ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), a premier global protection company that safeguards and services connected devices, homes and automobiles in partnership with the world's leading brands, today announced it has been included for the third consecutive year in TIME's World's Best Companies 2025. This prestigious award, presented by TIME and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, can be viewed on Time.com. "Being named one of TIME's Wo. ...

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), a premier global protection company that safeguards and services connected devices, homes and automobiles in partnership with the world's leading brands, today announced a strategic partnership with Evident, the leading provider of AI-powered rental insurance verification solutions. Together, these companies are introducing the commercial equipment rental industry's first end-to-end risk management solution, combining world-class automation. ...

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), a premier global protection company that safeguards and services connected devices, homes, and automobiles in partnership with the world's leading brands, today announced the launch of HOIVerify® Origination, an industry-defining, API-enabled solution that streamlines and automates insurance verification during the mortgage loan origination process. "Assurant's HOIVerify product suite modernizes the complex mortgage loan process,†said Greg. ...

Market Overview - Wall Street has continued its bull run in 2025, with the S&P 500 recording 20 all-time highs year to date, including five in August alone [1] - Historically, September is the worst-performing month for U.S. equities, with an average decline of 0.7% since 1950, and a more pronounced average decline of 2% over the last 10 years [2] Investment Recommendations - It is advisable to invest in low-beta, high-yielding stocks with a favorable Zacks Rank, including Assurant Inc. (AIZ), Hasbro Inc. (HAS), The Mosaic Co. (MOS), Virtu Financial Inc. (VIRT), and Houlihan Lokey Inc. (HLI), all of which have a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [3][10] Assurant Inc. (AIZ) - Assurant is focused on both inorganic and organic growth strategies, expecting adjusted EBITDA to increase modestly in 2025, driven by improved performance in Global Housing and growth in Global Lifestyle [13] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 5.7% and an earnings growth rate of 5.8% for the current year, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings improving by 7.6% over the last 30 days [15] Hasbro Inc. (HAS) - Hasbro is concentrating on high-margin segments such as Wizards, Licensing, and Digital, which are expected to support bottom-line growth [16] - The company anticipates that digital gaming and licensing partnerships will contribute about 25% of corporate revenues by 2027, with an expected revenue growth rate of 6.6% and an earnings growth rate of 21.5% for the current year [19] The Mosaic Co. (MOS) - The Mosaic is expected to benefit from higher demand for fertilizers, with strong grower economics and crop commodity prices driving global fertilizer demand [20] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 16.4% and an earnings growth rate of 60.1% for the current year, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings improving by 13.2% over the last 30 days [22] Virtu Financial Inc. (VIRT) - Virtu Financial's diversified business model supports sustainable long-term growth, with ongoing cost-control initiatives improving adjusted net margins [24] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 18.9% and an earnings growth rate of 33.8% for the current year, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings improving by 17.9% over the last 60 days [25] Houlihan Lokey Inc. (HLI) - Houlihan Lokey is a global investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, and financial advisory services [26] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 13.1% and an earnings growth rate of 21.9% for the current year, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings improving by 6.7% over the last 60 days [27]

Market Overview - U.S. equity markets experienced modest gains in August 2025, with the S&P 500 increasing by 2.2%, marking its fourth consecutive month of growth, driven by investor optimism regarding potential interest rate cuts and strong corporate earnings despite ongoing inflation and tariff concerns [1][9] Financial Services Sector Performance - The Financial Services sector saw significant investor optimism, with the KBW Nasdaq Bank Index and S&P Banks Select Industry Index rising by 5.5% and 8.3%, respectively, fueled by AI momentum, digital advertising strength, and expectations of a Fed rate cut [2][6] - Stronger-than-expected earnings reports and positive guidance from major financial institutions contributed to the bullish sentiment, alongside a rebound in capital markets activity [7][9] Key Financial Services Stocks - Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) is focusing on growing fee-based capital-light businesses, which currently account for 52% of its segmental revenues, with management projecting double-digit growth in this area over the long term [8][10] - Synchrony Financial (SYF) is leveraging its strong distribution channels and has expanded its offerings through acquisitions and partnerships, although it anticipates a decline in net revenues for 2025 due to higher Retailer Share Arrangements and lower loan receivables [14][16] - American Express Company (AXP) benefits from its dual role as a credit card issuer and network operator, with a projected revenue increase of 8-10% for 2025, despite exposure to credit risk from macroeconomic challenges [18][21] - Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) is expanding its non-interest income base through strategic partnerships and acquisitions, with plans to open 50-60 new branches annually in high-growth regions from 2025 to 2028 [23][24] - Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG) is executing a long-term growth strategy focused on wealth management and market expansion, with a new private bank initiative expected to raise $7 billion in deposits by 2024 [27][30]

