] - Claims frequency is improving due to better safety measures and working conditions, which is expected to enhance the industry's performance [5] - The adoption of technology, including AI and data analytics, is accelerating, potentially reducing workers' compensation claim expenses by about 45% [6] Industry Performance - The Zacks Accident and Health Insurance industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 227, placing it in the bottom 7% of 251 Zacks industries, indicating weak near-term prospects [7][8] - The industry has underperformed compared to the Finance sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite, with a year-to-date gain of 4.5% compared to 12.2% and 10.1% respectively [11] Current Valuation - The industry is trading at a trailing 12-month price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 1.82X, significantly lower than the Zacks S&P 500 composite's 8.42X and the sector's 4.26X [14] Company Highlights - Aflac: Offers voluntary supplemental health and life insurance products, with a focus on strategic growth investments and digital solutions. The consensus estimate for 2025 earnings indicates a decrease of 5.3%, but an increase of 7% is expected for 2026 [19][20] - Trupanion: Provides pet insurance in a large but underpenetrated market, with a consensus estimate for 2025 earnings indicating a 252.2% increase. The company has a Growth Score of A and has seen significant upward revisions in earnings estimates [23][24] - Globe Life: Offers individual life and supplemental health insurance, with positive revenue trends driven by premium growth. The consensus estimates for 2025 and 2026 earnings indicate increases of 15.8% and 5.4% respectively [27][29]