Core Insights - Assurant, Inc. has extended its partnership with Holman, a major U.S. dealership group, to enhance its Global Automotive division, which specializes in vehicle protection products and services [1][9] - Holman has significantly expanded its operations, recently acquiring Leith Automotive Group, which nearly doubled its retail automotive operations [3][9] - Assurant will support 30 new dealership locations added through Holman's acquisition with F&I products, dealership sales, and training [3][9] Company Overview - Holman, headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, has evolved from a single Ford dealership in 1924 to one of the largest privately owned dealership groups in the U.S., operating 59 dealerships across nine states [2] - The company has diversified its services to include fleet management, leasing, and commercial vehicle equipment manufacturing, becoming a leading integrated automotive service provider in North America [2] Strategic Initiatives - Assurant collaborates with manufacturers, dealers, and technology companies to broaden its service offerings and reach, which is expected to benefit its Global Automotive business [4] - The partnership with Holman is anticipated to enhance customer satisfaction and accelerate collaboration between the two companies [3][4] Financial Performance - Assurant's Global Automotive division plays a crucial role in the company's financial performance, with positive trends noted in mobile device protection and loss experience [5] - The division's success is attributed to its adaptability to industry trends, strong partnerships, and valuable solutions provided to clients [6] Market Position - Assurant Global Automotive operates in 21 countries and serves over 50 million consumers, establishing itself as a leader in providing protection products and services in the automotive industry [7] - The company's shares have gained 13.5% over the past year, outperforming the industry's growth of 10.8% [8]

Core Viewpoint - Assurant (AIZ) is experiencing solid improvement in earnings estimates, which is likely to positively impact its stock price momentum [1][2] Earnings Estimate Revisions - Analysts are increasingly optimistic about Assurant's earnings prospects, leading to higher estimates that correlate with stock price movements [2] - The current-quarter earnings estimate is $4.05 per share, reflecting a +35.0% change from the previous year [6] - Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Assurant has increased by 7.08%, with four estimates moving higher and no negative revisions [6] - For the full year, Assurant is expected to earn $17.46 per share, representing a +4.9% change from the prior year [7] - There has been a positive trend in estimate revisions for the current year, with four estimates moving up and no negative revisions [7] Zacks Rank - Assurant currently holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong agreement among analysts in revising earnings estimates upward [8] - The Zacks Rank system has a proven track record, with Zacks 1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008 [3] Stock Performance - Assurant's stock has increased by 13.6% over the past four weeks due to strong estimate revisions [9] - There may still be further upside potential in the stock, suggesting it could be a good addition to investment portfolios [9]

Core Insights - Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) shares have increased by 12.5% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 9.2% [1][6] - The company has a market capitalization of $10.72 billion, with an average trading volume of 0.5 million shares over the last three months [1] Valuation and Trading Metrics - Assurant shares are trading at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 1.97X, which is lower than the industry average of 2.19X, the Finance sector's 4.03X, and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 8.37X [2] - The stock closed at $212.50, near its 52-week high of $230.55, and is trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages of $194.91 and $203.53, indicating strong upward momentum [3] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Assurant's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 2.2%, with revenues projected at $12.55 billion, reflecting a 5% improvement [7] - Earnings have grown by 16.6% over the past five years, surpassing the industry average of 9.8%, and the company holds a Growth Score of B [8] Analyst Sentiment - Three out of five analysts have raised their estimates for both 2025 and 2026 in the past 30 days, leading to a 3.9% and 1.6% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for those years, respectively [9] Target Price and Upside Potential - The average price target for AIZ is $237.33 per share, suggesting an 11.4% upside from the last closing price [11] Financial Performance - Assurant's return on equity in the trailing 12 months was 16.4%, exceeding the industry average of 14.6%, indicating efficient use of shareholders' funds [13] - The return on invested capital (ROIC) was 10.7%, significantly higher than the industry average of 1.92% [14] Business Strategy and Growth Areas - Assurant is focusing on expanding its capital-light businesses, which account for 52% of segment revenues, and management expects this segment to grow in double digits over the long term [15] - The Connected Living segment is anticipated to drive growth through innovative offerings and improved relationships with mobile carriers and cable operators [16] - Global Housing is expected to see growth from favorable loss experiences and increased policies in-force, with strong adjusted EBITDA growth projected for 2025 [17] Capital Management and Shareholder Returns - Assurant has a solid capital management policy, with an 11% dividend hike approved in November 2024, marking the 20th consecutive year of increases [20] - The company repurchased shares worth $62 million in the first quarter of 2025, with $287 million remaining under the current repurchase authorization [20][22] Conclusion - Assurant's focus on capital-light businesses, strong return on capital, and favorable growth estimates position the company well for long-term benefits [23][24]

Financial Performance - Total revenues for Q2 2025 reached $3,158.4 million, a 8.0% increase from $2,924.9 million in Q2 2024[10] - Net earned premiums for the first half of 2025 were $5,150.0 million, up 6.8% from $4,821.1 million in the same period of 2024[10] - Net income for Q2 2025 was $235.3 million, representing a 24.7% increase compared to $188.7 million in Q2 2024[11] - Basic earnings per share for Q2 2025 increased to $4.60, up from $3.59 in Q2 2024, reflecting a 28.1% growth[10] - Total revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2025, reached $6,232.4 million, compared to $5,805.0 million for the same period in 2024, indicating an increase of 7.3%[10] - The company reported total comprehensive income of $349.2 million for Q2 2025, significantly higher than $147.2 million in Q2 2024[11] - The company reported net income of $381.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, a decrease of 10.2% compared to $425.1 million in 2024[38] Assets and Liabilities - Total assets as of June 30, 2025, were $35,525.9 million, compared to $35,020.6 million at the end of 2024, indicating a 1.4% increase[9] - Total liabilities increased to $30,027.4 million as of June 30, 2025, from $29,913.9 million at December 31, 2024, a rise of 0.4%[9] - The company’s cash and cash equivalents decreased to $1,486.7 million as of June 30, 2025, down from $1,807.7 million at December 31, 2024[9] - The balance of retained earnings as of June 30, 2025, was $4,570.9 million, an increase from $4,431.1 million at the end of the previous quarter, representing a growth of 3.2%[12] Cash Flow - Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was $657.9 million, down from $793.4 million in the same period of 2024, a decrease of 17.1%[14] - The net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was $784.5 million, compared to $521.6 million in 2024, indicating an increase in cash outflow of 50.4%[14] - The net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was $(223.0) million, compared to $(177.0) million in 2024, indicating an increase in cash outflow of 26%[15] Segment Performance - As of June 30, 2025, the Company reported total revenues of $4,829.1 million for the Global Lifestyle segment, an increase from $4,547.2 million in the same period of 2024, representing a growth of 6.2%[36] - The Global Housing segment generated total revenues of $1,422.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $1,264.2 million in 2024, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 12.5%[36] - The Global Lifestyle segment reported net earned premiums, fees, and other income of $2,559.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $2,288.8 million in 2024, reflecting an increase of 11.8%[36] - The Global Housing segment's total revenues rose to $1,422.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $1,264.2 million in 2024, marking a growth of 12.5%[36] Investment and Realized Losses - The company reported net realized losses on investments of $37.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $28.4 million in 2024, indicating an increase in losses of 32.5%[14] - The company reported net realized losses on investments for Q2 2025 amounted to $21.7 million, compared to losses of $15.8 million in Q2 2024[51] - The fair value of total fixed maturity securities as of June 30, 2025, was $8,071.8 million, down from $7,175.1 million as of December 31, 2024[48] Policyholder Benefits - Policyholder benefits for the first half of 2025 were $1,501.2 million, an increase from $1,319.2 million in the same period of 2024[10] - The company reported policyholder benefits of $721.5 million for Q2 2025, compared to $696.1 million in Q2 2024, marking an increase of 3.7%[10] - The company reported incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses of $1,501.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025[76] Future Projections and Changes - The company is currently assessing the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act enacted on July 4, 2025, but does not expect it to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements[26] - The company expects no additional cash contributions to the Assurant Pension Plan for the remainder of 2025 due to its current funded status[94] Earnings Per Share - Basic earnings per share (EPS) for the three months ended June 30, 2025, was $0.83, up from $0.76 in 2024, reflecting a 9.2% increase[91] - Diluted EPS for the same period was $4.56, compared to $3.58 in 2024, indicating a 27.5% increase[91] Comprehensive Income - The company’s accumulated other comprehensive income balance at June 30, 2025, was $(634.6) million, reflecting a change of $113.9 million from the previous period[87] - The total other comprehensive income for the three months ended June 30, 2025, was $113.9 million, compared to a loss of $41.5 million in 2024, showing a turnaround of $155.4 million[12]

Core Insights - Assurant, Inc. (AIZ) reported a strong second-quarter 2025 net operating income of $5.56 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 25.5% and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 36.3% [1][11] - Total revenues rose 6.5% year over year to $3.1 billion, slightly surpassing estimates by 0.7% [2][11] - Adjusted EBITDA, excluding reportable catastrophes, increased 12.7% year over year to $415.8 million, also beating estimates [4][11] Revenue Breakdown - Net earned premiums, fees, and other income increased 5.9% year over year to $2.6 billion, driven by growth across both Global Lifestyle and Global Housing segments [2][5] - Global Housing revenues increased 10.2% year over year to $732 million, primarily due to higher net earned premiums and net investment income [5] - Global Lifestyle revenues rose 7.5% year over year to $2.4 billion, driven by higher net earned premiums, fees, and other income [7] Investment Income and Expenses - Net investment income increased 3.2% year over year to $128.7 million, supported by higher yields and assets in fixed maturity securities [3] - Total benefits, losses, and expenses rose 6.5% year over year to $2.9 billion, mainly due to higher policyholders' benefits and administrative expenses [3] Segment Performance - Adjusted EBITDA for Global Housing, excluding catastrophes, increased 18% year over year to $244.2 million, driven by growth in Homeowners [6] - Adjusted EBITDA for Global Lifestyle, excluding catastrophes, was $201.4 million, a 6% year-over-year increase, attributed to growth in Connected Living [8] - Corporate & Other segment reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $29.8 million, wider than the previous year's loss [9] Financial Position - As of June 30, 2025, liquidity stood at $518 million, significantly above the targeted minimum level of $225 million [12] - Total assets increased 1.4% to nearly $36 billion, while total shareholders' equity rose 7.7% year over year to $5.5 billion [12] Share Repurchase and Dividends - In Q2, Assurant repurchased shares worth $62 million, with an additional $25 million repurchased from July 1 to August 1, 2025 [13] - Total dividends for the quarter amounted to $43 million [13] Guidance for 2025 - Assurant expects adjusted EBITDA, excluding reportable catastrophes, to grow in the mid-to-high single digits [14] - Adjusted earnings per diluted share, excluding reportable catastrophes, is anticipated to grow by 10% [15] - The company plans to return $250 to $300 million in share repurchases, reflecting a strong capital position [16]